Here With You - Chapters One & Two

 

1

 

Ibiza

 

 

Maya

 

“Why are you hiding in here?”

“I’m not hiding.” I lean back in my chair and smile at my brother. “I’m working.”

Milo sits down on the edge of my desk, crosses his arms, and throws me a look. “It’s beautiful out there, you shouldn’t be cooped up in here all day.”

“I need to make some calls.”

He picks up my mobile phone and waves it in front of my face. “Wonderful invention, these things. You can actually leave your desk and still make contact with other people.”

I pull a face and get up, putting the papers I’d been looking through back in the drawer. “You’re hilarious.”

“Come on. Come and get some fresh air.”

I jerk my head back. “The window’s open.”

“Now who’s being funny.”

I just shrug. “Oh, by the way, I heard from Riley today.”

Riley. My headstrong, slightly-too-wild-for-her-own-good daughter. Smart and beautiful she’s currently making quite a name for herself as an extremely popular and incredibly successful club and music influencer and aspiring DJ. I’m beyond proud of her.

“Is she on her way home?” Milo asks, picking up a copy of DJ Mag from my desk and flicking through it.

“She is.”

“Where is she now?”

“Barcelona. Her and Kacey are heading to Majorca for a couple of days before coming to Ibiza, then we have her for the summer. The entire summer. And I can’t wait.”

“Yeah. It’s been a while, huh?”

“It has. But, you know, they wanted to go traveling before Kacey heads to London in September, and they seem to have had an incredible time, judging by their social media posts, and I’m glad that Riley had the chance to do that.”

“Because you didn’t?”

I look at my brother and smile. “No. Doing the whole traveling thing, that wasn’t anything I ever really wanted to do, you know that. Besides, when I was Riley’s age my life looked very different to hers.”

And that’s an understatement.

“Is Riley staying on Ibiza after the summer?” Milo asks, quickly re-routing the subject, for which I’m grateful.

I shrug. “Possibly. She hasn’t really said what her plans are, to be honest.”

“How’s the DJing coming along? She told me she wanted to get more serious about that once she was back home.”

“Well, Seb’s had a small studio installed for her at her villa, and she’s bought herself some brand new decks, two computers, the works. And it’s not like she’s short of support and advice, given that most of our friends are either club owners, musicians, producers, or DJs. And you know Riley. Once she gets her teeth into something she rarely lets go until she’s got what she wants. But, fingers crossed, if she really is serious about taking her DJing further then she might just decide to stick around here at home for a little while.”

Milo smiles. “She’s got the talent. Have you heard some of the stuff she’s put out online?”

“I have. She’s developing her own unique sound, and that’s good. Being a little bit different helps you stand out from the crowd.”

“She’s gonna be okay, Maya. You should be proud of her.”

“I am proud of her. I also worry about her, constantly. Because no matter how grown-up, how sensible, how independent she is… I’ll always worry.”

“Worry that she’s too much like you?” Milo raises an eyebrow. “Because that isn’t a bad thing.”

I throw him a look. “Only because she’s also got a lot of her father’s genes to dilute mine.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Maya. You’re an incredible mom to that kid. You brought her up to be independent, strong, driven, and she’s all of those things. Because of you. And, more importantly, she’s happy.” Milo pulls himself away from my desk. “That’s all you ever wanted for her, remember?”

“I know.” I sigh again, annoyed with myself for almost falling into that well of self-pity I sometimes find myself gravitating towards every so often, when I let the past catch up with me. It doesn’t do any good, but I can’t stop it from happening.

“It’s going to be a great summer, Sis.” Milo grins at me, sliding his hands into his pockets as he backs away towards the door.

“Yeah.” I smile. “It is.”

“And, you know, Riley is like you in one respect.” He stops by the door, and he’s still grinning at me. “The ability to bring stubbornness to a whole new level.”

I flip him the finger. “Isn’t there something you should be doing?” But I can’t stop myself from smiling, again. Because he’s right.

“Probably.” His grin slips into a frown, a concerned expression crossing his face. “You look tired.”

“Thanks for that. And you more than anyone should know that summer is a pretty tiring time on this island.”

“I’m doing just fine.” His grin returns and I roll my eyes.

“You can survive on adrenaline and endless coffee, that’s why. I don’t have your stamina.”

“Believe me, that stamina’s been severely tested these past couple of years. I’m father to a toddler, remember?”

“You’ve always been able to handle the stupid hours we work, no matter what.”

“So have you. Come on, you’re the original party girl.”

I’m not sure party girl is quite how I’d describe myself these days, but then again, I’m not exactly spending my nights in front of the TV or chilling out with a book. My life revolves around clubs and bars, organizing parties, mixing with DJs, producers, promoters, it’s our world. One we’ve lived in for over two decades now on this beautiful Mediterranean island we call home. An island that, no word of a lie, saved me.

