Everything: A Singed Wings Novel (24 page)

“This has nothing to do with Jonah,” I sighed, wishing she would stop bringing him up. I’d wasted too much of my life on that sorry excuse for a human being anyway. I wanted to focus on what was ahead of me, not trudge through my past. “Ideally, I won’t ever have to see his face, hear his name, or think about him ever again. It’s been three years since I left L.A., and I’d just as well leave all the bad memories there too.” I paused for another drink then leaned forward with a genuine smile. “Plus, even at eighteen, Everett’s more of a man than Jonah can ever hope to be.”

An impish grin teased the edges of my mouth as I thought about how we’d celebrated his birthday the weekend before
. I ended up having to wash my sheets twice to get all of the frosting and sprinkles off of them. Who knew being a human birthday cake could be so much fun?

“I still can’t believe you’re dating an eighteen-year-old,” she snickered, as she downed the last of her Bloody Mary. “If I hadn’t seen him for myself that night, I’d think you’ve completely lost your mind with this shit, and now that I know whose kid he is, it all makes more sense. I’m sure he was forced to grow up fast living with a famous parent.”

“You have to swear you won’t tell anyone, Linds. Not even Michael,” I warned, not that I really needed to. I wasn’t worried about her saying anything to anyone, especially since at first she didn’t even want to know about the relationship. But after we’d returned from the San Antonio getaway a few weeks ago, she couldn’t stand not knowing and had called me up, demanding all the details.

“My lips are sealed, babe. You know that,” she promised. “All I care about is you being happy, and just sitting here across from you, watching your face when you talk about him, it’s clear that you are.”

I nodded, feeling blessed I had a friend like Lindsey in my life
—
someone who I could talk to without being judged, someone who could be understanding without agreeing with my decisions. “I am happy, but I’m also scared,” I admitted, running my finger around the circular edge of my champagne flute. “I feel like everything’s finally falling into place. I was told there’s a good chance they’re going to offer me a permanent teaching position, as Ms. Wallace probably isn’t coming back. I love my little apartment, now that I’ve been there a while and have had a chance to put my own touches on it. And of course everything with Everett has all been so unexpected, yet at the same time equally amazing. It’s all so effortless. Like I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.”

“Then stay there,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I want to, but I just can’t help but feel like it’s all
too
good. That any morning, I’m going to wake up and it’s all going to come crumbling down around me,” I worried aloud.

Tilting forward in her chair, she rested her elbows on the table and lowered her voice. “Look, Belle, you know I won’t sugarcoat shit for you. I don’t have to tell you what a huge risk you’re taking with this. You already know what can happen if y’all get caught. As your friend, I hope to God that doesn’t happen, but I’m not going to sit around and fret over it either. You’re a big girl, making your own decisions, and if you feel like this is where you’re meant to be, who you’re supposed to be with, then I’m gonna be happy for your happiness. And if it all goes to Hell in a handbasket tomorrow, I’ll still be right here to support you then too. Cause that’s what friends do.”

I smiled and reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “You know what else friends do? They get pedicures together. And I think we could both use a little feet pampering right now.”

NEVER IN MY
life had I been so nervous to meet two people, as I was the Monday we left for Buenos Aires. Dressed and ready to go almost a full hour before Everett and his family were to pick me up for the airport, I’d checked and double-checked the contents of my two suitcases, making sure I had everything I needed for six days in a foreign country where I had absolutely no idea of what to expect as far as what we’d be doing. So like almost every other woman in my situation would’ve done, I brought a little bit of everything
— casual sundresses, to jeans and t-shirts, to a designer floor-length, sequined gown that I found on the clearance rack at Saks — which also meant that I packed every pair of shoes I owned. You know, just in case.

At exactly eight-thirty that morning, a blacked-out Suburban pulled up in front of my apartment, and seconds later, Everett hopped out of the backseat and rushed up the stairs to my place, having to knock only once before I flung the door open.

“Mornin’,” he drawled, treating me to one of my favorite smiles before he stepped inside and kissed me softly on the lips. “You ready to fly for real today, Tink?”

Nodding, I hoped I didn’t look as anxious as I felt. “As ready as I’m ever gonna be. Can you carry the big suitcase to the car? I’ll get the small one and my purse.”

“No, I’ll grab both of the bags. You just make sure all the lights are off and lock up,” he corrected, stealing another quick kiss. “My dad would have my head if I let you lug one of those things down the stairs.”

Doing as he said, I did a quick run-through of the apartment to make sure I hadn’t left anything on like the coffee pot or closet light then followed him outside, locking the door before I bounded down the stairs and over to the Secret-Service-looking SUV. The driver got out to load my suitcases into the back as Everett ushered me inside the backseat, where three sets of eyes were locked on my every movement.

“Back here, Belle,” Ashlynn exclaimed, patting the empty leather seat next to her in the third row.

