Hellcat: Waves aren’t that big here. More goofing around on the board than anything else.
Me: Count me in.
Hellcat: Pick you up around 8?
Me: I’ll be ready.
Me: Goodnight, Ryder.
Hellcat: Goodnight, sweet Elizabeth.
Chapter 9
Jayson
My eyes are gritty as I rub them and stumble into the kitchen in a desperate search for caffeine. I slept like shit last night after Julien told me Ryder had spent all day with Liz. Fucking go-carts and arcade games. I’ve tried texting her a few times over the past week and other than polite hellos, she has avoided me and it’s making me jealous of the time she is spending with my brother and Ryder. Julien keeps telling me to be patient, but all I can think is how I’ve lost a year with my girl. How she was hurt and in pain and I wasn’t there to take care of her. How scared she must have been when she woke up and couldn’t remember anything. I want to make it better for her. I want my girlfriend back.
As I pour myself a very large cup of coffee, Ryder comes strolling in wearing board shorts and a swim shirt. I pass my mug to him and grab another from the cupboard.
“Thanks, man.”
“You look like you’re heading out to the beach,” I comment.
“I’m taking Elizabeth surfing.”
I’m surprised the coffee mug in my hand doesn’t shatter under the pressure I’m strangling it with. “Liz doesn’t surf.”
“She wants to try it out,” is his reply. Ryder finishes his coffee and starts to pack a cooler with snacks.
“Hold on. You were just with Liz all day yesterday.”
“Yeah, and?” He looks over at me, a challenge in the way he cocks his head my way.
“And nothing. Forget I said anything.” I back down even though I’m pissed as hell. “Why don’t Jules and I join you?”
“Join what?” Julien asks as he walks into the kitchen. His hair is still wet from the shower he took after his run this morning.
“Join him and Liz today at the beach.”
“I’m in, but Elijah has to work today,” Jules says and chugs down a protein drink.
Ryder throws a few bottles of water in the cooler and closes it. “Not up to me. You need to ask her.”
I hold up a finger and dial her number. It takes two rings for Liz to pick up.
“Hello?” she answers a little too hesitantly for my liking.
“Good morning, princess.”
“I’m not your princess,” she groans.
“Jules and I want to know if we can crash your beach day,” I say, trying to sound cheerful even though my heart is beating out of my chest just from the sound of her voice.
Liz doesn’t answer for several seconds. “Liz, you there?”
I hear her sigh. “Yeah. Is Ryder there?”
I look over at him. “Yeah, he’s here.”