“But, you know, if you feel like you need some downtime, go home,” Milo says. “Get some rest. This place won’t fall apart if you leave for a couple of hours.”

“Why would I want to leave? It’s Club Moon’s opening party tonight and we’ve got a very big, very long night ahead. Yves Vandale and Luna are playing a back-to-back set, remember? That’s a first for those two. And it’s going to be packed in here.”

Milo uncrosses his arms and opens my office door. “Taking a break won’t hurt. You don’t have to be here twenty-four-seven. Like I said, the place won’t fall apart without you. Besides, I’m here, and it won’t do you any harm to go home and get some rest before it all kicks off, you’ve been here since six this morning. In fact, knowing you it’s highly likely you slept here.”

“Not quite. And I’m fine, I like being up early. I like it when it’s quiet, and sometimes you’ve got to grab quiet when you can. There won’t be much of it around here for the next few months.”

“You really are annoyingly stubborn sometimes, do you know that?”

I throw him a smile and shrug.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Ben’s gonna go grab us some lunch from The Blue Dolphin in a bit. Do you want anything?”

“Bacon cheeseburger with extra cheese. Oh, and a side of those extra-large onion rings.”

Milo arches an eyebrow and I give another shrug.

“What? I like my food.”

“I don’t know where you put it all. I’ll give you a shout when it arrives, okay?”

“Okay.”

Milo leaves, closing the door behind him, and I sit back and smile to myself. Summer on Ibiza is what we live for. Milo and I, we own two of the biggest clubs and one of the most popular beach bars on the island. And, in just a matter of days, we’ll be adding a restaurant to that list. Stupidly busy is probably the best way to describe us, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my life, even if it isn’t the one I’d originally planned.

I’m about to open up another email when my phone rings and I glance at the screen, my smile widening as I answer the call.

“Hey.”

“Hey back. You busy?”

“Not really.” Not anymore.

“I just got here.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Your schedule’s all over social media. And you uploaded a TikTok post half an hour ago from the airport.”

He laughs quietly, and I allow myself to feel happy that he’s here. Because Milo won’t be. But it’s none of Milo’s business.

“Come to the house.”

“You going to be alone?”

“I wouldn’t tell you to meet me there if I wasn’t going to be alone. Just, you know, try not to advertise your arrival. Give me an hour and I’ll see you there.”

I end the call, and I’m still smiling.

Today his timing is perfect. So, I’m taking Milo’s advice. I’m going home, just for a little while. There’s some unfinished business I need to take care of.

 

2

 

 

 

Magnus

 

Throwing the keys down onto the counter I make my way further into the bright and spacious open plan living area of Maya Moon’s beautiful, whitewashed villa, heading straight over to the wall of glass that faces out over an expansive terrace that overlooks the Mediterranean. White wooden sun loungers are placed neatly around an oval pool, a large rectangular dining table and chairs takes pride of place on a pergola-covered patio next to a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and pizza oven, a well-stocked bar lined with stools and decorated with festival lights is situated perfectly to make the most of the views of the ocean and Ibiza town down below. And I think about going outside, fixing myself a drink, a large one, I’m still wired after a crazy show in Stockholm last night. My hometown. But I don’t, I stay inside, throw myself down onto one of the over-sized chocolate-brown sofas in the center of the room and slide my sunglasses down over my eyes, tilting my head back and staring up at the stark white ceiling. This house, it calms me, which is strange, in a way, because it’s usually full of people. It’s rarely quiet. But it’s my escape. A haven, I suppose. My own place? Not so much. I try not to stay put in one place for too long, I kind of need it that way. The chaotic, almost nomadic lifestyle suits me.

“Making yourself at home, I see.”

I didn’t hear her come in, but I look up as she makes her way towards me, the corner of her mouth edging up into a slight smile. I shoot a grin right back at her, our eyes locking, and I feel that all too familiar jolt of the stomach. But I’ve got it under control. Always.

She reaches up underneath her dress and slides down her underwear, stepping out of them before she lifts her curve-skimming dress up over her thighs, and I groan quietly. Man, I never get tired of this. Sometimes I just need this woman so fucking much. And sometimes… sometimes I don’t need her at all.

“So, you got here just in time for the opening party, huh?”

She straddles me and I take hold of her hips and lift her up slightly, giving myself just enough room to maneuver inside of her, and she takes me deep, she’s wasting no time.

Digging my fingers into her warm, tanned flesh she grinds against me, her mouth slamming down onto mine in a kiss so hard I swear it could bruise lips. But I live for these moments. We don’t get too many of them, which is why I’m losing myself in this one, in frantic sex and kisses so deep and dirty nothing else matters for these few, brief minutes. Because that’s all it takes before I’m coming, before she’s coming too, and it’s beautiful and quick and everything we always need. And the second it’s over she climbs off me, retrieves her underwear from the floor, and pushes her dress back down over her shit-hot, tattooed thighs, dragging both hands through her long blonde hair before shaking it out. She’s had her fix, I’ve had mine. We’re okay now. We’re good.

