She lifted a hand from her knee and moved it hesitantly in his direction.
He put one hand out, palm up, and she placed her hand in his.
Instantly, she felt steadier.
“It wrecked me when ‘Io’s mom left,” he said quietly, looking out at the water.
Laurie watched him closely, not wanting to miss a word.
“It wrecked me, and I didn’t love her half as much as I love you.” He met her eyes and continued, “I can’t do that again. It’s not fair to ‘Io, and it’s not fair to me.”
“There’s no love without loss.” She brought his hand up andheld it firm against her ribcage, just above her heart. “Look at my parents. They were perfect for each other. But one way or another, everything ends. That’s just a part of it.”
One side of his mouth turned up a bit. “I could settle for forty-four years.”
Love rose up in her chest, and she let out a breath of a laugh.
“What?”
“You know exactly how long my parents were together.”
“I was there at their last anniversary party.”
“I remember,” she said. Though she hadn’t, not until he mentioned it.
Her ex-husband had been there, hovering like a dark cloud, and she hadn’t spoken to anyone outside of her immediate family. It was a difficult time to look back on, and she still didn’t fully understand how she had wound up in such a miserable marriage. It hadn’t started out that way.
“I can’t see the future, Kekoa.”
His expression went serious again. “I can’t do casual, Laurie. Not with you.”
“Fine.” She grinned through the fear and the grief that were lodged in her chest. “Good. I’m not capable of casual.”
“If we start something, that’s it. We’re exclusive.”
A sudden relief washed through her. “Is that all you’re worried about?”
“Laurie, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You could have anybody you wanted.”
“I only want you.” She shifted closer, letting her bare leg rest against his.
Suddenly he was on his feet.
She looked up at him in surprise, and then the constriction around her heart relaxed when she saw a full smile on his face.
His hands rose up in fluid signs:Come on, let’s go.
He ran to the water and dove in.
Laurie caught up with him underwater, and they surfaced together. She drew in a quick breath, and then his mouth was on hers. His head eclipsed the sun, and his strong arms kept her afloat.
She was weightless in the water, steadied by his arms.
Warmed by the sunshine and by the heat that radiated between them, Laurie relaxed into the moment. All of her worries melted away.
They were in deeper water now, both of them bobbing above the sand. Her legs looped languidly around his waist as he kicked his legs slowly, keeping them afloat. She felt completely weightless – and yet completely safe.
It was intoxicating and unfamiliar, that buoyant sense of safety.
