I dip my hands in the warm ocean water and flick water at him. “It’s not the same thing and you know it. Golf is boring as hell to watch — like paint drying. At least with mini-golf, you have obstacles and windmills to make it more exciting and kick it up a notch.”
Ryder kicks his foot up, spraying me with water. “True.”
Giggling, I kick both my feet and douse him good.
“Oh, she wants to play,” is the only warning I get before he tips the board and we both fall in the water. I come up sputtering and feel hands around my ankle. I kick out as a reflex because scenes fromJawsare always present in anyone’s mind when they enter the ocean, and for some reason my brain decided to retain that movie for me to remember. Instead of the sharp bite of a shark, I feel fingers around my lower calf and a tug that releases the ankle strap. Before I consider why Ryder would remove the tether between me and the surfboard, I’m lifted high and thrown up and out, landing in a big, inelegant splash.
“Oh, now it’s on,” I threaten him when I resurface. I swim over to where he’s hanging on the surfboard and dive under. Once I come up behind him, I jump on his back and pull him under. Ryder retaliates by grabbing my legs and pulling me under. Breathless, I make a “T” with my hands and ask for a time out.
“Give up?” He smiles down at me as I float on my back.
“Never. Just give me a minute. You’re sneaky.” I grin up at him and he grins back. And there is that flip again, deep in my stomach. I swim up to him and grab hold of his shoulders which feel like banded steel under my wet hands, warmed from the sun. My legs come around his waist and he reacts by grabbing my hips. I notice his pupils contract as we stare at each other and our breathing becomes heavier. I know I’m about to do that something stupid I keep warning myself about when we hear our names being called. Ryder and I look over to see Jayson and Julien waving at us from the shoreline.
“I guess that’s our cue,” Ryder says.
“I guess so,” I reply, disappointed. “Want to tow me in?”
“Hop on,” he says, even though he easily lifts me back up onto the board without me doing anything.
“Ryder?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for another wonderful time.”
“Anytime.”
“I guess we won’t get our walk on the beach.”
“Who says we can’t? I’m sure Jules and Jay won’t mind.”
I reach to cover his hand that’s gripped on the side of the board. “I meant with you.” He turns his hand over and we link our fingers.
“Anytime you want, Elizabeth.” And I fall just a little bit more.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth
“Elizabeth Fairchild? Please follow me.”
The receptionist, an older woman with curly gray hair pulled tight in a high bun, greets me as I walk behind her down a short hallway and into a large office that looks like someone’s grand study or possibly a living room. The room is supposed to be designed to make one relaxed and comfortable. For me, it’s an epic fail. I am extremely uncomfortable. I place my bag down on the floor next to a plush brown checkered couch and take a seat, fidgeting a bit.
“Dr. Clairemont will be right with you. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? Tea?”
“No thank you.” I smile at her, my hands twisting in my lap from nervousness. The receptionist leaves and closes the door. I know I promised Daniel that I would make an appointment with Dr. Clairemont after I arrived in North Carolina and got settled in my new apartment, but that was weeks ago and I continued to put it off. Daniel called me yesterday to let me know I had an appointment today and to not miss it. So here I am.
I shift around some more on the couch, but nothing helps. It’s lumpy and too soft. How am I supposed to relax when it feels like I’m sitting on a marshmallow?
The door opens and a willowy woman wearing red-rimmed glasses, an expensive blue silk blouse, and pin-striped straight skirt, floats through the door holding a large manilla folder. She has black straight hair tied in a low ponytail. I stand up and wipe my hands down my stretch lycra workout pants and take the hand she is offering.
“Elizabeth, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Deborah Clairemont. I apologize if I made you wait. I was finishing a phone conversation with your doctor in Seattle.”
I don’t ask her which one because I had a lot of different doctors: neurologists, surgeons, psychologists, physical therapists. Dr. Clairemont motions for me to take a seat as she sits down in the chair opposite me and crosses her legs.
“I know it will take a few sessions for us to get to know one another better. I would like to start by meeting with you at least two times a week, perhaps three, if that suits your schedule.”
“I’ll be starting college on Monday, so I’ll need to look at my schedule and get back to you if that’s alright,” I reply.
