Page 21 of California Love Songs
Damien remembered how Crystal had felt in his arms when they were dancing. “You know she’s big into salsa dancing. She probably has a bunch of friends from the club she goes to who will want to come.”
Venue—Home? Salsa club? Hotel?
Mila asked, “What about some of her top clients?”
Erin looked up and scrunched her face. “I think we want this just to be friends, not people she has to suck up to in any way.”
Nick wandered in and Mila called, “Nick, save the date for Crystal Lopez’s surprise birthday party.” His brother glanced over, surprised, as though he’d been thinking about something else. “What?”
Mila looked exasperated. “Grab your phone and save the date. October fourth.”
Nick shook his head. “I don’t have it on me.”
There was a moment of stunned silence. Mila said, “What do you mean, you don’t have it on you? You always have your phone on you.”
His brother looked slightly sheepish. “I’m trying to wean myself off it a little bit.”
Before anyone could respond to something so unlike him, Betsy said, “I think that’s a wonderful idea, honey.” She glanced around at them all. “It’s easy to spend so much time on social media that you forget there’s a real world happening around you.” Now she sounded like Mom the schoolteacher, a role she slipped into from time to time.
Nick didn’t seem offended, though. In fact, he nodded in agreement. “I know I’ve made my living designing apps, but I’m starting to feel like my phone controls me rather than me controlling my phone. I’m just… leaving it behind a little more often.”
Betsy looked approving, but Mila just looked more exasperated. “How are you going to remember that you’re coming to Crystal’s thirtieth birthday party?”
Erin, always the peacekeeper, tore a page out of her notebook and handed it to Nick. “Here. I’ve written down the date.”
He folded the piece of paper and put it in his wallet. “Thanks, Erin. Where is this shindig going to be, anyway?”
Erin sighed. “I don’t know. We’re trying to figure that out. Do you have any ideas?”
He looked around the table as though it were obvious. “Yeah. Damien’s house. He’s got that huge place in the middle of nowhere. That means the noise won’t bother anybody. If it’s a nice night, everyone can spill outside. And there’s the pool. If you hire a band, the acoustics couldn’t be better.”
Damien suddenly found everyone looking at him. It had already occurred to him to offer his house, but something had held him back. The idea of all their families and friends coming together to his house for a party to celebrate Crystal… it was, well, intimate in a way he wasn’t used to.
Okay, he was being weird. He tried to look enthusiastic. “I was just about to offer. You’re right. It’s the perfect place to have the party.”
Erin looked quite excited now. “And it’ll be easier to get her there for the surprise, because there are all kinds of reasons we might come by your place. Good.”
Venue—Home? Salsa club? Hotel? Damien’s house.
They talked about logistics a little longer. Until Mila said, “I’m really, really happy Crystal Lopez is going to have a great birthday party, but I just got engaged today. Are we going to talk about my wedding anytime soon?”
They all laughed, including Damien. He said, “I’m super happy for you guys. I think you’re really good together. But I have to get moving—I’m hiking this afternoon.”
For some reason, he left out the part about its being with Crystal. He gave his mom a quick hug, waved to the rest, and headed out to his car, a strange but happy excitement building as he imagined the afternoon ahead.
Chapter Nine
When Damien arrived at Crystal’s house, she was waiting outside, ready to go in navy athletic shorts that showed off long, tanned dancer’s legs, and a pink T-shirt with a dance logo on the front. A dark pink baseball cap shaded her eyes, and she’d threaded her ponytail through the hole in the back of it. She looked both athletic and feminine as she smiled at him, waving hello.
Pointing at her wristwatch, she said, “One-thirty exactly! I don’t know how you do it.”
Damien laughed. Everyone loved to tease him about his timekeeping, but he had an instinct about time. He was never early or late, but always exactly on time. “It’s my superpower,” he said with mock modesty.
“It’s going to be gorgeous on the trails. I’m so glad you suggested a hike.”
“I need to get some exercise after all that food,” Damien admitted. “Those family breakfasts seem to get bigger every time I show up.” He patted his belly, although he knew there wasn’t a stomach bulge in sight. He ate too clean and worked out too hard.
Crystal’s eyes traveled to his abdomen and a shiver went through him as he imagined her hands gliding across him. He crossed his arms over his stomach.
