17. Bianca
17
BIANCA
J ames and I stand on his yacht, waiting for them to arrive.
James paces the deck, glancing at his watch. “You think they’ll show?”
“They said they would,” I reply, trying to sound confident. Inside, I’m a mess of nerves and excitement. The idea of having everyone back together is both thrilling and terrifying.
James stops pacing and leans against the railing, looking out at the darkening sky. “This is either going to be a disaster or...”
The distant hum of an approaching boat cuts him off and catches our attention. My heart skips a beat as Liam and Alex step onto the dock.
James straightens up, a guarded look on his face. “Here we go.”
As they board the yacht, Liam’s blue eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes my stomach flip. Alex is right behind him, his usual easygoing smile in place.
“Nice boat,” Alex says, nodding appreciatively at James.
“Thanks,” James replies curtly. “Let’s get inside.”
We move to the spacious cabin where a beautifully set table awaits us. The tension is palpable as we take our seats.
Liam breaks the silence first. “So, this is happening.”
James nods. “Yeah, it is.”
Alex leans back in his chair, looking from Liam to James to me. “Anyone else feel like we’re about to walk into a reality TV show?”
I laugh despite myself. “God, I hope not.”
James clears his throat. “Let’s just be honest tonight. No bullshit.”
“Agreed,” Liam says firmly.
Alex raises his glass of wine. “To honesty then.” We all clink glasses, the sound oddly reassuring.
Dinner starts and as the wine flows and the plates empty, we slip back into an easy rhythm. It's like old times except with better food and more expensive wine.
James leans back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “Remember that time we almost got kicked out of that bar because Alex tried to serenade the bartender?”
Alex grins. “Hey, she loved it! She just had a weird way of showing it.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Yeah, by calling security.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You guys were such troublemakers.”
James raises an eyebrow at me. “Were?”
“Okay are,” I concede, taking a sip of my wine. I lean forward, curiosity piqued. “So, any other crazy stories?”
Alex exchanges a look with Liam before answering. “Well, we did try dating someone else together a couple of years ago.”
James looks surprised. “Really? How’d that go?”
Alex shrugs. “Not great. It just wasn’t the same.
A warmth spreads through me at his words. “Wow,” I say softly, feeling a mix of emotions—guilt for leaving them and something warm for being remembered so fondly.
“San Diego’s been good to me,” James says after a while. “But damn, I missed you guys.”
Alex reaches over and claps him on the shoulder. “We missed you too, man.”
Liam nods silently, his eyes meeting mine across the table with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.
The night progresses with ease. It feels like slipping into an old comfortable sweater. We laugh, reminisce, and for a while, it’s as if the years of separation never happened.
“So, Bianca,” Alex starts, leaning in with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Remember that time you convinced us to streak across campus?”
I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Oh God, I thought we agreed never to speak of that again.”
James chuckles, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, some things are too good not to revisit.”
Liam’s hand brushes against mine under the table, lingering just long enough to send a shiver up my spine. “I think we should make new memories tonight,” he says quietly, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that makes my breath hitch.
I nod slowly, a familiar heat spread through me. “New memories sound good.”
Alex grins and nudges James. “What do you think? Up for some new adventures?”
James leans back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that makes me feel like the only person in the room. He reaches over and gently tucks another braid behind my ear. His touch lingers on my neck for just a moment longer than necessary. “We’ve had some wild times,” he murmurs.
The tension builds as the night goes on. Liam’s touches grow bolder, his hand now resting possessively on my knee. Alex’s fingers lightly graze my arm whenever he leans in to talk. James’s eyes never leave mine, his gaze promising things I can barely wait to explore.
The stolen touches become more frequent and more daring. A brush of fingers here, a lingering hand there. The room is charged with unspoken desire.
Liam stands suddenly and extends a hand towards me. “Dance with me?”
I take his hand and let him pull me up from the table. As he draws me close, I can feel the heat radiating off him. Alex and James join us, each claiming a side of me.
