Page 48 of The Surfer

And everything changes.

It happens so naturally, so spontaneously that it takes me a moment to register what we’re doing, that we are actually kissing.

A deep, passionate kiss.

Her lips fit perfectly around mine. I bite her lip and she responds by pressing her mouth stronger against mine.

Out of all the kisses I’ve had in my life, with all the models and girls at Tide, this one ranks as number one. By far.

I feel her tongue on mine. Her lips taste sweet and also salty from the ocean water. She’s soft. My hands raise around to her back and she melts into my arms.

She’s mine, and I’m hers.

It’s perfect.

It was always meant to be.

And now here we are, standing in the shallows of the ocean, on our own secret beach. Kissing.

It’s the best kiss I’ve ever had.

And then Ripley pulls back, she lifts her lips away from mine and twists her body away.

“I… I can’t do this, Cove,” she stammers, her voice softly breaking.

No. Wait.

I can’t believe it.

The kiss felt right. This is right. Why, then, is she breaking away from me?

“Why can’t you?” I ask. The panic builds in my chest.

She lowers her head so that I can no longer see her face. “Because of the deal I made with your dad and your sister,” she whispers, and I can tell she’s hurting inside, that this is tearing her up. Because of me. “Because you’re you, and I’m me. Because of your sister. Because of who you are. You’re a womanizer. Because of everything.”

No. This can’t be happening.

The kiss was perfect.

She can’t be rejecting me.

I’m silent. I can’t move. Everything’s shattering around me. The ocean water splashes around my ankles, cold. Eventually, I take in a deep breath and I reach out under her chin, bringing her head up to face me to see into her eyes. Her upset eyes. She looks at me with a look that can ruin me. She doesn’t want to say the things she’s saying, but I know that, deep within her, they are the truth. She’s saying her truth.

She’s made a deal with my family, and now she’s broken it. And now she’s tearing up inside.

I stare deep into her eyes and whisper. “Did you want to kiss me?”

It’s the only question that I need answering. I want to know. I need to know.

“Yes,” she replies tenderly.

That’s all I need. Screw everything else.

“See?”

“But, Cove, there’s too much to think about, there was a deal I made.”

“What else is there to think about?” I ask. “Forget about my dad, or my sister, or who I’ve been and look at the man who’s standing in front of you right here and right now. This is all that matters.”