“That’s all I ask.”
We stood in comfortable silence, watching the waves tumble in the ocean, for what seemed like hours. I wondered if Declan could love again as he did with Sophie. Was that selfish of me? I wasn’t sure, but I also wasn’t sure if I could open myself up to someone again. The only man I’d ever opened myself to brutally rejected me twice.
Maybe it was time to try again, with a man who was emotionally available. Which was saying something, considering Declan lost his first love and was more ready than Luca would ever be.
But why did that thought consume me like a thick layer of black mist around my heart? My feelings for Luca were poison to my soul. Declan was a beacon of light that would purify me from the dark. That was something I had to believe. I owed it to Declan and to myself to move on from Luca.
Day Two
1 PM - 3 PM - Volleyball
I ordered room service for lunch and lounged around the hotel room. I caught myself staring out at the ocean more times than I could count. It had a soothing effect on people, apparently even on me. My thoughts were plagued with Mags, and I had to find a way to stop them. I threw on some swim shorts and headed down to the beach at one.
Jamie and John were already there, hitting the volleyball over the net. I walked across the sand to them, and John noticed me. “Want to join in?”
I gave a relaxed smile that contradicted the way I really felt. “Sure.”
John and I were on one side of the net, and Jamie was on the other. Even though there were two of us and one of her, she wiped the floor with us.
John shook his head as he served the ball. “Babe, go easy on us!”
Jamie jumped forward and hit it back to us. “Never!”
I jumped back and hit the ball over the net, but she smacked it down into the sand on our side. “How are you this good?” I huffed.
John walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “She played volleyball in college.”
“Still got it.” She kissed his cheek.
About that time, Faith and Asher walked over.
“Hey, you’re here!” Faith smiled.
Jamie grinned at her. “Just beating the boys at a game.”
I nodded, and John chuckled.
“Up for another?” Asher wiped his brow.
“Sure.” John shrugged, and they looked at me.
I shook my head. “Nah. I got my ass handed to me enough. I’ll probably go swim or something.”
“Suit yourself.” Asher grabbed the ball from John. He and Faith raced over to their side of the net with Jamie and John on the other side.
I roamed closer to the ocean. The shore shimmered under the afternoon sun. The waves rolled in with a whooshing sound. Mags and Declan were walking up the shore my way, holding hands. I winced at the feeling in my bones.
“Hey, man.” Declan waved.
Mags looked out at the ocean, not addressing me at all.
I nodded at him before looking at her. “How’s your injury?”
She shrugged. “Fine.”
“Any pain?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
