Four years later

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room, my hands trembling as I brushed the nonexistent wrinkles from the jade-green jersey knit dress I’d just tried on.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever been as nervous as I was right then. The guys and Tate were coming home for the first time in over four years. The band had blown up faster than anyone anticipated, becoming huge stars two years earlier. Because of that and their grueling schedule, coming back to visit had been impossible. What was only supposed to be a six-month trip had turned into a permanent relocation for them from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I ached to see them all, but at the same time I was so happy for their success.

One thing that had made it all right was the fact that Mace had done his best to keep in touch through text, email, and the occasional call. He even mailed me fun little gifts from time to time.

When he’d let me know they were all coming home for Christmas, I’d squealed so loud my dad freaked out and came busting into the room, thinking someone had snuck through my window and was attacking me.

Will was picking them up from the airport later today, and they were going to come over to our house for an elaborate pre-Christmas dinner. When I found out, I’d immediately called my friend Bethany and begged her to come to the mall with me to pick the perfect outfit. It hadn’t been an easy task. Nothing I tried on was right. It either looked like I was trying too hard, or not trying hard enough, and I was really starting to freak out.

Blowing out a deep breath, I pressed my palm against my belly in an attempt to quell the butterflies flapping around like crazy. “Chill out, Ly. This isn’t a big deal,” I muttered to my reflection. “It’s not like you’re seeing the love of your life for the first time in four freaking years.”

This visit was important for so many reasons. When Mace left, I’d been a clumsy thirteen-year-old girl. Now I was only a handful of months from turning eighteen. After being jealous of Tate for so long, I’d finally developed a woman’s body of my own, and I needed him to see that, because I was finally going to tell him the truth. I couldn’t keep living with the secret any longer. I had to know whether or not there was a chance for us. I’d spent my entire high school experience trying to remain invisible to the opposite sex, not open to the possibility of a relationship with any of the boys my age because I’d been pining after someone else. The time had come to act and take charge of my life. It was now or never.

“For God’s sake!” Bethany cried from the other side of the curtain. “Will you just find a freaking outfit so we can get out of here? It’s been five hours, Ly! I never thought I’d say this, but you’ve made me hate shopping.”

I puffed my cheeks out and crossed my eyes at her dramatics. Bethany would never get sick of shopping. It was pretty much the only thing she lived for. “Will you stop complaining already?” I called back. “I brought you here for moral support!”

“What’s your deal with finding the perfect outfit? Have you finally decided to pull that stick outta your ass and give Nick Bishop a shot?” Just the mention of the quarterback of our football team and his incessant habit of asking me out was enough to turn my stomach, but I couldn’t tell her the truth. At least not yet. Fortunately, I was saved from having to lie when she continued on. “Oh, and just so you know, I’m super pissed at you right now. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Civil Corruption was coming to town! Do you know where they’re staying once they get here? And most importantly, can you introduce me?”

Looking at myself in the mirror, I chewed on my thumbnail as I considered what to say. No way in hell was I going to tell her I was looking for something to wear for my family dinner with the guys from the band.

The whole town knew of my family’s connection, but having also known them before they hit it big, most of the people around respected their privacy and didn’t hound us. Bethany wasn’t always so considerate. She’d moved here at the beginning of our senior year, and the second she found out I knew them she’d gone nuts. She was as bad as a dog with a freaking bone, but I kept my mouth shut about the guys. I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about my personal relationship with them. It felt too much like giving up a piece of something that was just mine.

“Uh, I’m not sure. They’re more Will’s friends than mine,” I said, replying with the standard answer I’d been giving for years as I tugged on the hem of the skirt in an attempt to make it a little longer. I liked that the dress made me look more grown-up, but I wasn’t sure I’d be comfortable with how much of my legs it showed.

“Oh come on! That’s such crap. You know something, you’re just not telling. You’ve already refused to hook me up with that hot big bro of yours. You owe me.”

My lip curled up in disgust at the thought of Bethany with Will. “Ew, Beth! Stop talking about my brother like that. He’s not interested in a high schooler.”

“We’re graduating soon, and eighteen’s legal, babe.”

That’s what I was counting on, not that I’d ever admit it to her.

Deciding a change of subject was necessary, I whipped the curtain open and stepped out. “So?” I held my arms out, spinning in a circle. “What about this one?” I came to a stop once I faced her again and chewed on my bottom lip.

“Dayum, girl! You look hot!”

“It’s not too much?” I asked nervously.

