Page 17 of Deliverance

Hazel’s friends. They were at the wedding. “I do.” I shake their hands, memories sweeping me under. The ceremony—simple and intimate—took place in the evening in this very back yard. The sun slipped down the blue sky and bled into the silvery surface of the ocean, coloring it pink and orange, setting it on fire. It was beautiful.

“You were the best man,” the woman says as if she just read my mind.

I nod, my eyes moving over to Jake. He doesn’t need an introduction. I witnessed him running buck naked back in Tahoe when he was Aiden’s age more times than I can count. The kid would come over and watch us play until Justice’s sister, Corrine, dragged him back home, arguing that he wasn’t old enough for our music.

I’m surprised to see her here. She’s not a big fan of Southern California.

“This is Declan.” Justice points out a small dude sitting next to Jake.

Dom pulls up another chair for me once all the greetings are over with.

“Rumor has it Bleeding Faith wants you to replace Ashby?” he asks, his brow arching up.

“I’m still debating,” I confess.

Jake perks up. So does Declan.

I glance toward the pool house. Hazel is headed our way, the bowl of fruit in her hands. She acknowledges my arrival with a wide smile. Behind her is indeed Drew, still carrying Faith.

Warmth fills my chest.

I blame it on the fact that it’s been a while since I got laid. Several months at least. It was wild right after Rachel and I called it quits. But eventually, names and faces began to turn into a blur, and the need to have a warm body next to me every night disappeared. There wasn’t any fucking at all during my last stay in Bali.

And then, all of sudden, I meet this wicked woman who throws drum kits and other secret objects onto the canvas with some witchy power she doesn’t want to reveal.

And I now have a piece of her in my living room.

Hazel sets the bowl on the table and gives me a hug. “Hope the drive wasn’t too bad.”

“All good,” I tell her.

“I’ll get you a drink.” She pats my shoulder and rushes off.

“We meet again,” Drew says, stopping near my chair. Her palm is resting on Faith’s head as she continues to slowly rock her.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Hazel and I are trying to work on something,” she says conspiratorially, then glances at Faith. “But this little monkey demands way more attention than we bargained for.”

A smile spreads across her face and I take a moment to simply enjoy it. The noise surrounding us fades away, leaving me one-on-one with Drew.

She looks different in jeans and a T-shirt. Less mysterious and almost attainable. I have to shake off the thought, though, because she’s clearly not fair game. Instead, I say, “I don’t know if work is possible during a Casa Cross barbeque.”

“Sadly, I figured that already.”

“So is this an art project? Your failed venture?”

Drew nods but doesn’t elaborate. “Was your purchase delivered?”

Ah, a topic change.“Yesterday.”

“I hope you’re happy with it.” A subtle smirk.

“I am.”

“You caved?” Dom cuts in, expression approving.

“He’s the proud owner ofRhythm,” Drew explains.

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