Hot girls in bikinis flirting with Rowan, angling for his attention and doing the one thing her boyfriend loved she had been afraid to try.
Not really afraid, just more like embarrassed.
She didn’t want to get too frustrated and then take the enjoyment away from him.
Rowan loved it when she was on the paddleboard, and he was further down surfing. Sometimes she couldn’t even see him or he’d drive other places with his friends.
“Do you care if you impress casual friends he is only surfing with?”
“Not really. At least I don’t think so.”
“Then let it go. This is about the two of you. Did you feel this way in the mountains?”
“No. But I know he goes snowboarding all the time over skiing. I’m not into the snow that much. I told him I’m not sure I can try that.”
“And what was his response?”
“He laughed and said I could stay at the lodge and drink hot chocolate and watch TV or read a book and wait for him.”
“That sounds like a much better option to me. Do you think he was serious or joking?”
“He was serious,” she said.
“Then don’t think more of it in terms of surfing either,” her grandmother said.
“But this is his career.”
“So? Have you taken a huge interest in any other man’s career you have dated?”
Her shoulders slumped. “No.”
“Then why is this so different? You’re making it more than it needs to be. Did you say one of his brothers is a brewer?”
“Elias.”
“Is he married?”
“Engaged. Phoebe is an attorney,” she said.
“Does she have anything to do with the brewery or drink beer?”
Saylor laughed. “She drinks some of it. She understands it because Phoebe’s brother is a brewer somewhere else. But I understand what you’re saying.”
And she didn’t know why that hadn’t crossed her mind before.
“Just be yourself. It seems to be working for you so far. For both of you.”
“You’re right. You always are.”
They walked for another fifteen minutes, then turned around and headed back.
“I’m sure your diabetes is under control living here with your activity level, but I’ll ask anyway?”
“It’s great. I think the more active I am, the easier it is to control. Well, not always, it’s just my body is used to being more active now and with the changes I’ve made to my pump and diet, I’ve got much better control than before.”
“I’m proud of you, Saylor. You’ve come a long way with that.”
“I’m proud of me too.”
