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“Go out and hang with your sister,” she said, not wanting him to distract her while she was getting ready. “I’ll be out soon.”
He left her alone, and she made quick work of her shower and brushing her teeth. She put on mascara and lip gloss and released her hair from the quick topknot she’d clipped onto her head so it didn’t get wet. She left her hair down and loose, though she kept a band around her wrist just in case she wanted to braid it later. Since the kids had mentioned a trip to the beach, she put on the bikini she’d bought at Walmart, and wore one of the casual dresses over the two-piece swimsuit.
As she headed down the short hallway and toward the voices drifting from the living room, a bout of nerves swirled to life in Raevynn’s stomach, because she wasn’t sure how Avery would react after not seeing or hearing from her for seven years. Would things be awkward? Would Avery keep her distance and treat Raevynn like a celebrity like everyone else did? Would their conversation be stilted and superficial?
Those were her worst fears when she wanted nothing more than to just be accepted as Raevynn the friend. But a lot of years had passed, and there was no telling how Avery felt about her now.
Taking a deep breath to chase away her anxiety, she turned the corner at the end of the hallway, glancing toward the living room, where the kids were busy putting a puzzle together on the coffee table and Collin and Avery were sitting next to each other on the couch, chatting and each enjoying a cup of coffee.
A few steps in, and Avery turned her head, her wide-eyed gaze meeting Raevynn’s. Collin’s sister gasped in shock, set her mug on the end table, then jumped up from the sofa and rushed toward her. The other woman pulled Raevynn into the biggest, tightest, most genuine hug that was filled with so much affection. She embraced Avery back, and when they finally pulled apart, Raevynn had a huge lump of pure emotional joy in her throat that she had to swallow back.
“Avery, you look amazing,” Raevynn said, and meant it. Her friend had matured into a beautiful woman with voluptuous, sexy curves. The last time she’d seen Avery’s dark brown hair, it had been long, straight, and halfway down her back, but was now cut into a cute shoulder-length fashion that was layered and styled with beachy waves.
“So do you!” Avery’s green eyes sparkled as she grabbed Raevynn’s hands. “Oh, my God, it’s so good to see you! I can’t believe you’re really here. Collin was just telling me how the two of you ended up together here at the beach house.” Then she lowered her voice and grimaced. “I’m really sorry about the kids barging into the bedroom like that. They were so excited to see Collin.”
Raevynn couldn’t stop the warm flush that crept onto her cheeks, because Avery wasn’t stupid and had probably concluded that they’d slept together. But then again, her friend was one of the very few people who knew about Raevynn’s romantic relationship with Collin all those years ago, so she tried to quell her embarrassment.
“Who is that, Mommy?” the little girl asked as she glanced curiously from the puzzle to Raevynn. “Her hair is so long and pretty, like Rapunzel’s.”
Collin chuckled while Avery guided her forward. “This is Raevynn,” she said to her daughter, then pointed back
to the little girl. “That’s Harper, and the little boy who looks like a mini-me of Kevin is Lucas.”
“Hello,” Raevynn said with a friendly smile, agreeing that Lucas was a much younger version of his handsome father.
“Hi!” the two of them chimed together, their expressions a bit shy meeting a stranger for the first time.
“Raevynn is my best friend,” Avery added.
Is, not was. Trying not to let another wave of emotion overwhelm her, she met the other woman’s gaze gratefully. “You have no idea how much that means to me. In all these years, you never stopped being my best friend, Avery.”
“I’m so glad.” Avery pulled her into another quick hug before releasing her. “We have so much to catch up on!”
Raevynn glanced at the man sitting on the couch, casually drinking his coffee and smiling at her in a sweet but sexy way that made her heart beat hard and fast in her chest. He’d given her this gift, and it made her love him even more for his thoughtfulness.
“Thank you.” She mouthed the words to him while Avery was picking up a piece of the puzzle that had dropped to the floor.
“You’re welcome,” he returned in the same way, and winked at her.
The silent, intimate conversation between them made her smile. Everything with Collin was so easy. So natural. So real. God, she was going to miss him when she had to return to her gilded tower.
“Uncle Cah-win,” Lucas said in his adorable three-year-old voice as he stood up from where he’d been kneeling in front of the coffee table. He patted Collin’s knee to get his attention. “When are we going to da beach?”
“Soon.” Collin gently chucked the cute boy beneath his chin. “How about you and your sister help me make some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, then we’ll pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks for later. After that, we’ll grab your sand toys and be on our way.”
“Yay!” Both the kids burst out with excitement, then raced to the kitchen.
“Do you want help?” Avery asked.
“Nope. I got this, and them,” Collin assured his sister, then stopped and kissed Raevynn on her cheek, bold as he pleased. “You two enjoy the time alone to talk and catch up.”
Avery gave her a perceptive look as they sat down on the couch, side by side. “Clearly, you and my brother picked up where you left off all those years ago.”
Raevynn nodded since there was no denying the truth, but didn’t elaborate on their current status quo. Instead, she spoke from the heart. “I missed him, and I missed you.”
“I feel the same way,” Avery replied, then waved a hand in the air between them as if to dismiss the emotional, mushy stuff, her eyes suddenly sparkling with curiosity. “So, tell me all about being Raevynn Walsh, the mega-superstar.”
Raevynn rolled her eyes. Talking about herself and her career wasn’t her favorite topic, but she understood Avery’s fascination and gave her a rundown of the past seven years—from winning Encore to becoming the opening act for huge singers, then finally headlining her own shows around the world. Avery asked questions about the songs she wrote, the videos she made, and what her life was like, in general, while Raevynn tried to be as open and honest about everything as possible.
