Holding the straw hat on his head in place, he nods toward the ocean. “You’re getting there, Rush. Give it time.”
I huff out a laugh. “You’ve been saying that for years.”
“I didn’t say how much time you had to give it.” He gestures toward my house. “What say we head up and grab a beer?”
I tug on the waistband of my board shorts. “It’s not even noon.”
I’m still running on New York time even though I’ve been home a week now. I thought I’d find solace on the beach and under the California sun, but all I’ve found is emptiness.
“Is that a problem?” He takes two steps in the sand. “The first one to the fridge buys the beers.”
I follow behind him. “I already paid for them.”
With a glance over his shoulder, he winks. “That’s how it should be.”
“You’re going to explain that fool comment at some point.”
Trudging up toward the side door, he gives me a look. “What’s there to explain? You ran away from your future.”
Cadby Easton has been more than a grandfather to me. He’s been my lifeline. I confided in him when I returned from Manhattan because I was carrying a burden that I couldn’t bear.
I wept as I told him about Delaney, and before I could catch my breath, I confessed that I was in love.
He’s been telling me to go back to New York every day since.
Once he’s inside the door, he tosses the straw hat toward a chair. He misses just as he does every damn time.
With a skim of his hand over his smooth head, he goes straight to my kitchen.
I stop to lean my surfboard against the house’s siding before I follow him through the open door.
I take the beer he’s offering even though I’m not in the mood for a drink.
I’m not in the mood for anything, but Emma.
“I booked you a flight to New York,” he announces with a wink.
“Cancel it.” I march across the white tile floor to land my ass on one of the stools next to the island in the kitchen.
“I’m going with you.”
That draws my gaze up to his. “You’re what?”
“You have unfinished business there,” he points out with a tip of his beer bottle toward me. “I have things I need to say to that girl.”
I don’t need him to say her name.
Delaney has been on his mind for days. She’s been on mine too, but Emma’s been the one stealing my thoughts.
I miss her.
I fucking miss her so much that I ache inside.
I shake my head. “We’re not going.”
“You listen to me, Rush.” He leans his elbow on the marble-topped island. His green eyes focus on mine. “You will never find a woman you love as much as Emma.”
I fucking know that. I don’t need a reminder.
