Tangled In Lies (Tangled & Torn #1)

34. Evangeline

Chapter 34

Evangeline

I t’s our last evening on this beautiful island—my island—and I never want to leave. Even though Phoenix and I have spent so much time together back in New York, this has felt different. It’s like we both shed our expectations, the roles assigned to us. Underneath the facade we found the real us, the us that isn’t defined by anyone or anything else.

I love that us so much.

And I think Phoenix does too.

Being here has given me hope, but I know we need to talk about how things will continue with us before we fly back home. At first, I didn’t want to ruin this fantastic time. Now, it’s a constant reminder creeping into our bubble, telling me I can’t prolong this anymore.

Phoenix is in the shower after another day of relaxing at the beach, and I step out onto the sprawling patio, taking a few more pictures of the beautiful scenery to tease Ruby and Mason with. They are jealous whenever I send a new picture yet demand more every time.

I pass the hot tub we had a lot of fun in yesterday after Holden retired for the night. Heat crawls up my neck, but I’m not mad. Phoenix keeps asking me about the books I’ve read, especially the spicy scenes, so who am I to say no to exploring some of my book fantasies in real life?

In an attempt to pause those memories for now, I keep walking. The wood of the patio seamlessly turns into warm sand under my toes. I love the feel of it. Up ahead, the man I was searching for is lounging on a chair with his phone in his hand. My steps are light as a feather, the sand swallowing all noise. It allows me to sneak up on him. To peek over his shoulder at a very familiar pop star on his screen. Just like last week when I caught him reading an article about her that he “stumbled upon by accident.” Interesting.

Since I don’t have a death wish, I slowly creep a few steps back before clearing my throat. “So you have a crush on Olivia Parker, huh?”

He bangs his head against the back of the chair and groans. “I’d be quiet about crushes if I were you, Miss ‘harder, Phoenix, harder,’ or I might come to some conclusions of my own.”

His voice is several octaves higher as he imitates me, or tries to at least, because there’s no way I sound anything like that. I hope.

There’s no doubt I’m beet red, my face flaming with embarrassment, but it’s Holden, so I still laugh and plop onto the lounge next to him. “You’re mean.”

“Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it, Princess. No pun intended.”

“Oh my God, stop it.” I smack his shoulder.

We both laugh.

Once I’ve calmed down, I point toward his phone. “She’s starting her world tour in a few months. Since I now know you’re a fan too, does that mean you’re coming with me next year when she’s in New York?”

He shifts his focus back to the photo of Olivia still on the screen and huffs, which is pretty much like his version of no.

“Why not?” I pull up my legs and sit sideways to face him.

He scrubs a hand over his face, as if that would eliminate whatever he’s tied up about. “I knew her when we were younger, and let’s just say it didn’t exactly end well, okay?”

The look he gives me could extinguish a fire, but not in a good way. I know it’s not really directed at me personally, but I still cringe.

Then I gape at him for a solid minute until my brain reboots, mulling over what he just said. “Wait, wait. Back up for a second. You ‘knew’ Olivia Parker when you were younger, and it didn’t exactly end well?” I make air quotes around knew because it sounds like the word needs extra attention.

“Yes.”

“Aaaaaaand?” My brain still has a hard time catching up with the news. Holden, my Holden , knows my favorite singer.

“And nothing, Princess.”

I throw my hands in the air. “That’s all you’re going to say about this?”

“Yes.”

I grunt. “Why haven’t you said anything? You know how obsessed I am with her. I’ve been playing her songs all week.”

“I’m well aware of that. Thanks for that, by the way.” He sighs like I’m the reason for his frustration .

“Are you telling me you started thinking about her again because of me?”

He shrugs.

“Do you want to see her?”

He doesn’t say anything, and I feel like a dog with a bone.

Holden and Olivia Parker, who would have thought? But I can see it. They’d make a beautiful couple. Opposites attract and all.

I nod at him. “Let’s go together. I bet she’d love to see you.”

He gives me a pointed stare. “I wouldn’t bet my money on that, Princess.”

“Well, at least you’ll know then, right? Isn’t it better to fail at something than never try at all? What if she’s your soulmate? Everyone deserves a chance with their soulmate.”

Okay, maybe that’s putting it on a bit thick, but I think everyone desires to be loved.

He raises an eyebrow and trains his razor-sharp gaze on me. “Are you talking from experience now that the stakes have changed?”

I tug at the hem of my shirt. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean. Things aren’t the same anymore as when you both entered this game.”

I sigh, fully aware of his deflection. “I don’t know if anything has changed. We haven’t really talked about it.”

He gets in my space. “Bullshit. Everything has changed, Princess, and you know it. Now the question is, do you want to take the risk? A wise person once told me everyone deserves a chance with their soulmate, so maybe it’s time for you to make the first move. Happy endings only happen to those brave enough to conquer their fears.”

I want to stick out my tongue at him for being cheeky, but his words hit home too much. It’s everything I’ve been feeling, everything I’ve been worried about.

And damn him for being right. Of course I’m scared. Not wanting to bring this up with Phoenix is one-hundred-percent fear holding me back.

