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Asmall smile curves my lips.Foronce, the white expanse in front of me doesn’t look like a glaring reminder of what’s missing in my life.Thistime, it holds the promise of a fresh start.
ChapterThree
Devon
Shaewalksout of theLAXarrivals gate with a backpack over her shoulder, spotting us the second she comes around the corner.Notthat we’re easy to miss.Agroup of fans crowds around us, held back byMatt, one of our bodyguards, whileBeauholds up a homemade sign.
WelcometoLA,ShaeBear.
Shealways hated that nickname, andIcan sense her eye roll from here.Butshe can’t hold back the smile that bursts across her face a second later.
WithMattleading the way, we weave through the people surrounding us.Wealready signed autographs while we were waiting, so most of them disperse with no protest.
Assoon as we get to her,Beauhands his sign off toMattand wraps his arms around her.Shesmiles up at him whileIwait impatiently for my turn.
Whenhe lets her go,Iswoop in and pull her to me.Shepresses her cheek to my chest, andIdrop a kiss on the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent of coconut and lime that makes my chest tighten.Shesmells just as good asIremember.
Herpretty brown eyes are glossy when she peers up at me, like she’s holding back happy tears. “Ilove the sign.Butdon’t you think it’s time you guys pick a more grown-up nickname?”
“Butyou’ll always be our littleShaeBear,”Beausays from where he’s hovering next to me.
Irelease her and turn to him. “ShaeBearwas your thing, not mine.”I’venever called her that.Ihad another nickname for her.Onethat jumped into my head unbidden the first time she turned those big brown eyes on me.
Beaushrugs and grins unrepentantly. “Comeon, let’s go.”
Iguide her toward the exit with a hand on the small of her back.Mattmoves with us, fending off a few last-minute rushes by fans.Shaepresses nearer to me when some of the more enthusiastic ones get too close.It’snothing new for us, butI’msure it’s strange for her to have people be so careless about personal space.
Shestops when she sees the exit sign ahead. “Wait.I’vegot to get my suitcase.”
“WesentRobto get it,”Beausays, referring to another of our bodyguards. “It’sthe same tatty pink one you’ve had since high school, isn’t it?”
Shegives him a playful glare. “It’snot tatty, it’s well-loved.AndI’llhave you know the color is raspberry sherbet.”
“I’msorry.WhatImeant to say was thatIsentRobto get your well-loved raspberry sherbet suitcase.”
Shebeams. “That’sbetter.”
Oncewe’re out of the terminal, we make our way to my custom pitch-blackDodgeChallenger.BeauoffersShaethe passenger seat, but she turns it down the way she always does when the three of us are together, saying he needs more leg room than her.Afew minutes later,Robloads her suitcase in the trunk, then he andMattslide into the car parked behind ours.Igive them a two-finger salute since they won’t be following us back to ourCenturyCityapartment.
AsIweave through the traffic heading north,Iglance atShaein the rearview mirror.She’squiet as she looks from side to side, taking in our surroundings as we pass.She’svisited us a few times over the years, but never for long.Andto people like us, who grew up inAshford, it’s like landing on another planet.Growingup in a smallishMinnesotantown did not prepare any of us for the craziness of this place, butBeauandIhave had years to adjust.
Partof me still can’t believe we’re here.Withthe success ofCrossfire’slast two albums, we’re practically superstars, with the income to prove it.NotthatIever doubted our ambition and drive, but getting discovered and getting signed requires as much luck as it does talent.Maybemore.Wecould easily have faded into obscurity or gone home with our heads hung in defeat.
Ofcourse,Crossfiredid have an advantage, becauseZacandNoahTaylor, the two founding members, had already gained fame as members ofFractured.They’dformedCrossfireas a side project whenFracturedwas on hiatus four years ago.AndCalebhad joined us afterNoahleft for personal reasons.Nowwe’re going from strength to strength, with the possibility of aGrammynomination being bandied around this year.
Butgetting too caught up in awards and accolades makes it easy to lose sight of what’s important—the fans, the music, and the good times with the people we love.
Myfocus drifts back to the rearview mirror, toShae’spretty profile, the slight curve of her lips as she takes in the passing sights.Hopefully, we’ll have some good times with her while she’s here.
Maybeenough that she’ll decide to stay and apply to school.
Afteranother ten minutes, we pull into the secured parking garage under our apartment building.IunloadShae’ssuitcase, refusing her attempt to take it from me.ThenBeauandIlead her to the elevator, which whisks us up to our penthouse on the twenty-second floor.
I’msurprisingly nervous about whatShaewill think of it, which is ridiculous because it’s a fucking awesome apartment.
WhenBeauopens the front door and ushers her through, she stops just inside, her mouth falling open.Thenshe slowly continues into the middle of the living room and surveys the space, taking in the floor to ceiling windows, white oak floorboards, and heavy walnut furniture.Brilliantsunlight streams in through all the glass, bouncing off the white walls.
Shaeturns back to us, her eyes wide. “Thisplace is stunning.Thenatural light is just… wow.Ilove it.”
