effect from hanging around with me? It was possible that I was enhancing his natural qualities too, and I frowned. I didn’t want to turn him into a workaholic.
I longed to see him, yearning for the comfort of being close to him. After our last phone conversation, I felt like a crack had formed in the bond that held us together, and it frightened me. I reached up to touch my aquamarine, raising it to my lips, clinging to the memory of how at peace I was when we were together. I had to stop running away. I needed Ethan, and I would be a fool to withdraw and let Amber come between us.
I decided to let go of my fear and find a way to focus only on him. There was no point in getting angry. After all, I couldn’t blame her for wanting the same thing I did. I never would have been foolish enough to leave him in the first place. Don’t get mad… get Ethan, I thought with a wry smile. I just hoped I hadn’t blown it already.
It was a foggy evening in San Francisco when I stepped out of the terminal into the dense night air. I sighed with relief to see Cruz waiting for me by the curb, leaning against yet another one of Evie’s sports cars.
“You got my message,” I gave him a big hug.
“Did you hear the news?” he asked excitedly.
“What news?” I looked around nervously.
“Megan’s song is all over the radio!” he grinned like a pirate, “It’s a number one hit!”
“I know! Shayla and I heard it in Hawaii.”
“Did you hear about the election? Mission accomplished! Mom’s totally psyched!”
I smiled, “Yeah.” I wasn’t used to seeing Cruz so animated.
“Come on,” he said, opening the car door for me, “You’re just in time! Brad and I are celebrating Megan’s song and the election over dinner. You can tell us all about how Shayla did in Hawaii… Oh my God! Did I mention that Brad’s a gourmet chef too?”
I climbed in, happy to see Cruz so bubbly. I needed a little dose of pure, unadulterated joy.
We got to the apartment to find Megan and Jamal sitting at the dining room table with Brad, laughing and talking. The place smelled like delicious food cooking, and I realized how long it had been since I ate. Megan jumped up to greet me with a warm hug, and I told her how excited we’d been to hear her song on the beach in Hawaii.
“I still can’t believe this is all really happening!” she said, tossing her red curls in disbelief.
“I can!” I smiled, “I’ll never forget the first time I heard you sing.”
It had been a momentous day, for in addition to revealing Megan’s formidable talent, it was also the first time I’d spoken to Lorelei. That day seemed like a lifetime ago, and I could hardly believe that less than a year had passed. I looked at Megan and Cruz, realizing that we had all completely transformed; totally changed, and yet somehow, we were more our true selves.
Revealed.
Megan told us all about the promotional tour she was leaving for the next morning, excitedly running down a list of interviews she’d been scheduled to give and naming the places she’d be performing. I could see Jamal watching her adoringly, and she took his hand under the table. I missed Ethan with a painful ache in my throat.
“I hope you like Italian,” Brad said to me, getting up to check the oven, patting Cruz’s back affectionately. I was really starting to feel like a fifth wheel.
He returned with a beautiful platter of stuffed manicotti swimming in spicy marinara. It looked like a picture from a food magazine, and smelled like Italy. We all dove in, eating with gusto and talking about Megan’s itinerary. I told Brad how happy we were that his Aunt would be working so hard to save the farms.
“I’m surprised. She’s really gotten into this whole environmental thing lately,” he said, “I’m just glad she can help.”
It was going on midnight by the time we finished, and I could barely stifle my yawns. Megan and Jamal got up to leave, arm in arm, and Cruz rushed over to present Megan with some outfits he’d tailored for her to wear on her concert tour. Her eyes widened with delight, and she kissed both his cheeks with loud smacks.
Cruz and I walked the happy couple out the door, turning away as they stopped to kiss