She sashays over to the kitchen and I follow her, watching as she opens the freezer, takes out a bottle of vodka, and pours two shots, sliding one across the counter to me. I pick it up and down it in one.

“You weren’t thinking about not coming tonight, were you?” She leans back against the fridge and downs her own shot, placing the empty glass on the counter. “Because you’re cutting it pretty fine.”

“Yeah, well, you know what they say.”

She arches a perfectly threaded eyebrow.

“Good things come to those who wait.”

She just rolls her eyes, and I swear she gets more fucking beautiful every time I see her.

“So, how did the show go in Stockholm last night?”

“It was crazy-good. The home crowd always make me feel welcome.” I’ve missed this woman. I always miss her. But I have no idea if she misses me. “There’s a rumor going round that you’ve managed to get Yves Vandale and Luna to play a back-to-back set tonight. Is that right?”

“It is.”

“How did you manage to swing that? Those two have very different styles.”

“They both fancied a challenge. And from what I can gather, they’ve put together something incredibly special.”

“You all set for opening night, then?” I reach for the vodka bottle, but she pulls it from my grasp before I can pour another shot.

“Later.”

We lock eyes, and I smile slowly as I pull my hand back, watching as she puts the vodka back in the freezer.

“How’s Milo?”

She shrugs. “You know Milo. Always thinks he’s in control of everything.”

That’d be right. Maya’s always been the one in control, she just lets Milo think he’s got it all in hand. She’s very much the one in charge of that brother/sister powerhouse. Maya and Milo Moon. Club owners. Beautiful, powerful party people. A couple everyone here on this island knows. They opened their first place – Café Moon – a little over seventeen years ago, followed by Club Moon around eighteen months later, and Moon@TheBeach five years after that. And the rest is history. Café Moon fast became – still is – one of the go-to bars to watch the sun go down as some of the world’s biggest, best, and newest DJs play chill-out sets. Club Moon is one of the island’s most popular clubs, anyone who’s anyone has played there, and getting a residency is a pretty big deal, while Moon@TheBeach is one of the island’s premier places for day-to-evening clubbing. I’ve played at all of those venues, had residencies at Club Moon many times, but I get no special treatment just because Maya and I sleep together, occasionally. It doesn’t work that way with her, she doesn’t do that shit, if anything it probably goes against me. The rumors about me and her, they’re constant. Never-ending. But we kill them dead whenever we can, this is our secret, even if it sometimes feels like one of the worst kept.

“So, you’re definitely coming tonight, then?” she asks, turning her back to me as she puts the empty shot glasses in the sink. She sounds almost needy for a second there, hence her turning her back to me. And she’ll hate herself for it, because the last thing Maya Moon wants anyone to think she is, is needy.

“Do you want me there?” It’s a rhetorical question. Of course she does.

She turns around to face me. “I want you there.”

See? She’s missed me, I know she has, I can see it in her eyes. But she’ll never tell me that, never say those words. She’ll never put herself in that position, never make herself out to be weak or vulnerable in any way. I know her too well.

“I was always going to be there.”

“Good. ’Cause you’re playing a set.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I am? Someone drop out?”

“Nobody ever drops out of playing a set at Moon, Magnus, you know that.” She comes over to me, grasps my T-shirt in her hand, and pulls me closer, until her mouth is almost touching mine, and I drop a hand to her hip. “I just wanted to make sure you stuck around for a few hours, that’s all.”

“What if I haven’t got anything prepared?”

She smiles. “You’ll have something prepared. You always do.”

She’s a manipulative bitch sometimes, but that’s fine. That’s okay. It works for me. “Then it looks like you got yourself a superstar DJ, Princess.”

She narrows her eyes slightly and backs away from me. She hates me calling her that. “One of many superstar DJs.”

I kind of asked for that. “You really want me there tonight, huh?” Her lemon-scented perfume fills the air, a comforting smell. A familiar one.

“So I can keep an eye on you, yeah.”

She’s trying to keep it light, but there’s an underlying serious tone in her voice. One I recognize because I’ve heard it so many times before. She still doesn’t fully trust me, and that’s okay. I’m still working on rebuilding that trust.

“I’m not that man anymore, Maya.”

She looks at me, her expression impassive. I don’t know what she’s thinking, I rarely do. “I should get back to the club. Where are you staying?” It’s like she can just flick a switch, change emotions in a heartbeat, but I know why she does it. Why she pulls back like this, it’s a safety mechanism. And I get it, I do. I understand. Because I do it too.

“Usual place.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll see you tonight. Lock up when you leave.”

And that’s it. She’s gone.

Maya Moon.

Powerful.

Beautiful.

Sexy-as-hell.

And mine. Whenever she wants me…

©MichelleBetham

Here With You is out May 27th.

It's available to pre-order HERE.