Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(83)

“Tomorrow, you rat’s ass. Her birthday is November fourteenth.”

Shit.

“Thanks for the heads up, Bro.”

“Ha,” he chuckles, “it’s the least I can do.

A few minutes later, a slow song comes on, and Josh and I find our ladies on the dance floor.

“Dance with me?” I ask, extending my hand.

“Always.” She smiles.

Her lavender scent radiates off her skin. I bury my nose in her hair and take a deep breath. “You always smell amazing, you know

that?”

“Stop making me blush. I don’t blush,” she teases. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“OK, shoot.”

“The week after the happy couple gets back from their honeymoon, I’m taking two weeks to go visit my parents in San Diego. Would

it be crazy of me to ask you to come? I want you to come. I haven’t seen my parents in a few months, but I haven’t really seen

you in a few months either, if you think about it. Come with me to San Diego.” She laughs at herself for rambling. I love when she

rambles.

“Of course I’ll go with you to San Diego.” It’s a no-brainer. I don’t want to leave this woman for a second. This past week

was brutal.

“Really?” Her face lights up. I love when I’m responsible for that.

“Really. It’ll be my birthday present to you.”

Her jaw drops. “How do you know when my birthday is?”

I look over my shoulder to Josh and Mon, who are grinning at us. Ember and I say, “Josh” at the same time and fall into a fit of

laughter.

Deep in our souls, we have each other.



*



Ember



“Crap, she’s doing the bouquet toss, come with me.” I take Bo’s hand and lead him out of the reception room, Monica shaking her

head sarcastically as I run by her.

“What was that about?” Bo laughs as we run into the cold November air.

“Long story. So, you’re sure you can come to San Diego with me? Or, that you want to?” I rub my hands over my arms for warmth.

In a chivalrous moment, Bo takes off his black suit coat and wraps it around my shoulders.

“Of course I want to. I want to get to know your parents.” He hugs me close and I breathe in his scent.

“I want you to know them. And I want them to know you.”

Bo’s voice sounds a little further away. “My parents would have loved you.”

“Yeah?” I untuck my head from beneath his chin and meet his glistening eyes. “What were they like, Bo?”

Bo drapes his hand over the back of my head and nudges it back to his chest before continuing.

“My dad was...stern with me. He loved me a lot, and I loved him. He wanted the best for me and wanted me to be the best at

everything. Rae was the one who melted his heart.” A smile overcomes his voice. “I really hope to be like him someday.”

“And your mom?”

Bo takes a deep breath, and for a second I think he won’t say anything. “Man, did my dad love her. Fiercely. She was quiet, but

strong. She would come in my room at night in high school, after she knew I should have been asleep, and tell me to put the books

down. She would turn off my light and pull the covers over me after I climbed into bed. She smelled like vanilla ...” Bo trails

off and looks into the distance.

“I think I would have really loved them, too.” I say into his shoulder.

I don’t know the moment it happened, but here we are, out in the cold holding onto each other, swaying to music decades in the

making between us. Music no one else can hear.





Chapter Forty-One


“Here it is. Blue Seed Studios. Are you ready for this?” I say with a deep breath as Bo wraps his arm around my shoulders.

We’ve been in San Diego for a little more than a week, and have spent a lot of time with my parents and plenty of time alone.

Despite their offer to have us stay with them and Willow’s family, we opted for our own oceanfront condo. Waking up on the warm

ocean everyday is something a girl could get used to. The constant sun’s not bad, either.

“Let’s go, Chicken.” He holds the door open.

The smell of incense sends us back about forty years as we wander down the long hall toward the single studio. A larger stage and

bar-looking area sits in the center of the building, with small practice rooms along either side of the hallway. In the back, we

reach the studio, where all six original band members are jamming.

“November Blue! Good Lord, Raven and Ashby, you didn’t tell me you grew a super model!” Solstice, Willow’s mom, races to me and

hugs me with might. “And, this must be Bo Cavanaugh. Nice to meet you, I’m Solstice Shaw.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is a great studio you’ve got here.” Bo smiles as he looks around.

“Oh please,” my dad interjects teasingly, “we know you’ve got a state-of-the-art set up in Concord. We’re just waiting for the

invite.”

“Dad!” I shout, mortified.