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“Happy birthday, Lyd!” Sloane says, breaking me from my trance. I drag my gaze from Callum, smiling as Sloane pulls me into a hug. “This dress is amazing on you. It’s like it was made for you. Your boyfriend’s got great taste, and he’s even better at surprises than me. Who would have thought?” She drops her voice to a whisper, leaning in. “This was all his doing, you know. Riven sort of spilled that today was your birthday. I hope you aren’t upset. You know how Riven is, can’t keep a secret to save his life.”

“Thanks, Lo,” I say, embracing her and squeezing. She laughs, resting her head on my shoulder. “And no, of course I’m not upset. This is wonderful. I feel like I really needed this.”

“I’m so glad you’re doing better, Lyd. I was so fucking scared,” she says.

“Yeah, that makes two of us,” I say, pulling back. Making the rounds, I head over to Riven and then Kai and Emery.

“Come here, you,” Kai says, pulling me into a hug. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks, Kai,” I say, tilting my head at how happy he looks. That healing retreat must have worked wonders, or maybe it’s the strawberry blonde standing beside him.

“Happy birthday, Lydia,” Emery says, smiling as she leans in to hug me.

Carly Joe and Jane catch me up on all the work drama I’ve been missing while everyone mingles around us. All my friends are standing around the kitchen island, laughing at something Kai said. Everyone is so happy, and the energy in the room is so light. It’s enough to make me forget what we each had to endure to get to this point. That thought reminds me of Raithe and his absence. Despite everything he’s done, I still feel like he belongs here with all of us.

“Alright, birthday girl. Get in here,” Sloane calls out, dragging me from thoughts of the missing Reilly brother.

Everyone proceeds to sing “Happy Birthday” to me, including Mr. Grumpy Pants. And yes, a 6’7” moody giant singing “Happy Birthday” is as awkward and hysterical as you think it would be. He even blushes a shade so bright I think he’ll burst out of his skin. It will most definitely go down as one of the peak moments in my life—one that I’ll never let him forget.

☽ ✦ ☽

Kai and Emery left a while ago, together. I don’t know what’s brewing between the two of them. All I know is that the way Kai looks at his therapist is as mesmerizing as it is telling. I sense that Emery is his light, his beacon in the storm. There’s something fierce and unguarded simmering just beneath the surface, a tension so thick that when it snaps, it’s going to explode.

Kai is in love with his therapist, and there’s no doubt about that. I wonder only briefly what Emery must think of the fact—if she senses it, too. Does the truth weigh on her the way it does everyone else who notices? Does she reciprocate his feelings? I can sense that she feels something for him, though I’m not entirely sure it’s fully developed. I only hope that Emery is prepared to face the fact that Kai chose to live because of her—for her. Emery and Kai’s love story is haunting, beautiful, and unfinished.

Carly Joe, Jane, Sloane, and Riven are on their way out now. We all say our goodbyes and promise to stay in touch. I decided that I’ll return to the salon as soon as I’m fully healed and ready to get back to normal life.

Reverb has decided to take a break until they can figure out where Raithe is, giving time for the healing retreat to take shape. Sloane and Riven are making good headway with the music therapy side of things. Almost everyone is happy and accounted for, and I suppose that’s better than nothing.

“Little siren,” I hear Callum’s voice as I wave goodbye to our friends and close the door. When I turn, I find his eyes on me, ravenous and dangerously unhinged. He pulls me toward him, and I gasp when my body collides with his.

“Sunshine,” I say, breathless.

“Did I tell you how absolutely stunning you look in this dress?” he asks, his hands gliding down my back and over the curve of my ass. He squeezes, and I yelp. “Did I tell you how I’ve been thinking about devouring you in this dress all afternoon? Or how hard it was to take my eyes off of you?” He pulls me closer, running a hand through my hair as he tugs my head back. He leans down, whispering into my ear as I shudder beneath him. “I wanted you so fucking bad that I could have taken you in front of everyone. You’re so tempting, so bewitching, so mine.”

Before I can speak, he leans over and cradles me into his arms, taking off toward the stairs. We cross the top step, and instead of banking left into his bedroom, he keeps walking.

“Where are we going?” I ask, laughing.

“It’s a surprise,” he says, kicking open the half-closed door to his music studio. A drum kit sits off to one side, the metal catching on the low lighting above. A lounge area sits against the inside wall, a small bar tucked into the far corner. I glance around, taking it all in, then glance up at him in confusion.

“What are you—”

“Shhh.” He sets me down, placing a finger against my lips. He pushes me forward and down onto the small velvet sofa.

“Stay,” he whispers, his eyes darkening a shade as he backs away from me and toward a desk opposite us. I watch as he removes a small box and an envelope from the bottom drawer, bringing them over as he sits down beside me.

“Here,” he says. “Happy birthday, love.”

“Callum,” I say, grabbing the box. My gaze lifts to his. “You didn’t have to get me anything.” I fumble with the box, setting it down beside me to read the card first. No, not a card. A letter?

“Of course I did,” he says. “You deserve everything. If I could give you the fucking moon, then I would.” I laugh, unfolding the paper. Except when I open it, it’s not a letter at all.

“Callum,” I say, running my fingers over the music notes strewn across the sheet. “What is this?”

“Your laugh,” he says, nearly a whisper. My eyes dart to his, searching.

“My … laugh?” I ask, staring down at the sheet music on my lap as the pieces fall together perfectly. I inhale sharply as tears well up behind my eyes.