Page 122 of When the Stars Rise

He insisted on throwing a going away party for Jules and to celebrate “Seeing Stars at the Drive-Thru” hitting number one on the charts. But we’ve been here for almost an hour, and he hasn’t made an appearance yet.

We’re standing on the limestone terrace lit up by fairy lights entwined in the branches of ancient oak trees, strategically positioned near the bar with a view of the swimming pool and an expanse of green lawn with secret gardens and a private courtyard filled with whimsical stone statues. A DJ is mixing house music and there must be at least a hundred people here, but my bandmates and I have congregated in our own little circle.

“I can’t believe the tour is over,” I say, thanking the bartender when he hands me a mojito.

Last night was our final show and it was bittersweet. It felt like the end of… well, everything really.

“I can believe it,” Aiden says, taking a pull of his beer. “Fourteen months is a long-ass time to be on the road.”

It is. I’m so physically and emotionally drained that I feel like I could sleep for a week.

“Looks like someone missed Zoe,” Liam remarks, jerking his chin.

We all turn to look at Dean and Zoe standing by the pool with their arms wrapped around each other and big smiles on their faces.

They only have eyes for each other which is beautiful, really, but I’m still not used to the idea of them being a couple. Not that either of them has openly admitted to being in a relationship but ever since we returned to LA four days ago, they’ve been glued to each other’s side.

“She’s pregnant,” Caleb says out of nowhere.

I choke on my drink and Aiden thumps me on the back a few times. Which is ridiculous. I’m not literally choking.

I turn to Caleb who is dressed in a brown kimono jacket and matching loose trousers with Birkenstocks on his feet. His dark hair, which is usually pulled back in a man bun, is loose and flowing tonight. I didn’t even realize he was standing there. “You’re just joking, right?”

He shakes his head solemnly. Caleb is not a joker.

“How do you know this?” Aiden challenges. They never really got along. When Caleb announced that he was leaving when the tour ended, Aiden punched the air and punctuated it with a crash of cymbals. “Are you just making shit up now?”

Caleb shrugs one shoulder. “I just know.” He dips his chin toward me. “Everything will work out. It’s been an honor.Goodbye, Hayley.” And just like that he turns and walks away, leaving us gaping.

“What. The. Fuck?” Liam says.

“That dude is so fucking weird,” Aiden says. “Can’t say I’m gonna miss him.”

My shoulders sag. It feels like everyone is leaving. Now I have to replace CalebandJules.

Jules slings his arm around my shoulders as if he can read my mind. I lean into him and put my hand on his chest, looking up at his beautiful face. It feels like the end of an era. I loved Jules from the start. He always kept it classy, the voice of quiet reason. Just a gorgeous soul, really. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“I’ll miss you too,” he says, giving my shoulder a little squeeze. “But I’ll only be a phone call away and you can come out and visit me anytime you want.” He raises his martini glass in a toast, looking very Gatsby-esque himself. “Here’s to new adventures and living in the moment.”

We all clink glasses and drink to the same toast I made on Bastian’s private jet. It’s hard to believe that was only three weeks ago. It’s even harder to believe it’s only been two weeks since I last saw Noah. It feels like half a lifetime.

Why do we keep making the same mistakes over and over again? Why can’t we ever get it right?

I don’t have time to dwell on my disaster of a relationship because Dean and Zoe join us and I blurt out, “Anything you want to share?”

Dean and Zoe exchange a secret little smile. “Nope,” they say in unison.

My gaze dips to their joined hands and then back to their faces. They look happy. Really happy. Zoe looks radiant in an off-white strapless dress and strappy heels. Not that she isn’t always impeccably dressed but I swear she’s glowing.

“So you’re not pregnant?” Aiden says.

Zoe’s eyes widen. “How… what…?” She glares at Dean. “What the hell, Dean? Youtoldthem? We agreed to wait…” Her voice drifts off when she realizes she all but confirmed it.

“I didn’t say a word,” he says, holding up his hands as she gives him dagger eyes. “I swear on my life.”

I stare at them, trying to process this news. I would never have put these two together in a million years, but opposites attract and who’s to say they won’t make it work? They’re having a baby.A baby.

Babies are the most wonderful, precious things in the world.