Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Damien suddenly found everyone looking at him. It had already occurred to him to offer his house, but something had held him back. The idea of all their families and friends coming together to his house for a party to celebrate Crystal… it was, well, intimate in a way he wasn’t used to.
Okay, he was being weird. He tried to look enthusiastic. “I was just about to offer. You’re right. It’s the perfect place to have the party.”
Erin looked quite excited now. “And it’ll be easier to get her there for the surprise, because there are all kinds of reasons we might come by your place. Good.”
Venue—Home? Salsa club? Hotel? Damien’s house.
They talked about logistics a little longer. Until Mila said, “I’m really, really happy Crystal Lopez is going to have a great birthday party, but I just got engaged today. Are we going to talk about my wedding anytime soon?”
They all laughed, including Damien. He said, “I’m super happy for you guys. I think you’re really good together. But I have to get moving—I’m hiking this afternoon.”
For some reason, he left out the part about its being with Crystal. He gave his mom a quick hug, waved to the rest, and headed out to his car, a strange but happy excitement building as he imagined the afternoon ahead.
Chapter Nine
When Damien arrived at Crystal’s house, she was waiting outside, ready to go in navy athletic shorts that showed off long, tanned dancer’s legs, and a pink T-shirt with a dance logo on the front. A dark pink baseball cap shaded her eyes, and she’d threaded her ponytail through the hole in the back of it. She looked both athletic and feminine as she smiled at him, waving hello.
Pointing at her wristwatch, she said, “One-thirty exactly! I don’t know how you do it.”
Damien laughed. Everyone loved to tease him about his timekeeping, but he had an instinct about time. He was never early or late, but always exactly on time. “It’s my superpower,” he said with mock modesty.
“It’s going to be gorgeous on the trails. I’m so glad you suggested a hike.”
“I need to get some exercise after all that food,” Damien admitted. “Those family breakfasts seem to get bigger every time I show up.” He patted his belly, although he knew there wasn’t a stomach bulge in sight. He ate too clean and worked out too hard.
Crystal’s eyes traveled to his abdomen and a shiver went through him as he imagined her hands gliding across him. He crossed his arms over his stomach.
She said, “I think that as the family grows, your mom wants to include everyone. So she gives out food-prepping jobs when really there’s already enough to feed a small army. But she sure knows how to make a newcomer feel welcome.” Crystal looked down, almost as if she was feeling shy, which was crazy, since they’d known each other forever. Then her whole face transformed as she smiled. “She’s always been like a second mom to me.”
Damien’s heart warmed. He loved and admired his mom so much and he appreciated how she’d always welcomed their friends into the family, encouraging playdates and sleepovers when they were young.
“And I don’t have to tell you that you’re part of the family,” he reminded her. This was one of the perks of spending more time in Carmel—seeing both his family and Crystal. He’d missed them both more than he’d realized.
They got into the fancy sports car he’d splurged on after his first record went platinum, and he fired up the engine, excited to drive up the winding hill road to his favorite hiking spot, Garland Ranch, where his teenaged self had loved to take long hikes and scribble song lyrics in his worn notebook.
When they reached the regional park and he’d turned off the engine, he turned to Crystal. “I’ve missed hiking here.”
“I’m not exactly hardcore. Let’s hope I don’t disappoint,” she replied with a laugh that seemed to dance in the air between them as they set off together.
Crystal could never disappoint him. And how like her to downplay her own athleticism. She did have a dance studio in her house, after all.
The park was busy on a Saturday, but Damien soon led them to a less used trail, and one that quickly had them climbing. Crystal might not think of herself as hardcore, but she was keeping up just fine. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of the trees and the sound of a river running nearby. “Isn’t this better than planning my sister’s wedding?”
Crystal shot him a playful look. “Actually, I’m planning right now. I have all my best ideas when I’m walking.”
“Same,” he mused, recalling how the lyrics to his first hit had been penned during a three-hour hike. He’d practiced endlessly on the beach with his guitar, but often the lyrics came to him while he was walking.