“Look at you, sitting your ass in the sand and not complaining about dry-cleaning.”
His chest vibrates in a laugh against my back as I relax between his legs. “I’ve recently learned that sometimes the clothes don’t matter all that much. Just the memories you make in them.”
“Sounds like something an incredibly bright and wise woman would say.”
“She’s all right.”
Zanders’ arms snake around my shoulders, holding me to him, his warm lips working their way up my neck and across my jaw. I melt into him as the ocean waves crash along the bank, filling the silence around us.
“I miss Rosie,” he whines against my skin.
Keeping my lips pressed together, I try to suppress my smile. Rosie is exactly what Zanders needed, whether or not he realized it. She’s become his partner, always at his side and willingly giving him the unconditional love he’s not great at asking for but needs.
She’s a good reminder that there’s someone who needs him, someone who relies on him. And she’s a reason for him to miss home. Zanders might not have realized it, but seeing his best friends build a family around him, even though they always include him, probably left him wanting his own connection to Chicago. And now he has one.
“Did you get any pictures today?”
“Yes.” He beams. “Do you want to see?” But he’s already got his phone unlocked and scrolling before I can respond.
His chin rests on my shoulder, and even though I can’t see his smile, I can picture it perfectly as his thumb swipes, showing off today’s photos of his black and tan girl.
His poor dog-sitter was bombarded with multiple messages a day during Zanders’ first few road trips as Rosie’s owner. Eventually, they compromised that at least one picture a day would assure the overprotective dog dad that his girl was in good hands.
Did I ever think I would be looking at pictures of Rosie sprawled out on a luxurious dog bed or sunbathing on a chaise lounge while her overly expensive dog collar shines in the sun? No. Not in a million years. Especially since she spent an entire year at SDOC, but that intimidating girl is as sweet as can be, and it just took an equally intimidating boy to see it.
“I still can’t believe you got her that collar.”
“She’s got a chain just like her dad,” he boasts before spinning one of the rings on my fingers. “All my girls got some drip.”
I hold his tattooed hand in mine. “All but you and this pinky.”
“This is my favorite one, Stevie girl.” He allows me to spin the ring that’s lost all its shine. “Because it was yours, and you’re my favorite.”
His phone begins to ring in his grasp right there in front of me, his agent’s name plastered across the screen.
“Fuck,” he sharply exhales before pushing decline.
“You can answer. I’ll be quiet.”
“I don’t want to hear it from him right now. He’s either going to berate me for staying out of the public eye the last few months or praise me for getting in a fight I didn’t actually participate in.”
I can sense him staring at his phone from behind me, expecting it to ring again. And when Rich’s name fills the screen once more, Zanders declines it without hesitation, tucking his phone away.
“Get naked.”
“What?” I ask in shock, head snapping back to his.
“Get naked. Or at least get down to your bra and underwear.”
I pause, not saying a word, sitting in confusion.
“If you’re telling me you’re not wearing any panties right now, we’re about to have a real different conversation where the only words exchanged are ‘good girl’ and ‘daddy.’”
A laugh escapes me. “You wish I’d call you ‘daddy’ in bed.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Why am I getting almost naked?”
“Because you’re about to follow me into the Atlantic Ocean.”
He stands from the sand behind me before walking around to face me. There’s not much light, just the slight glow from the moon, but it’s enough to see him remove his shirt and pants before reaching his hand down for me.
“Come on, sweetheart. We both know your favorite thing to do is follow me.”
I playfully roll my eyes, allowing him to pull me to my feet. “I’ve never once followed you. I’m still convinced you had some sort of tracking device on me so that you could show up wherever I was and ruin my night.” My clothes fall onto the sand with his, leaving me in only my bra and underwear.
His warm palms squeeze my ass before traveling south, lifting me and wrapping my legs around his middle. “I think the universe knew we needed to run into each other all those times. We both know you were too blind to notice the devastatingly handsome man in front of you.” He pops a kiss on my lips as he carries me into the ocean. “And I was too blind to know what I needed most in life was right there on my plane.”
“My plane,” I correct.
“Sorry, can’t hear.” He works his mouth against my neck as he steps further into the surprisingly warm ocean.
As the water surrounds us, I begin to feel light in his grasp, floating but still wrapped around his neck and waist as Zanders stands in the shallow end. The moonlight plays off the water’s surface, giving me just enough light to see the beautiful man in front of me.
Silence lingers between us, but not in an awkward way. In a peaceful way. As if we’re both right where we belong, and there are no words needed to fill the void or break the quiet. It’s content.
“Stevie?” Zanders whispers into the silence.
“Mm-hmm?”
“You are. You know that, right? You’re what I needed most in life.”
There’s a slight flutter in my chest, and it’s not that he doesn’t say these things often, but sometimes the words hit differently. And when the man who has everything in life, who has every option the world has to offer at his fingertips, tells you you’re what he needed most, well, it’s hard not to let those words affect you.
Tightening his hold, Zanders presses me into his body, our chests flush. Staring into those hazel eyes, I’m not sure if he understands how much he’s done for me. He’s changed my life because he’s changed my perspective. He reminds me that I’m worthy of being chosen, and having that confidence changes everything. Every situation, every circumstance is viewed through a new lens.
“You’re my best friend,” he continues.
Brows raising, I ask, “Have you broken the news to Maddison yet?”
“Sometimes I think he might like his wife more than me, so he can just deal with it.”
Chuckling, I lean forward, pressing my lips to his. “You’re my best friend too, Zee. Which is a huge development because just six months ago, I convinced myself I hated you.”
“You never hated me.” He brushes me off.
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
Why? Because hating you was a whole lot less scary than acknowledging that one day, I was going to love you.
“Because you were everything I didn’t want. Athlete. Arrogant. Too many options to choose from.”
“Sex-god. Model good looks. Charming as hell,” he continues for me.