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Kit, who was never one to miss an opportunity to be a smartass, quipped, “Damn, Aspen. That’s, like, some Jiminy Cricket type shit right there.”

“Thanks.” Aspen nudged Zann forward. “Go talk to the pretty girl, Silva.”

The golden, buzzy feeling Zann had grown over the last few days to associate with Lydia erupted in her chest as she watched Lydia’s smile gentle into something painfully intimate, stealing her breath right from her lungs. “This is insane,” she muttered as she stumbled into motion.

This whole situation might be absolutely batshit, but she wasn’t stupid enough to walk away from a woman who was looking at her like that.

The buzzing inside her intensified the closer she drew to Lydia, and she shoved her hands into her pockets in the hope that it would keep it from manifesting any further. It didn’t help. She felt more and more hopelessly and terrifyingly out of control with every step she took, and then, the moment she stopped beside Lydia and a strong, sure hand slipped around her forearm, it stopped. Like a circuit completed, the energy flowed out of her into the warmth of Lydia’s touch, soothing her from the outside in until she could finally breathe.

“Hey you,” Lydia murmured as she leaned into Zann’s side, her voice as smooth as honey and warm as a summer breeze.

“Hey,” Zann whispered, letting her eyes drift shut for the briefest of moments as she luxuriated in the serenity that settled over her. The hand on her arm slid higher to grasp her bicep, and she swayed into Lydia as a gentle kiss was brushed against her cheek.

“You okay?” Lydia asked softly.

Zann nodded, even as she thought, I honestly don’t know.

Lydia hummed, the quiet purr layered with care as she kissed her cheek again softly. “You sure?”

Zann blinked as the truth hit her with all the force and subtlety of a two-by-four to the head. She didn’t want anything but this. Anyone but Lydia.

Like, ever.

Lord help me, I really am pulling an Aspen here, aren’t I?

“Yeah.” Zann pulled her right hand from her pocket and covered Lydia’s on her arm. She smiled as she touched her forehead to Lydia’s. “I’m positive.”

Lydia’s lashes fluttered. “You’re something, all right.”

“Oh my god!”

Zann tore her attention from Lydia at Eve’s outburst, and followed her gaze to where Jack and Michael looked to be having a handstand contest on the other side of the room. “Wow.” She cringed when Jack fell over, legs flailing in a misguided attempt to reclaim his balance, and his shins whacked the edge of a nearby table. “Ooh, that’s gonna leave a mark.”

“Jesus,” Alder swore.

Lydia cackled. “What the ever-loving-fuck started that?”

“It’s Jack. And Michael,” Zann replied dryly as Aspen and Kit tear ass across the room toward the guys. Whether it was to put a stop to their shenanigans or join in was anyone’s guess, but rather than wait to see how it all played out, she decided to take advantage of the diversion they created. “You want to get out of here and go for a walk on the beach or something?”

Lydia responded without missing a beat. “Absolutely.” She dragged her thumb over Zann’s triceps and squeezed her arm gently. “Let me just grab my things on our way out.”

Three minutes later, they were stopping at the bottom of the stairs that led from the patio to the resort’s private beach to pull off their shoes before heading hand-in-hand toward the water’s edge. It was too cold to wade in, but it was easier to walk on the damp sand, and Zann turned south so that if the incoming tide caught up to them, it’d hit her before it got to Lydia.

“This was a great idea,” Lydia murmured as she leaned into her side. “I’ve always loved walking on the beach at night. It’s so peaceful.”

Zann smiled and kissed Lydia’s temple. “Me too.”

“Mm, my family has a place in the Hamptons that I try to sneak off to in the summer whenever work allows, but it seems like it happens less and less every year.”

There was no mistaking the edge of regret laced in the wistfulness of Lydia’s confession, and Zann’s heart ached at the sound of it. “I’m sorry,” she whispered against Lydia’s ear.

Lydia hummed snuggled deeper into her side. “It’s not your fault.”

“No, but I’m still sorry.” Zann dropped her shoes and pulled Lydia into her arms. She smoothed her hands over Lydia’s hips as Lydia tossed her shoes aside as well, and smiled at her tenderly as Lydia’s arms wrapped around her neck. “I know your job’s important to you,” she said as she dipped her head to rest her forehead against Lydia’s, “but—”

Lydia shook her head. “It’s more important to my family.” She averted her gaze as she added, her voice hushed, “I’ve just always done what’s expected of me. And the biggest part of that is TAG. Always has been.” She sighed, and her eyes were sad when they met Zann’s again. “What did your parents say when you told them you wanted to pursue film?”

Zann caressed Lydia’s sides. “My moms—”