Page 10 of California Love Songs
Erin’s eyes sparkled. “Actually, yes. I’m working on a piece about the annual spelling bee.”
Crystal smiled at Erin’s enthusiasm. “That’s wonderful, Erin. Your articles always capture the heart of Carmel so beautifully.”
She ordered herself an iced latte and as they chatted, Crystal couldn’t help but feel a mix of warmth and curiosity. There was something in Erin’s demeanor, a subtle excitement that hinted at more than just catching up over coffee. Crystal found herself wondering what other topics might come up in their conversation, and whether she’d had enough coffee yet to navigate the complexities of the Davenport family dynamics.
The café door opened, and a gust of salty ocean air swept in along with Tessa and Mila. Crystal’s eyes widened as she took in the stark contrast between Erin’s sister and their new sister-in-law. Tessa looked serene in earth-toned linen, Mila a vibrant whirlwind in a colorful sundress. Which was funny, as Tessa was the painter.
Mila waved as she spotted them. “There’s my favorite crew!” she exclaimed, bounding over with the fluid grace of a surfer riding a perfect wave. “Crys, you made it.”
Crystal couldn’t help but smile at Mila’s infectious energy. “Hey, Mila. Tessa. It’s great to see you both.”
As they settled in, Mila leaned forward, her sea-witch eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, spill. I want all the details about the birthday party extravaganza I missed.”
Before she could answer, Erin said, “Crys put on the greatest party ever. The food was amazing, the décor perfect, the guests A-list.” She paused, then leaned in. “The musical guest was kind of lame, but I guess she’d blown the budget by then.”
They all laughed, and Tessa said, “He deserves his fame, he’s so good. And when he played the song he wrote for me and Arch…” She blinked rapidly and Crys felt her emotion. “Sometimes I just have to pinch myself, you know?”
Mila dramatically clutched her heart. “Ugh, don’t rub salt in the wound. I can’t believe I missed it. But Hersch’s mom’s birthday was really fun too. And we had our own musical entertainment.” She let out a loud chuckle. “You should’ve seen Hersch trying to serenade her—it was like watching a space cowboy at karaoke.”
The mental image of the stoic astronaut belting out tunes made Crystal chuckle in spite of herself. “He got famous singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her from space. No surprise if she expects it now he’s back on earth.”
Mila nodded. “Love isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up and giving it your all, even when you’re totally out of your element.”
“That’s… actually really profound, Mila.” She thought about Damien, about the way he’d looked at her the night of the party, and felt the familiar ache in her chest.
The surfer turned Realtor said, “I heard through the grapevine that the party cost upward of four million dollars. Is that true?”
Crystal kept her features neutral and her mouth firmly shut. Her budget had been higher than that, but she knew one of the reasons she was hired by her clients was because she never disclosed details about them. Discretion was everything.
Erin shot her a look of camaraderie that showed their long friendship. “She’ll never tell,” she said. “Crystal is far too professional.”
Mila raised her eyebrows mischievously. “I also heard via the grapevine that our Crystal actually allowed herself a moment of fun at the party.”
Crystal jerked up her head. “What do you mean?” Had she made a fool of herself?
Mila laughed good-naturedly and then reached across to squeeze Crystal’s hand. “Don’t look so serious, Crys. Erin just mentioned that you and Damien danced the perfect salsa.”
Crystal didn’t feel relieved that it had just been a passing comment from Erin. She felt embarrassed. Because if there was one thing that she knew about her friend, it was that she observed everything and saw straight to the heart of any matter. Which meant chances were good she’d seen what was in Crystal’s heart. Maybe with more clarity than Crystal herself.
“So I said,” Mila continued, “that I wasn’t surprised you both looked good on the dance floor. Because I couldn’t help but notice the chemistry between you at Archer’s wedding. There were some serious sparks flying.” She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Did anything happen at the party, or after the party, that I need to know about?”
Crystal felt her cheeks warm, her heart rate quicken. She took a sip of coffee to buy herself a moment, acutely aware of the sisters’ expectant gazes. “We’re just good friends,” she insisted, her voice steadier than she felt. “You know that. I was saving him from an overzealous fan.”
But even as the words left her mouth, Crystal’s mind betrayed her. She thought of Damien’s smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, how safe she felt in his arms when they danced. A wave of longing washed over her, quickly followed by a surge of panic. She couldn’t risk their friendship, couldn’t bear the thought of losing him if things went wrong.
Which, of course, they would.
Their lives were so very different. His with endless traveling and stardom; hers with both feet planted in Carmel, happy working behind the scenes. But then she remembered Damien’s change of heart. His insistence that Carmel was home and there was nowhere like it. That he was thinking about making some changes to his lifestyle.
Snap out of it! Damien was her friend. A great friend. One she wanted to keep.
“Well, if you say so,” Mila replied, her tone making it clear she wasn’t entirely convinced. “But let me tell you, that kind of connection doesn’t come along every day.” She gave Crystal an intense look and then took a sip of her coffee.
Desperate to change the subject, Crystal groped for a diversion. “What about you and Hersch?” she asked, forcing a bright smile. “How are things going with NASA’s finest?”
Mila’s face softened, a dreamy look replacing her earlier teasing expression. “Oh, Crystal,” she sighed happily, “I am so in love. It’s like catching the perfect wave, you know? That moment when everything aligns and you’re just… flying.”
As Mila gushed about Hersch, Crystal felt a pang of envy mixed in with her genuine happiness for her friend. She marveled at Mila’s confidence, her ability to dive headfirst into love without hesitation. “That’s wonderful,” she said warmly, pushing down her own conflicted feelings. “I’m so happy for you both.”