I grinned at her use of my first name, knowing that Everett had instructed her not to mention the whole I’m-a-teacher-at-their-school thing around their parents. Though he hadn’t outright lied to them, telling them that I had a degree in art history and was currently working as a substitute until I could find something permanent, he hadn’t been very forthcoming either. It made me uncomfortable, because I didn’t want his parents to think I was a dishonest person, but I understood his hesitation. Neither of us wanted them to put a stop to our relationship.

“Hold on a second, Ashlynn. Let the poor girl get inside first, for Pete’s sake,” their mom scolded her, then turned to face me, offering a warm, bright smile and her hand. “Hi, Belle, please excuse my daughter, who has no manners. I’m Scarlett, Everett’s mom. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. We’ve heard so many wonderful things.”

My lips curled up with amusement as I heard Ashlynn say under her breath, “I don’t know who the hell Pete is or why I should give a damn about his sake.”

“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Templeton,” I replied, shaking her hand. “Thank you so much for allowing me to tag along with you guys on this trip. I’m so excited.”

“Oh, so are we! And please, call me Scarlett,” she insisted, then turned to the man whose face I knew all too well. “This is my husband, Mason, the twins’ dad, but I’m guessing you probably already knew that.”

I shifted my attention to the exceptionally handsome middle-aged man next to her and extended my arm in his direction. He stared at me for a brief moment, almost as if he could evaluate my character just by looking in my eyes, before taking my hand and giving it a firm squeeze.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Templeton,”

“You’re a lot smaller than I expected,” he said, his face expressionless as he released his grip.

“You have a lot more gray hair than I expected,” I retorted without thinking, then immediately slapped my hands over my mouth as my cheeks flamed with embarrassment.

Everyone but me busted out laughing, including Mason, as I closed my eyes and silently wished to be swallowed up by a hole in the ground.
Why in the world did I just do that? Who says that when they meet their boyfriend’s parents for the first time?

“Well, at my age, sweetheart, I’m just glad to have any at all.” He chuckled, then glanced over my shoulder at where Everett was still waiting to get in. “I like her, son. She’ll fit right in with the rest of you smartasses. Now get in and buckle up. We’ve got a plane to catch. Argentina will never be the same once we get there.”

Somehow, I knew that I never would be either.

BEST. TRIP. EVER.
And we hadn’t even gotten to the good part yet.

In the first three full days in Buenos Aires, we
had gone on a private tour of the presidential palace,
Casa Rosada
, hunted spirits and ghosts in the world-renowned Recoleta Cemetery, taken an outdoor tango lesson in Plaza Dorrego, walked the cobblestone streets of the colorful, culturally-rich La Boca neighborhood, and enjoyed a coffee at Café Tortoni, the oldest and most famous café in all of Argentina. And by “we,” I meant all five of us, like a big, happy family, together from breakfast until we turned in to our rooms at night to sleep. Well, Belle and I did a little bit of sleeping and a lot of other bedtime activities.

Just like I knew they would, my parents fell in love with Belle from the moment they met her, welcoming her into our brand of crazy and treating her like one of us. After the gray hair comment in the SUV, she and my dad traded playful jabs throughout the trip, and never once did she seem star-struck or act any different than normal when she was around him, or even when she met the rest of the band and their families. And Mom, well, she approved to the point that I think she was already secretly planning our wedding and naming her grandbabies. Which strangely didn’t freak me out… but I already knew why. And I planned to tell her today.

“Wake up, lazy butt,” I murmured softly into Belle’s ear, before peppering kisses all over her neck and shoulder. “We’ve got a busy day planned and it’s already almost ten.”

Moaning, she rolled over and snuggled up against me, a sleepy smile playing at her lips as she kept her eyes closed. “I thought today was our rest day. I’m not sure my feet can take another ten miles today,” she mumbled into my chest.

“No walking today,” I assured her, then added, “well, not much. I’ve got plans just for you and me during the daytime, and then we’ll come back here this afternoon to get ready for the party tonight.”

Gradually, she opened her groggy eyes and focused in on me. “What about your parents and Ashlynn? They’re not coming with?”

“Dad has radio interviews all day and a sound-check before the show, and Mom and Ashlynn are going shopping and out to lunch with some of the other wives and kids.” Feathering my lips over her forehead, I grinned down at the sight of her naked body curled into mine. “I get you all to myself today, beautiful.”

Her hand cupped my semi-hard cock under the covers and squeezed gently. “Then let’s spend it in bed. I even brought my wings with me so you could fuck your naughty little Tinker Bell in Argentina,” she purred seductively, while lazily stroking my thickening shaft.

A pulse of hot pleasure shot through me as images of her on top of me, bouncing up and down on my dick while wearing only those damn wings, flashed into my head. The little minx knew my weaknesses and wasn’t afraid to use them against me.

I groaned then seriously considered taking her up on her offer before reminding myself of what all I had planned for the day. As much as I would’ve loved to stay in the room and roll around in the sheets all day, this was important.

“We can play hide Pan’s peter anytime,” I told her, as I unwound her fingers from my now fully-charged erection and kissed away the pout on her full lips, “but we’ve only got a couple days left here, and I put together something special for us today. I promise you’ll love it, but we need to get up now and get ready. Our reservations are at eleven-thirty.”