The door unlocks then. It swings open so fast it creates a breeze, and before I’ve even had the chance to look up I’m being yanked over the threshold and into someone’s arms.
I recognize the perfume and the shampoo scent in a heartbeat. It’s Rachael’s, and it has been for as long as I can remember. Her long hair gets in my face as she hugs me tight all while squealing, and I can do nothing but laugh against her shoulder. It really is good to see her. It reminds me of my life back in Santa Monica. The past four weeks, I’d almost forgotten about it entirely.
“God, Rachael,” I murmur, “are you trying to break my arm?” Still laughing, I manage to wrangle my way out of her firm hold and then take a step back so that I can study her.
Her hair’s a few shades darker than I remember and has clearly had several inches trimmed off, but I don’t mention it. I remember Dean said she wasn’t all that impressed with it. Other than that, she’s my same old best friend who’s wearing a huge grin. “I’ve missed you!”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I say. I hadn’t realized that I had until now. I’ve just been so distracted by everything else going on, and now I’m starting to feel guilty.
“Tyler!” Rachael’s eyes widen as she stares at him for a moment, and I honestly can’t blame her. He looks like he’s aged half a decade in the time that he’s been gone. He’s lingering awkwardly at the door, but Rachael steps around me to pull him into a hug, too. It’s only brief, and once she draws away from him she pulls him into the suite by his arm and clicks the door shut. “I can’t believe it’s been a year!”
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Tyler says. There’s a small smile on his lips now, and I can’t figure out if it’s genuine or fake. Either way, he no longer looks uncomfortable.
While they talk, I take a minute or so to check out the suite. It’s huge, and it looks like there are separate bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchenette. It’s all hardwood flooring with oriental rugs, and it all feels rather elegant and vintage, yet somehow modern at the same time. There’s some impressive artwork on the walls, but I don’t stare at it for long before I walk back over to Tyler’s side.
“So is the subway safe?” Rachael asks him, eyes wide. “We won’t get shot or anything?”
“Don’t worry about the subway,” Tyler says. I can tell he wants to roll his eyes at her, but he refrains. “Just don’t look like a tourist and you’ll be fine.”
I glance around the suite again. Something’s missing. It takes me a second to realize, and when I do, I flash my eyes over to Rachael and interrupt their conversation. “Where’s Meghan?”
Slowly, Rachael glances over. She almost smiles, but she bites it back and shrugs rather nonchalantly instead. “She brought back some virus with her from Europe. She literally couldn’t stop throwing up so she didn’t come.”
“So you came all the way over here on your own?”
The words have barely left my lips when someone throws their arms over my shoulders and Tyler’s, grabbing us tightly. I flinch at the abruptness of it, and before I even get the chance to turn around a voice is murmuring, “Hey, New Yorkers.”
My heart stops. Not because of the momentary scare, but because of the voice. It’s one I recognize all too well.
It’s Dean’s.
Shrugging his arm off me, I spin around at the exact same time Tyler does, and I’m exactly right.
Dean’s standing in front of me. There’s a huge grin plastered on his face and his dark eyes are sparkling as he steps toward me, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me tightly against his chest. I feel so numb that I can’t even hug him back. I just stand there, my lips parted in disbelief and my eyes wide. Over Dean’s shoulder, Tyler’s staring back at me, his face as pale as mine. We’re both thinking the exact same thing: I wish this wasn’t happening right now.
“Surprise,” Dean whispers. His voice sends a chill down my spine as he buries his face into my hair, and it all feels so foreign now. I’m not used to Dean. I’m used to Tyler.
Dean shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be in New York with Tyler and me. He’s supposed to be in Santa Monica. I’m supposed to have two more weeks to figure out what I’m going to do about him. I’m not ready to deal with this now. Dean being here could ruin everything.
When he finally lets go, he stares down at me in awe, shaking his head as he smiles. Wide and sincere. It hurts to see it. “God, I’ve missed you so much,” he says, and he presses his lips against mine.