Page 25 of Chasing Me (Beyond Me #2)

QUINN

“I can’t believe five days have gone by already,” Mac sighed, her familiar wide-brimmed hat hiding her from the sun.

“It’s been a hell of a week,” Cassie sighed, sipping her own fruit concoction. We had all carved out a few hours to sip cocktails in the sun and enjoy the last of our freedom before our final night.

How different this trip was from last year.

Yes, we still sipped our Sex on the Beach drinks, and lay in the sun, and teased and laughed with each other.

Yes, Mac was still a huge country star hidden behind a stylish hat, and Cassie was still serious and involved in another dangerous case since she’d testified a week ago at trial.

But James wasn’t here. It had nothing to do with the yacht, or his mansion, or the wild parties.

I missed him so bad, my body wept with the pain.

His smile, his touch, his laugh. I missed the way he used to put his hand at the small of my back when we walked together, in protection and possession.

I missed the way he knew I hated beer, and liked things tidy, and needed to help others in order to feel whole.

I loved the way he held me in his arms, with all the rough passion I needed to be completely alive. I loved who I was when I was with him.

Mac peered at me from under the shadowed brim. “You miss him.”

I laughed. They knew me best. When I’d first arrived and told them everything, they’d cursed James and vowed to kill him.

It was only later, when I discussed how the last six months had developed between us, telling them about Brian and what Ava had done, that they began to understand, and grudgingly told me if I forgave James, they would, too.

“Yeah.”

Cassie gave me a searching look. “You’re ready to forgive him, aren’t you?”

Slowly, I nodded. I had needed the time away to see what life was like without James. And I realized something else. I could live without him. I was strong, capable, and would find love again.

But I didn’t want to.

I wanted to forgive, rebuild, and go on stronger than before.

Wasn’t that what real love was about? Messiness and mistakes and some pain in order to appreciate the good stuff?

Deciding what I could and couldn’t live with?

I’d learned so much about myself and James this past year. I wasn’t ready to let it go.

“Good,” Mac announced. “I hate seeing you unhappy. And it seems like James is your true fit. Your other half.”

I smiled and reached out, linking my hands with theirs. “I love you guys. I haven’t seen you as much this past year,” I said. “Can we make a vow to do this every Spring Break? Whether we bring boys or not?”

My girls nodded and raised their glasses. “Absolutely. To us. Best friends.”

We all clinked glasses and smiled. “But the party isn’t over yet,” Mac reminded us. “Captain Crowe’s tonight for a surprise.”

“No hint?” I asked teasingly.

“Nope. We’ll all meet there.”

“Are you going to call James and tell him?” Cassie asked.

I shook my head. “We need to talk in person. When I get back to Chicago, hopefully, he’ll be ready to move forward. Or not.”

“He will,” Mac said forcefully. “He’s nuts about you. Even if he is broke now.”

Cassie and I laughed. “But more honorable,” Cassie added. “And much more of a man deserving of Quinn. Better than the rich dude with the asshole friends.”

We all drank and then went our different ways for the rest of the afternoon.

I dressed a bit more carefully for the last night.

Black skirt, strappy sandals—flats, not heels, since I still sucked walking in them—and a silvery tank that shimmered when I walked.

Something fun and flirty to make myself feel good.

I headed down Duval Street, enjoying the mad revelry of the crowds, drinking and shouting, laughing and dancing in honor of the sunset.

I strolled slowly, the sun burning my shoulders, remembering how James used to keep slathering suntan lotion on me because of my fair skin, and suddenly, tears stung my eyes.

All I wanted was to call him and tell him I loved him.

I would.

Screw it. I’d tell Mac and Cassie I needed to talk to him, right then and there, and find someplace private and call him and—

A familiar figure was moving toward me. The sun blocked my view and I blinked furiously, wondering why those burnished waves and that tall, lean body looked like James.

He walked forward with a determined purpose, gaze narrowed on me, and suddenly the crowds parted and he was in front of me.

Those beloved stinging-blue eyes, filled with need and a bit of wariness, stared into mine. My breath caught.

“James?”

I couldn’t say anything else. He leaned forward, cupped my cheeks, and bent my head. Kissed me with a purity and tenderness that broke through my soul. Then slowly, he lifted his head.

“I couldn’t stay away, Quinn. I love you, and I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth. Your heart is part of mine—I’m only half a man without you. Forgive me. Give me another chance.”

I broke open and gave him everything I had. “Yes,” I breathed against his lips. “I don’t want a life without you. I want another chance together, stronger than before. I love you.”

He growled and lifted me in his arms, kissing me passionately. He swung me around in the middle of Duval Street, and I knew everything would be okay.

“I was going to call you,” I said when he put me down. “I couldn’t stand being without you another second.”

“And I wanted to give you enough time to yourself, but I knew I’d follow you anywhere. Listen, Quinn, I went to the Brush Institute. I spoke with administration and told them everything about Ava.”

I stiffened. It still hurt a bit, but most of the sharpness had faded. “What happened?”

“We had a meeting, and two other students came forward. Both male. They admitted to being pursued by Ava, and there’s an investigation being done.”

I let out a sigh of relief. No other student should go through that, not when they just wanted to learn a craft. “What about the show?”

“I told them I was pulling out of the show, but Lucas—the other art teacher who mentors students—saw my work. He came to the house and asked me to stay. Said I had enough talent on my own and to stop questioning my abilities. He said he sees huge things for me, Quinn, and he had tons of connections. He wants to take me on.”

I squealed and hugged him hard. “I knew it! I knew you’d do it on your own. I’m so proud of you, baby.”

He kissed me again and laughed with joy. “Let’s celebrate.”

“Cassie and Mac are at Captain Crowe’s. There’s going to be a surprise.”

“Well, let’s go and say hello to the crew.”

We walked hand-in-hand to the bar where we’d hung out last year, and dove into the mad crowd, having fun drinking and chattering, the music loud and full of life.

We caught up with Cassie, who hugged both of us when we told her we were back together, and suddenly Mac was climbing to the front of the bar in a surprise concert that pumped up the crowd.

She called out a special dedication, and then Austin was beside her, and they were singing and looking at each other with such love, I knew they’d finally found their happily-ever-after ending.

We filled the rest of the hours with drinks and laughter. I noticed Cassie and Ty talking at the bar, and I had a good feeling they might be able to re-connect. They fit so well together.

Later, when darkness had fallen and the moon was full, James and I walked barefoot on the beach where we had shared our first kiss.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said huskily.

“I look at you now and love you even more. You’re it, Quinn.

You’re the woman who makes me whole. I want to strip off this little black skirt, lay you in the sand, and fuck you long and hard until the sun comes up. ”

I lifted on tiptoes, the warm surf swirling around my ankles, and dragged his head down.

“What are you waiting for?” I whispered naughtily.

So he did.