Page 116 of Exposing Colorado
Panic flashes in Christian's eyes. “Sal, wait—”
“I'm sorry. I have to go.” Spinning around, I intend on running the hell away before I beg them to drag me back to the States, but my face smacks right into a bare chest.
“Oi,” Lux says, steadying me. “I don’t mean to interrupt this cute little reunion, but I couldn’t help overhearing.”
I cringe at how I must look right now, all splotchy cheeks and swollen eyes. “Lux, I wasn’t slacking, I swear—”
“Relax, love. I’m not here to chew you out. Quite the opposite, actually.”
Blinking slowly, I gaze up at his handsome face in confusion. “Huh?”
He winks, crossing his arms with that lazy rockstar confidence that never fails to lure fans into his bed. “You’re off the clock for the next week. Brisbane can survive without you, so go… sort out whatever the hell all this is. I'll clear everything up with Vince. Just be back by Sydney or I’m sending Q to drag you back.”
That makes me cringe, the thought of his six-foot-six stoic guitarist tracking me down. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack, love. He'd enjoy it, too.”
“Hi,” Tay interjects, shoving his hand between us as he points to his Symbiotic t-shirt. “Name's Taylor. I love your music.”
I groan in embarrassment, but Lux only arches an amused brow. His gaze sweeps over Taylor’s body. “Well, well. A proper fanboy.”
“I've got every single album, including the EP you released like five years ago with that other vocalist.”
“Mm.” Lux hums, clearly enjoying the attention. “I do love a man with taste.”
Christian scrubs a hand over his face, as mortified as I am. “Please, Dios mio, don’t flirt with him. His ego is big enough.”
“Fuck off.” Taylor's cheeks turn a rosy pink, and I ruffle his hair with a grin.
“Aw, how cute. You're literally blushing.”
“Shut up! No I'm not!”
“I'm telling Huckslee.”
“Salem, I swear to fucking god.”
Lux chuckles before turning his focus back to me. “Seriously, though. Take the time. You look like you need it.”
He walks away without another word, and I clutch the ring hanging from my neck. It still sits heavy on my chest, but with Tay and Christian bickering next to me now, the weight feels… lighter. Like maybe I don't have to carry it alone anymore.
“Okay,” I whisper to no one. “Yeah. Okay. Let's go.”
Maybe I never had to carry it alone to begin with.
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Salem
After a quick stop at the hotel to shower and grab my things, we catch a ride share to the resort that Matty apparently booked. Luckily, he and Huck are on their bye week for the NFL season, but they only have the next three days to spend with their families. It's not much time, but I'll take it.
“We're all planning to go to the beach later,” Tay says, dragging my bags from the trunk while Christian pays our driver. “Hannah's so fucking stoked. She says she hopes we see a great white, but I'm telling you right now, one sign of a shark fin and I'm out.”
The hotel looms ahead, all glass windows and palm trees, a place built for happy endings. I gaze up at the pale stucco walls as waves crash in the distance, the salty tinge of ocean air wrapping around me. Logan would have hated it here. Too hot, too crowded, too many bugs. I bet he would have spent the entire trip in the room glued to his laptop.
Even with two pieces of my soul now back in place, I still don’t feel whole without him. There will always be a void missing inside of me. I'll never be whole again.
