Page 70 of Into the Blue
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He wasn’t supposed to be coming,” she says, her brow furrowed. “I didn’t know he’d be here until we arrived, and you’d already gone into the crowd. Are you all right?” Her gentle voice cracks. “I can call the car if you want to leave.”
God, I’m lucky to have a friend like her. Lucky to have Jasper, Manny and Myles, to have met Dora when I did. My own family, apart from Jasper, might suck, but I’ve been so fortunate in the people around me, and I feel like a dick for making a fuss about this. Zara can’t control everybody in the room, and she’s here to support her husband, not manage my love life. Zach is a famous surfer, and one of the faces of Myles’s brand. Of course it’s okay that he’s here.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry. It just… It was a shock to see him, that’s all.” I give Zara a hug.
She hugs me back, though surprise glimmers in her brown gaze.
“Just… thank you,” I continue. “Thank you to you and Myles, for being there for me. I don’t have… I haven’t had a lot of people in my life who look out for me, and I’m so grateful for all that you’ve done.”
Zara kisses me on the cheek. “You don’t have to thank us,” she says. “You’re family, Jade. We’ll always be here for you.”
There’s a rustle, the sound of chatter replaced by a breath of expectation as the room goes quiet. Myles steps up to the podium, his handsome face carved into light and shadow by the bright lights. Behind him his logo bounces, MZMF. Myles, Zara and Max Foundation. Family.
I feel held in it, supported. Feel loved. God, it’s all around me. Myles and Zara, and the way they look after me. Jasper, the other half of my heart. I’m overflowing with it, all the different types of love in the world. So I lost Axel. I’m still me, still the person I’ve always been. Perhaps more so than I’ve been for a long while, thanks to him. I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent together, and how it changed me. Losing him hurts, right now, more than just about anything, but I know the pain will pass. Or at least, that I’ll learn to manage it. There’s still plenty of love to give, and be given. Zara grabs my hand under the table as Myles starts to speak.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you for being here as we celebrate one year of MZMF, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to preserving the special places on our planet for future generations.”
I think of Axel, as Myles continues to speak. I hope he sees this, that he knows all I wanted to do was help him. Even if I’ve lost him, at least the island and The Cave of the Waters are safe. A thank you, for the love and healing he gave me. Now I just need to figure out how to go on without him.
Myles continues speaking as images flash across the walls. I glimpse the shrine, the emerald ferns and crystal water, the ghostly pillars of light. “All of these places will be preserved for those who have used them for generations, working with local communities to maintain them. Not for profit, not to be opened up to tourism, but simply because they have always been there, and should always be so.” He pauses, letting the applause die down before continuing.
“I began this foundation because I want my children to grow up in a world that still holds wonder and mystery, and it seems this struck a chord with many of you as well. Your generous donations, matched by the foundation, mean we’ve already saved more than a dozen such sites around the globe, with more in the planning stages. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from tonight’s event, including from the silent auction, will also go towards the foundation and its work.”
He pauses. Zara squeezes my hand, her brown eyes bright with love as she gazes at her husband.
“I couldn’t do any of this without you. And especially not without the love and support of my beautiful wife.” He smiles at Zara, and it’s just the most gorgeous thing. “Thank you, my love, for bringing magic to my world.” The crowd sighs. A tear rolls down Zara’s cheek, as she returns his smile. “And now, to start the evening, here’s a little piece of wonder for us all.”
The crowd claps as Myles leaves the podium, then gasps as acrobats tumble from the ceiling, harnessed in such a way they seem to fly across the crowd, trailing gossamer draperies as they twist and dance in the air, their toned bodies gleaming.
Myles comes to sit with us and Zara just grabs his face, kissing him, smiling against his mouth. “I’m so proud of you,” she murmurs. My heart aches for it, for them, for all the love in the room. No matter what happened with Axel, I have this. I can feel, properly, for the first time in what seems like forever. And while there’s pain, there is also joy.
So much joy.
ChapterForty-One
Jade
After the excellent meal I decide to head into the crowd. A band is playing, couples on the dance floor. Myles is holding Zara close, his eyes closed as they sway blissfully. I spot Bryce and Claire; he has his hands on her ass, smiling down at her.
I’m not really sure what I’m looking for. I suppose there are a few people here I know, so I should say hello. Then I spot Zach’s golden head above the crowd and realise what I need to do.
What I should have done, instead of taking off to a place where he couldn’t reach me, even though it was the only thing I was capable of doing at the time. He deserves better.
I push through the throng of people, nodding at a few acquaintances, until it clears enough that I can see Zach. He’s facing the wall, one arm braced above a young woman with her back to the wall. She has long wavy red hair and is wearing a dress the colour of spring leaves, embroidered and sparkling. Zach’s free hand slides inside the cup of her corseted top as he leans in to kiss her.
Shit.
Apart from the fact that I’m sure the last thing he wants is his ex-girlfriend interrupting him, this is still a public place. And the woman he’s with has a big diamond gleaming on the ring finger of the hand currently buried in Zach’s hair.
When he lifts his head, I recognise her. Double shit. Rebecca Silvers. Her husband is a big Hollywood producer. He’s also an ex-boxing champ. And the last thing Myles needs tonight is for it to be marred by the kind of mess that will ensue if they’re caught by the wrong person.
I swallow, then march over to them. I put my hand on Zach’s arm as he bends his head for another kiss. Close up, I can smell alcohol.
“Zach!” I pull at him.
He lifts his head. When he sees me, he grins a lopsided grin. “Come to join the party, Jade? I knew you still wanted me.”
