He drops to his knees with me in his arms and lays me back on the sand, covering his body with mine.
The swift swinging motion makes my head spin. Lying flat doesn’t stop the spinning. His face closes in to kiss me again, but I halt him with both hands on his chest. I shove him hard and roll over just before I lose the contents of my stomach. Again.
“Shit,” I say after heaving and catching my breath. I note that Seth is holding my hair. “Sorry. Again.” I turn over and plant my butt next to his in the sand in an all too familiar scenario.Great. I’m the barf girl.Sweeping sand quickly over my upchuck spot, I sit up, prop my elbows on my bent knees and hold my head in my hands. After a few quick gulps of salt air, my stomach settles.
“Yeah, what is it with you and beaches?” He opts for humor, and I’m grateful for it.
“It might have more to do with the tequila this time. Or all the beers. I’m not really a drinker.”
“Special occasion?” That he keeps it light is the only thing staving off the hysteria bubbling just below the surface, threatening to take over.
“Something like that.” Still holding my head, I turn it sideways to look at him.
He’s resting his cheek on his knees, arms wrapped around his calves, watching me. Half of his face is in shadow, the other illuminated by the moonlight. “So what’s your story, Davis?”
I can see half of his close-mouthed smile. “Hmph,” I snort. “It’s not a good one, Seth. In fact, I came here to forget about my life. For a few days anyway. Cool?” He nods in response, so I add, “Help me forget.” His eyes go dark with unmistakable hunger, and I realize my inadvertent invitation. I quickly amend my statement. “Lilly said you grew up in Hawaii on Molokai. What’s that like?”
His smile is kind, understanding. I lie back on the cold sand and stare up at the black sky littered with stars. He stretches out on his side and props his head in his hand, facing me. “Small.” His laugh is a deep rumble in his chest.
It makes my stomach twist because it reminds me of another deep laugh. One I love. I squash it. “Tell me stories, Seth. Help me forget.” I fold my hands over my stomach.
One of his hands reaches out and rests on top of mine. It’s warm. Then I hear his voice. It’s warm too.
“What do you want to know?”
I ignore the pressure behind my eyes. “Tell me about the first time you learned to surf.”
“I was three.” His fingers trace slow circles on top of my clasped hands, warming them.
His voice is like a melody. It soothes me. I stare at the stars and hang on every word.
Chapter 26
Julian
“It’s incredible, Jay. Or should I say Julian? I mean, you’re kinda famous.” Taya is standing in the middle of the kickboxing room at Fit and turns to smile at me. “Proud of you.”
“Thank you.” I smile back. My first genuine smile since she showed up, even if it doesn’t reach my eyes. Seeing her here in my space, in the life I created, being able to show her what I’ve made of myself, hearing her say she’s proud of me, is like the validation I didn’t know I needed. I don’t have parents showing up to tell me they’re proud of me. No one from my past is even part of my life now, not that there were many—or any. She’s pretty much the only person who knew me when I was a kid—a teenager, anyway—and ever made me feel like I mattered. It feels nice and . . . normal to have someone in my corner who knew me before.
“Hey, Julian. What a nice surprise.” Sylvie’s voice pierces the moment. She’s leaning half her body through the glass door of the kickboxing room. “You teaching a surprise class today?”
“Hey, Sylvie. Nope. Still taking the weekend off. Thanks for coming to the party last night.” I try to sound normal, then turn back to Taya to hopefully end the conversation. No such luck.
“Of course. We wouldn’t have missed it,” she replies with her lip-sticked smile, referring to herself and the rest of my clients that came. “And who’s this? A new member?”
Closing my eyes while still facing Taya, I start to turn to answer when Taya speaks up.
“No, I’m an old friend from high school, just passing through. Wanted to see the place.”
“Oh, how nice, dear. Well, enjoy the tour. Gotta get to my workout.” She wiggles her fingers in goodbye and dips back out the door.
Taya bursts into a tinkling laugh once she’s gone, which makes me laugh.
For a second or two, I forget. I feel the laugh in my chest. Thenherface slams into my head. The reminder of what a shit show my life has become overnight. “C’mon, let’s get out of here before I get hit up for questions or demos.”
“Or autographs?” Taya teases.
“Nah, I’m not famous here,” I deadpan.