Noise comes from the house, and we both watch Phoenix approach. He eyes us with suspicion, his narrowed eyes moving back and forth between Holden and me like he could pluck out our thoughts by sheer will.

“Anything I should know about?” His words carry across the breeze.

I jump up and smile at him. “Yes. Holden and I will see Olivia Parker together when she’s at Madison Square Garden next year. It’s his early birthday present for me.”

Phoenix shifts his gaze to Holden, tilting his head at his friend. “Is it now?”

Holden also stands, effectively towering over us, with that dang eyebrow raised again. “The princess thinks I need to conquer my fears.”

“Conquer your fears? By going to a concert?” A noise escapes Phoenix like he’s trying to hold back a laugh.

Holden rolls his shoulders. “Yup. Something about soulmates and shit.”

This time, Phoenix chuckles. As do I. When he says it like that, it does sound funny. But I’ve noticed that’s his thing. No matter how sad or serious something is, Holden has a talent to make it sound silly. I once asked him why he went to prison, and he told me it was because sometimes you think you’re a knight in shining armor but then it turns out you’re just a villain in tinfoil after all.

The mountain of a man, who’s somehow wormed his way into my heart too, grabs his things from the chair and gives us a little salute. “Anyway, you kids have fun with your own conquests .”

He stomps up the path, turning left at the end to head to his bungalow.

Phoenix interlaces his fingers with mine and pulls me closer. “I’m not sure if poking the bear is the right thing to do here. Some things are better left in ruins.”

Is he still talking about Holden or us?

Worry immediately takes over my brain, but I try to shake it off and say, “Maybe.”

“I guess only time will tell.” His lips meet mine in a gentle kiss. “Are you ready for dinner? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Dread hits my stomach like lead, but I smile at him. “Food sounds good.”

I follow him to the house, knowing whatever comes next will change everything. But Holden was right; maybe it’s time to conquer my fears. I can’t give him the satisfaction of preaching to the choir when I don’t follow my own advice.

Phoenix leads me through the house and up the flights of steps, his hand in mine the only thing that keeps me moving. I barely pay attention to our surroundings, halfway expecting to end up in the bedroom because we’ve been spending a lot of time there.

But we ascend one more flight of stairs until we push through a door that leads us onto the rooftop. We’ve been up here before, and it’s a beautiful place with an infinity pool and the most stunning view of this tropical paradise. But something is different today. Not only is there a spectacular feast on a table for two, but the pool now also features gorgeous trays of chilled treats and drinks.

Pool floats.

“There you are.” Phoenix walks into the kitchen of the pool house, his eyes taking me in from top to bottom in my bikini and thin cover-up. Lately, his gaze has lingered for longer, and I really hope it’s because he’s interested in me.

He swoops me into his big arms, crushing me against his chest. My heart pounds behind my rib cage, and I’m afraid he can feel it through the thin material separating us. He inhales, breathing me in, and goosebumps erupt on my body.

“Happy birthday, Angel.” He stays there for one more deep inhale, then shifts his attention to the counter and the pool floats I put together.

Phantom pain pierces my heart, like every time thoughts of the night he broke my heart infiltrate my mind. First, he gave me my treasured compass necklace, and then he told me there was no place for someone like me in his life. How many times have I replayed that day? That night? And how things would have turned out if they had ended differently. Without him breaking my heart. Without me making a bunch of terrible decisions.

But I know I need to let go of that because things happened the way they did, and heedless of how many times I revisit the past and wish I could alter it, I can’t.

Why is it sometimes so much easier to focus on the wrongdoings of the past than the possibilities of the future?

Ask him.

Ask him how things are going to continue between you .

Tell him how you want things to continue.

I’m catapulted back into the present, taking in the scene before me.

“Do you like it?” Phoenix studies me.

The setup is straight out of a fairy tale, with flowers and candles everywhere and soft music playing over hidden speakers. Now, all I need to figure out is whether this fairy tale will have a happily ever after or not.

“It’s absolutely beautiful.” I point at the pool and chuckle. “And these look so much better than mine did.”

He lifts a shoulder. “Yours were perfect, just like you.”

I gasp at his words just as my stomach growls, and he smirks at the sound.

“Let’s feed your angry monster.”

He pulls a chair out for me at the table and pushes it in when I’m ready. Then, he works on uncovering the dishes with a boyish grin. “What do you want first?”

All my favorite food from this week is laid out in front of me like a silent offering, and hope flares to life once more in my chest.

We both try some of everything, though I’d happily eat grilled pineapple for the rest of the evening.

Phoenix finishes first, watching me while I spoon the last bit of tiramisu out of my bowl.

He chuckles. “I don’t think there’s anything left in there.”

I eye the leftovers in his bowl, but my stomach squeezes, and I reluctantly put my bowl and spoon down with a sigh. “That was delicious, thank you.”

“Anything for you.”

He sounds so genuine, his words surround me like a soft caress .

I know I shouldn’t stare at him in an open invitation to ask me questions when I’m still not sure I want to know the answers to them. But I can’t.

“Why did you agree to marry me?” His voice is even, but something in his gaze betrays his composure.