“You kidding?” she scoffed, standing and coming toward me. She pulled the fabric at my waist, drawing the skirt back up to its natural place about an inch above mid-thigh. “There’s no such thing as too much. Especially when it comes to Nick Bishop. He’s gonna swallow his tongue when he sees you in this.

A huge part of me wanted to tell her everything so I wouldn’t be alone in the chaotic storm swirling inside me, but I didn’t. Instead, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep quiet. Bethany was someone I considered a friend, but I hadn’t known her long enough to open up and tell her everything. The only one I had ever been close to like that was Tate, and she was closer with the guys than she was with me.

“You are so getting that dress, and don’t you dare argue with me. So help me God, if I have to sit here while you try one more thing on, I’m gonna lose my freaking mind.”

I giggled and finally agreed, taking pity on my friend. “Fine. Let me change and get this rung up, and then we can grab a bubble tea. Sound good?” Then I needed to hightail it home so I had enough time to get ready. I wanted—no, I needed to look my absolute best for tonight.

She held out her hand to shake mine. “It’s on. And you’re totally buying.”

* * *

Pulling into the driveway, I noticed Will’s car parked in front of my parents’ house. Yanking my keys from the ignition, I hopped out and started up the front walk with my shopping bags in tow.

“Will?” I called as I pushed the front door open. “Aren’t you supposed to be heading to the airport? If you’re here to raid the fridge again, Mom’s gonna be pissed! She said once you moved out, it wasn’t her job to feed you anymo—”

“Surprise, Goldie.”

I jerked to a stop, dropping my bags and purse on the ground. “Holy crap,” I breathed, staring up at Mace in shock. “You’re here. Why are you here?”

“Wow,” he said with a smooth, warm chuckle. “Good to see you too.”

I gave my head a shake to try and organize my jumbled thoughts. “No, that’s not—what I meant is what are you doing here now? I thought you guys weren’t getting in until later.” My stomach started doing Olympic-style gymnastic flips. I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to throw myself at him, wrap my arms around his neck and never ever let go. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to burst into tears for some insane reason.

But I couldn’t do any of that.

Mace propped a shoulder on the wall, blocking my path. “Will didn’t tell you? That was a trick to throw off reporters. Fewer to deal with when we get in several hours before our scheduled arrival.”

It blew my plans to get all dolled up before he saw me for the first time in years right out of the water, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. He was here, close enough for me to touch. The only thing I felt was pure elation. “I can’t… I just can’t believe you’re here,” I whispered, my voice ragged with a whirlwind of emotions.

His mouth quirked up in a grin that made my skin tingle and my knees quake. “So you just gonna stand there, or you plan on giving me a hug? It’s been four fuckin’ years, Goldie.”

I didn’t have to be asked twice, launching myself at him so fast that he was forced to rock back on one foot. “Whoa there, tiger.” He laughed at the same time his arms closed around me. I wanted to melt into him and live there forever.

The desire to cry grew even stronger when he lowered his head and whispered, “Christ, I missed you, Ly.”

The hug was unlike any hug he’d ever given me before. Nothing about how he was touching me right then felt brotherly or friendly. It was like my skin was the only thing holding me together.

I was moments away from opening my mouth and blurting out the truth. However, before I had a chance, footsteps echoed from the kitchen into the hall. Mace’s arms fell and he stepped back like my touch had burned him.

“There she is!” Declan crowed, scooping me up and spinning me in a circle as Killian, Garrett, Tate, and my brother crowded into the hall behind him. “Damn, Lyla Bug, you’ve grown up! What happened to the little girl we said goodbye to?”

“Four years passed,” I answered once he put me on my feet, giggling at his antics even though Mace jumping away from me was like a white-hot fire poker piercing my lungs. “I’m almost eighteen now,” I added, feeling it necessary to point out my age for everyone around me to hear. “Not exactly the same little girl you guys left behind.”

“Outta my way, outta my way!” Tate shoved Declan to the side and pulled me into a hug so tight she squeezed all the air from my lungs. “Oh my God! You’re so pretty! I’ve missed you like crazy!”

The guys laughed while Garrett pulled the wild redhead back. “Easy there, Tater tot. You’re gonna break the poor kid.”

Kid. God, I hated that he still thought of me like that, but worse, I hated that Mace probably thought the same thing.

I chanced a peek at Mace over Tate’s shoulder and lost my breath at the look in his eyes as he watched me closely. I wasn’t sure if it was just my mind playing tricks on me or not, but what I saw lingering in those aquamarine pools made me feel like he wasn’t seeing a kid when he looked at me.

And I liked that feeling a whole hell of a lot.