Page 29 of Fa-La La-La Land
“Then how about La-La?” Mum teases, squeezing Stella’s hands like her smile was a yes. “I’m so glad Rhys found someone he trusts to show the world who he really is. He’s allowed to have feelings, you know. Doesn’t always have to be the happy-go-lucky one.”
“I agree,” Stella says warmly. “But he probably needs to show a bit more of that sunny side—for a little while, anyway.”
Mum laughs, looking over Stella’s shoulder at me. “Can be a bit moody, can’t you, love?”
“Mum,” I warn.
“Bit of a grump too,” Stella adds, smirking.
Dad chuckles, voice slow but amused. “She’s got you pegged, son.”
I squeeze his shoulder gently. “Righto, you two. We’d better get to work on this party. You get some rest, Dad.”
“Lovely to meet you both,” Stella says as we go.
“You too, La-La!” Mum and Dad say together, tittering like magpies at dawn.
Outside, Stella whispers, “I love them already. How long have they lived with you?”
Without thinking, my hand finds the small of her back as I guide her past Rita, who she waves to. I’m oddly glad she doesn’t already know. I’ve worked hard to protect their privacy, even with Mum as my manager.
“I moved them in not long after I bought this place with the money from ‘Fa-La La-La Land.’” I pause, smiling faintly. “As much as I hate that song, it’s let me take care of them.” My fingers curl at her waist before I force my hand away, following her outside to the table where our smoothies and fruit wait.
“Were they okay leaving Australia for America?” She picksup her smoothie, sipping and smiling like it’s summer in her glass.
“They were hesitant at first,” I admit. “But I needed Mum to manage me. She saw Danny was a bit too controlling before I did and stepped in. Things have been better since then.”
“I don’t like him,” Stella says, stirring her straw. “This really is so good.”
I nod, feeling like the fruit she’s swirling around—soft and mixed up. I’ve been with Danny for a long time now. I owe him my career, but if I’m honest, I don’t like him either. I haven’t really let myself think that until just now when Stella said it so bluntly. Now I can’t stop staring at her…can’t stop the lyrics that keep writing themselves about her eyes.
“I think I’ll jump in the pool,” I say, looking past her to stay sane.
“You’re not going to eat first?” She asks, mouth still curved around the straw.
“Nah, yeah.” I grab my smoothie, turn away from the distraction, and take a long drink.
She hums in approval, picking at the fruit. “You’d better get in on this before I eat it all. These oranges are so fresh.”
I glance back as she bites into one. Juice runs down her chin. She laughs, wipes it off, and licks her fingertip.
If I don’t get in the water now, I’ll go mad, like the sailors inThe Odysseywhen they encountered the sirens.
“I’m going in!” I call, setting my smoothie down and running for the edge.
“Stop! You’re supposed to wait half an hour after eating before swimming!”
I dive into the deep end, the cold shock clearing my head—for about three seconds. But her laugh follows me into the water, and every thought I had about keeping calm goes under with me.
When I surface, she’s taking off her wrap. Her bikini bottoms reveal less than I’m used to seeing at the beach. No butt cheeks. No thighs covered only at the waist by tiny strings. No view that leaves little to the imagination.
And it’s the sexiest suit I’ve ever seen.
I dip back under the water, but it’s lost any calming effect it had on me a few seconds ago. When I come back up, Stella’s walking toward the shallow end of the pool.
“Go on, just jump in,” I say, treading water.
She shakes her head.
