Page 78 of Hard to Love

The past five weeks have done wonders for my speed and stamina and it shows when I chase him down and grab his shirt from behind. We both laugh as we tumble and then yelp when we’re met with the cold of the water.

We both come up out of breath and sputtering with the water glowing surrounding us. I run a hand through the water at my hips and it looks like lightning is striking underwater, as the neon streaks in the path I just made through the water.

“This is so cool,” I say, mesmerized by something I never knew existed before tonight.

“It is, isn’t it?” Finn asks as he grabs my hand to help me from the water.

“Look.” I point to his wet shirt that’s now glowing from where it came in contact with the water. “Not only do you have a heart, but now it’s glowing.”

He watches as I pat over his heart three times, much like he said his client did, and stares at the blue fading beneath my fingers. “Who knew? That might come as a huge shock to a lot of people.” He chuckles while averting his eyes from mine, seemingly uncomfortable in the moment.

“It’s not a shock to me,” I whisper.

His gaze meets mine this time. Emotions swim in his eyes that I can’t exactly decipher. Or maybe I can because they look how I feel, and I’m not one hundred percent certain I can admit to any of it yet.

Perhaps he can’t either.

Finn’s lips meet mine in the most tender of kisses, right where we’re standing in the water with people all around us. His hands glow as they frame my face and we get lost in each other as if no one is around.

There’s a fluttering in my belly.

A deep-seated need that somehow feels like it’s being satisfied while at the same time being enhanced.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

A kiss is just a kiss and yet this moment—his lips, his touch, the uniqueness of the glowing water—makes it feel like so much more.

And even as the thought ebbs and flows through my mind, I know the way I feel has nothing to do with the water.

It has to do with him. Finn.

He’s made it so that feeling isn’t a bad thing anymore. I’ve spent months trying not to and in this short amount of time, he makes me look forward to the time I get to spend with him because he makes me feel good. Great. Like I’m floating on air.

And when we get back to the house and strip off our soaking-wet clothes, we get lost in each other all over again.

STEVIE

DAYS RUN TOGETHER.

Ones filled with training and then laughter. With quick glances and the sudden awareness that our days are numbered.

In the past, I’ve only had to worry about tournaments. About being ready and prepping as best as I can. But now? Now there is an added element that I’m not sure whether I love or hate. I’m going to miss this.

Being here.

Having a place that feels like home.

Him.

I pull my floppy sun hat down lower on my head as I pass a couple on the beach, needing to keep this anonymity as long as I can before I hit the bright lights and powder keg of stress at the Open. It’s been heaven having anonymity. Being able to practice without a gaggle of people standing outside that I have to fight my way through. Being able to work on something with Kellen without fearing an article will be printed saying I’m off my game because I keep repeating the same strokes over and over.

I can’t remember the last time I was afforded this type of freedom.

“There you are.”

I turn at the sound of Finn’s voice. “What are you doing down here?”

He grabs my hand and links his fingers with mine. “Taking a walk with you.”