“I’m being cautiously optimistic.” I kissed her temple.
Zoey moved away to look me in the eye but held onto my index finger with hers. We wiggled them together. “Well, we’ve gone from zero to ten pretty fast, I’m a little overwhelmed.”
I coaxed her back into my side, where she burrowed back into me. “Zoey, we’ve been separated for years, but we can’t deny what is still between us.”
She tucked my hair behind my ear, absently, like the way she used to. “Do you believe that?”
“I really do. I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I first saw you again. But, I’m not sure what you want, do you think we can put the past in the past?” I traced her lips with my finger.
Instead of answering, she searched my eyes as if to make sure I was telling her the truth. And then, as if she had the answer, she pressed her lips to mine and kissed me like she was never going to stop. Forehead to forehead we grinned like fools at each other, smooching, holding hands, cuddling. The moon had now fully risen in the sky and its light danced on Puget Sound that warm September night.
Eventually, I took her hand and we went back into the party as a couple, certain that this birthday would turn out better than the last one I spent with her.
Chapter 13
ZOEY
My heart was bursting into a million fireworks when Ty held tightly to my hand as he navigated the crowd like an expert. We hadn’t been together when he was this famous, and it was a whole new experience to witness the metamorphosis of the shy, introverted young man into the poised, articulate, and self-assured celebrity having people attend to his every whim.
His once unruly chocolate waves were soft and shiny, flowing just past his shoulders. His piercing, blue eyes showed the confidence of someone who commanded 200,000 people at a festival and the gentle kindness of the man I fell in love with so long ago. In the past couple of months, Ty had filled out, and the definition of his chest and biceps under his plain black T-shirt was swoon-worthy. Let alone his impressive package under faded black jeans, which were held up by a studded, black leather belt.
He was yummy the day he showed up in my office in an Armani suit, but rocker Ty was still off the chain. Posing with every fan who was there, signing autographs on all sorts of LTZ paraphernalia, talking music, gracefully fending off a few groupies—it was all in the course of business. His skills were impeccable.
Throughout, Ty held my hand tightly while his thumb stroked my palm. I played with his bracelet to keep me somewhat grounded. The night felt like a dream. A good dream, but surreal. I’d come to this show thinking we were strictly professional friends. Was I leaving with a boyfriend? Dedicating a song that he wrote for me, live on air in front of all these people, was a big move and I was confused. Did he really want us to be a couple again? Had anyone here put two and two together and realized I was Z?
Needing to pee, I dropped Ty’s hand and excused myself to find the restroom, running straight into Zane and Conner on the way.
“Hey, Zoey!” Zane pulled me into a hug.
“Hi, Zane.” I smiled and hugged him back.
“So, you’re a lawyer now I hear.” Zane didn’t break our connection, so I had to.
“Yep.” I nodded at Conner. “Hey, Conner, good to see you.”
“Hey.”
I felt awkward, and decided to end our little reunion, “Well, I’m just trying to find the bathroom.”
“Zoey.” I was surprised to hear Conner speak to me. “I haven’t seen Ty happy in a long time. Um. Fuck. Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
Zane intervened, “We were there, Zoey. It was bad. Dad told me what he did, and whatever. It’s just that Ty’s our brother and we have to have his back.”
“I’m not sure what is happening with us, guys, but whatever it is, we are older and hopefully wiser, and we are also adults now. I appreciate your concern, and I’m aware of my own past mistakes but now it’s between us, and this time I’m going to protect that.” I looked at both of them sternly.
“Guys, you all saw me through some rough times, but Zoey is right, this is between us.” Ty came up behind me and placed both hands on my shoulders, drawing me back against him and wrapping his arms around me. “We’re going to figure this out together without any more interference.”
“Fair enough.” Connor gave Ty a middle finger salute and headed toward his bass rig.
“Dude—” Zane started.
“It’s cool, we’re going to head out.” Ty let him off the hook.
“Wait!” A beautiful dark-haired woman grabbed Ty’s arm and gave me a scathing look, which was replaced with a smile in an instant when she looked at Ty.
“What’s up, Sienna? We were just leaving.” Ty’s arm around me tightened possessively.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” She rubbed his biceps and directed her gaze up and down my body.
All of my hackles went up.
“Oh. Of course, this is the magnificent Zoey Pearson.” Ty kissed the top of my head.
“Hi,” I said quietly.
“Ahh, how fun. The famous ‘Z,’” Sienna drawled condescendingly. “So great to finally meet the girl that made LTZ’s career. Ty has been sooo secretive about you for all of these years.”
“Well, we’re heading out, I’ll talk to you later.” Ty ignored her snide attitude and tugged me away from the shark-like woman.
“Who is that?” I hoped it wasn’t a former girlfriend with all of my heart.
“Just Sienna, one of our publicists.” Ty rolled his eyes. “She took over after Jace got too busy, she and her partner Andrew are always up in our business.”
“Oh.”
“Ignore her.” Ty
