My mouth hangs open in shock before I manage a wobbly, “Thank you for saving my job.”
The second I speak, an odd sense of disappointment nearly knocks me sideways. I should be completely elated that I get to have the love of my life and the job I’ve worked tirelessly for. The thing is, Iexpectedto be fired. The whole time I worked up the courage to make this phone call, I’d been mentally preparing myself for the worst.
So why do I feel like Imissed outon something?
“I still want that insatiable chemistry between the two of you,” Cecil says, dragging me back to the conversation.
A smile curls my lips. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“And I’ll give you a raise if Tenny can add in a little ‘touch her and die’ energy every once in a while.”
“We’ll see,” I say, tone hardening.
Cecil practically titters at my lackluster enthusiasm.
“Alright, darling, I have a massage in ten. Go out there and get me more incredible footage.”
I’m about to say my goodbyes when Cecil gasps.
“I almost forgot! Him saving you from that wayward ball? Gold, my dear. Absolute gold.That’sthe kind of thing I expectfrom you moving forward. Don’t let me down.” He sing-songs the last sentence before hanging up on me.
I pull my phone away from my ear, blinking at theCall Endedscreen.
My forehead crinkles as I exit the office and begin climbing the stairs. Why am I not punching the air with relief? I should bethrilledby this turn of events. Everything I’ve ever wanted is literally in my hands.
Not everything, a small voice within me whispers.
As I break onto the main concourse, my feet take me straight to the railing. Below, the field is bright green under the stadium lights, the sharp crack of a bat slicing through the warm evening air before dissolving into a swell of cheers. The smell of popcorn and hot dogs clings to everything, thick and familiar. My fingertips brush the metal railing as I watch it all—the pitcher winding up, the outfield shifting, the anticipation of what’s to come.
Ilovebeing here.
But baseball will always be my second love.
A quiet sense of peace settles into my bones as I let myself consider the best-case scenario. After an amazing season reporting on the Waves, while kissing Tenny whenever I want to, I imagine taking a temporary hiatus from reporting to return to surfing. At twenty-six, I’m not too old to return to the circuit, to qualify for the next Olympics. If I train hard, I could have years of competition ahead of me.
This would always be here for me afterward.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Tenny would wholeheartedly support me. He wouldn’t grow resentful at my success. He’d only lift me up. I chuckle as I imagine him cheering me on. He’d be the loudest one on the beach, wearing a t-shirt with my face on it or something equally over-the-top yet wonderful.
What used to be a terrifying thought fills me with a buzzy excitement. I have a long way to go, and there’s no guaranteeing this wild thought will ever come to fruition, but it’s apossibility.
The Waves might be the right place for me today, but maybe…a different kind of wave is in my future.
Either way, I know one thing—I’m never letting go of Tenny.
Epilogue - Tenny
Almost 4 years later
“You look good out here,” a smiling voice says over the rush of the waves.
I push up on my elbow, shielding my face to gaze at my gorgeous wife. There’s nothing better than the look of her golden locks drenched with salt water, her board beneath her arm. She adjusts the shoulder strap of her white one-piece suit, that smirk I love settled over her lips.
“You look goodout there,” I say with a flirty wink.
Alex shakes her head. “No way you could have seen me. You passed out the second you stretched outyour towel.”
“Can you blame me?” I sit all the way up and don’t miss my wife’s appreciative perusal of my bare torso. “Someone was very excited to see me last night. I hardly slept a wink.”
