“Don’t let him win any more Eden. Stay here, stand your ground. You can’t hide anymore. Ky will not let anything happen to you.”

“How do you know Ky?”

“Do you think I don’t check up on you? I know a lot about the people you hang out with Eden. You and your case has stuck by me. Even after twenty-five years of doing this job, you are the one who I still pray for. I want a life for you Eden; you deserve a life and if you keep running you’ll never get that.”

I dropped my voice low. “What happens if he comes for me?”

“He won’t.”

“But what if…”

“Eden. He won’t.”

••••

I was not sure how I spent that day. After Douglas left, I sunk into the depths of my memories curled up on the couch in a fetal position. The sunlight of the day turned into the dusk of the late afternoon, and I was yet to move. Everything was a whirlwind, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get out of it.

So much for scouting locations for the shoot, luckily I was professional enough to send Daniel a text saying that I had to postpone.

My phone came to life beside me and the moment I saw my best friend’s name flash on the screen, I was desperate for whatever he had to say.

Colby: I need to see my best friend. Be ready in an hour. Blake and I are coming to pick you up.

A simple message brought me back to reality and the ache of my empty stomach was a clear indication that I hadn’t eaten all day. Dinner with Colby and Blake sounded comforting. I needed to do it. Douglas’s words about not running had been the only thing circulating in my head all day; every hour the thought of calling the airline and purchasing a ticket had hit me yet something was keeping me from doing it.

I peeled myself out of the comfort of the couch and stumbled toward the bathroom for a much needed shower and attempted to appear somewhat human. Once I had scrubbed my body clean and dressed, I put the final touches on my makeup, did my hair in loose curls, and went back out into the living room.

I could do this.

I was still trying to get my head around the fact that Blake and Colby were even here. What where the odds? In what crazy world was I living where my new safe and precious life was colliding head-on with the life I wished to forget?

Knowing that they were the main band that I would be photographing for the cover helped calm my nerves. I knew they wouldn’t let me fail. They were my boys. Photography was my true escape. When I was shooting, I could escape into another world and get lost for those precious moments, and knowing that I would be seeing them through the lenses put my nerves to rest.

I reached into my purse and grabbed my phone. A new message notification flashed before me and a swarm of butterflies unleashed in my tummy when I saw the name.

Ky: The flight was long, the cab driver got lost, but I’m finally here but have been in meetings all day. I wish I were back there.

My heart fell. I wished he were here too. I needed everything he could offer.

Eden: It’s quiet here without you.

Ky: I’ll be back before you know it.

I couldn’t wait.

I was distracted in the best possible way at the thought of having dinner with Colby and Blake. In all of their crazy rock star ways were two of the best guys I knew. The only two guys I trusted. I had met Colby first. He was a San Francisco local and lived in the rundown place beside Tori’s. He was the one who directed me to her place when I first turned up with just a suitcase, a couple of hundred dollars, and a shattered heart. I remembered the day so clearly. He frightened me when I had first seen him; he had these piercing eyes that would destroy you with one glance and the timid girl who I was then had been overcome by a billion different emotions. He had walked down the rickety steps and came straight at me while I stood on the sidewalk frozen stiff. It literally took him five minutes to make me feel comfortable, five minutes to barge into my life, and five minutes to make me feel safe. I couldn’t explain it if my life depended on it.

From that moment he was in my life, even when I tried to shut him out. He wouldn’t leave, he was that annoying neighbor who pried, but I loved him for it. I often described him as having muscle on muscle and combine that with the colorful tattoos he looked like a walking threat. But I knew the real Colby. When you got below the tattoos, the gruff voice, and the intimidating stare he was a teddy bear who often was my comforter.

A knock on the door interrupted my trip down memory lane. The last time I opened the door I had been delivered fucked-up news so my hesitation was warranted. I peeked through the peephole and my heart fluttered to life as I saw Colby and Blake standing just outside. They were here. Within seconds of opening the door I was in the arms of Colby and he was swinging me around in the air like they did in the movies. My squeals bounced off the empty hall and the sound of Colby’s deep chuckle warmed my heart with familiarity. I didn’t realize how much I had missed him until I was back in his arms. Warm contentment flooded me.

“Well look at you little miss hot shot. I hear you are shooting some pretty fucking awesome rock stars these days,” Colby’s deep voice teased.

“Really and who would that be? I haven’t met any rock stars yet,” I countered with a smirk.

“Fuck I missed you,” he growled in my ear and buried his face in my neck. My eyes slammed shut under the intensity.

An annoyed cough hit my ears. “Are you two done? I was always the third fucking wheel in the Eden and Colby show!”

Colby pulled away from me and turned toward Blake, a glint of humor in his eye. “What? When you weren’t screwing Tori?”

“Fuck you asshole. If you had Eden, I clearly had to go for the best friend,” Blake spat.

My laughter roared out of me. I finally felt like myself.

••••

The Watergrill was a sports bar by the water and according to Blake they have the best steaks in the country so of course we had to go there. After ordering nachos for myself and the world famous steaks for the guys we took a seat at one of the corner tables that just happened to be located by one of the largest televisions I’d ever seen. A football game with Blake’s favorite team blared through the room. Conversation flowed smoothly and comfortably. I hadn’t seen these guys for almost a year, but it was like no time had passed. They told me all about the upcoming tour and filled me in on Colby’s bet with Blake—he would abstain from sex for the duration of the tour, a fact that made me laugh so hard that I choked on my Coke. There was no way in hell that he could do it. I knew Colby, and I knew he loved and needed sex like he needed air.

Halfway through the conversation my phone beeped with an incoming text.

Ky: Why is it that I know you are probably out at dinner but I still want to text you?

Eden: Shouldn’t you be out. I am sure there are plenty of LA girls who would want to spend the night with you.

Ky: Why do you do that? It’s pretty fucking clear that you’re the only person I’d spend the night with.

“So what’s the go with you and that Ky guy?”

My head shot up at the sound of Blake’s voice. Did he see my text? What did Ky mean? I shoved my phone in my bag quickly and tried my hardest to look calm while my head was spinning and my heart beating furiously in my chest.

“Nothing is the go,” I replied in my smoothest voice.

“Oh baby girl, I love you like a sister, but you are as blind as a fucking bat. The moment I stepped foot into his office I felt the tension between you two. Fuck, the moment I hugged you, I thought he was going to punch me in the face.”

“Well seems like someone’s got an admirer.” Colby’s teasing tone caused my cheeks to flush. “Speaking of admirers, did this one tell you that he is completely pussy whipped?” He asked, shooting a look towards Blake.