“You’re not monopolizing her all night,” Alex says playfully.
James’s arm snakes around my waist from behind, pulling me against him. “Yeah, share the wealth.”
I’m surrounded by them now—each touch sending sparks through me.
James pulls me closer, his hands firm on my hips. His lips capture mine in a kiss that's like a promise, a subtle lay to claim.
When he finally pulls back, I'm breathless. I barely have time to process before Alex steps in, his mouth finding mine with a playful hunger. His hand trails down my arm, fingers intertwining with mine.
Liam watches us with an intensity that makes my skin tingle. When he steps forward, there's no hesitation. His kiss is rougher, more demanding. It's a stark contrast to the light-hearted teasing from Alex, but it’s exactly what I need.
I pull back and laugh, light-headed from the kisses and the memories they evoke. “You guys haven’t changed at all.”
“Why mess with perfection?” Alex grins, winking at me.
James snorts, “Speak for yourself.”
Liam’s fingers brush against my cheek, his eyes softening just a fraction.
Alex claps his hands together, breaking the tension. “Alright, enough of this sappy shit. Who’s ready for round two of drinks?”
We move back to the table where fresh glasses of wine await us. James pours generously, his eyes never leaving mine.
“To new memories,” he says, raising his glass.
“To new memories,” we echo.
I smile at them, feeling something warm settle in my chest—a sense of belonging I didn’t realize I’d been missing so much. We finish our drinks and sit in comfortable silence for a while longer, soaking in the familiarity and warmth of each other's presence.
Finally, James stands and stretches. “Who’s up for some stargazing?”
Alex raises an eyebrow at him. “Stargazing? Really?”
James grins and nudges him playfully. “Don’t act like you’re not into it.”
We settle on the deck, blankets and pillows beneath us, the stars winking down from above. It starts slow—James's hand casually brushing my arm, Alex's fingers tracing lazy circles on my knee. Liam sits close enough that our shoulders touch, his presence grounding me in this surreal moment.
“So, what’s the plan?” Alex’s voice breaks the silence, his tone light but eyes serious.
“Plan?” I ask, feeling the warmth of James’s breath as he leans in closer.
James’s hand cups my chin, tilting my face towards him. “This,” he murmurs before his lips capture mine in a kiss that sends a shiver down my spine. It’s like rediscovering a long-lost part of myself.
I lose myself in James's kiss until I feel Alex's hand on my thigh, squeezing gently. He pulls me towards him, and I turn to meet his gaze. His grin is playful as he leans in, his lips finding mine with an urgency that matches the pulse racing through me.
“Missed this,” he whispers against my mouth before deepening the kiss.
Liam shifts beside me, and I can feel his impatience. He hooks a finger under my chin and turns my face towards him. “My turn,” he says, not waiting for an answer before claiming my lips with rough demand. His hands find their way to my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space between us.
James’s fingers tangle in my braids as he kisses along my neck. “You always had the best ideas,” he murmurs against my skin.
Alex chuckles, his hands roaming over my body with practiced ease. “Yeah, this one tops the list.”
I pull back slightly to catch my breath and find myself looking into Liam's intense blue eyes. His gaze softens just a bit as he cups my face with both hands and kisses me again, slower this time.
“You’re not getting all of her,” James grumbles playfully from behind me. He pulls me back against him, and his lips brush against my shoulder.
“Don’t hog her,” Alex chimes in with a grin as he nips at my ear.
“Gentlemen,” I laugh breathlessly. “There’s enough of me to go around.”
Liam smirks. “Damn right there is.” His hands slide down to rest on my hips as James continues his assault on my neck from behind.
Alex captures my lips again with a hunger that leaves me dizzy. His hands are everywhere—my back, my waist, tangling in my hair.
The world narrows down to the three of them—their touches, their kisses—and for the first time in years, I'm whole again.