Page 18 of Diving In

With one eyebrow raised, Cal chirped, “We’re going to have to teach you how to take a joke, aren’t we? The code is 0704.”

I pivoted away from him and trekked up the last five steps, repeating the house code to myself when it occurred to me…

0704. July 4thwas my birthday. Jack’s house code wasmy birthday?

Chalking it up to his love of the Fourth of July, I raised my gaze to fully take in the two massive, light blue, wooden doors. I typed in the code, and not that I had doubted Cal, but I was shocked when the lock clicked. I faltered, unsure that I wanted to go through with this. I didn’t know what business Jack had left behind, but I knew it wasn’t my job to finish it for him.

With my hand on the door handle, I turned to face Cal. I nearly fell over as I found him standing right behind me, my body pushing up against his tall and sturdy one as he towered over me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize—” I started.

“It’s okay,” he interrupted, but instead of putting more distance between us, he inched closer. The calmness his mere presence provided was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I confessed, feeling my body relax just a little bit against his.

“Yes, you can.” He paused, and when I finally looked up at him, he continued. “Look, I don’t know exactly what kind of relationship you had with your dad, but what I do know is that he loved you. I mean, like, hereallyloved you. I also know that you need to finish this—not for him, but for yourself. And for what it’s worth, I’ve got you,” he muttered that last bit, and I took a small step back.

Confused, I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t completely sure I trusted that I’d just heard him correctly. What did he mean,I’ve got you? Because this man had the heart to comfort me and make me feel safe, saying things like “I’ve got you” before ever really knowing me, or at least not the grown-up version of me. Given what my relationship with Ian was like, that was certainly not something I was used to.

I wanted to hold onto those words for forever, carry them with me and replay them anytime things got scary. Not knowing what exactly it was that I needed to do, I only knew that I came here to do it. I was strong and brave, and I could handle anything that Jack wanted to throw my way. Subconsciously, I think a little part of me also wanted to find that light and free girl I used to be.

For the first time since being with Cal, he looked a little unsure of himself. “Do you want me to stay?”

“No, I need to do this part on my own,” I responded.

“Okay then. The luggage has been delivered, first-class service, directly to the front door. I’ll let you get yourself acquainted, but I’m serious, Georgia, if you need anything, I’m here. Here’s my number,” Cal said as he handed me a little piece of paper.

Without waiting for a response, he bounded down the stairs and started backing out of the driveway when he yelled out the window, “Don’t be a stranger.”

As I stood there, all sorts of things were swirling through my mind. I just kept thinking about his body pressed against mine, the smell of salt, sandalwood, and evergreen lingering.

And now, only adding to my list of Undeniably Terrifying Things, was the pure desire that was taking over my body.

As someone who had always craved control, it made sense why I’d chosen to be with Ian for over two years. He was comfortable, obvious, and safe, everything about him entirely predictable. There were never any surprises or gimmicks with him—what you saw was what you got.

My breakup was so fresh that it should’ve still felt raw, but it didn’t, and that comforted me that I’d made the right decision. Not to mention the fact that I couldn’t seem to shake the lingering feelings Cal had managed to stir up in me during the short time we’d been in the same room.

I couldn’t quite put my finger onwhatI was feeling, all I knew was that I liked it.

CHAPTER 9

Standing on the front porch of Jack’s house, thunder clouds loomed overhead, turning the sky into a mysterious black. I snatched open the door and threw my suitcase down on the entryway rug, shocked to find I actually liked it. Mom was always the one with interior design taste—not that Jack ever argued that. Covering the ground was a piece of every shade of blue with all sorts of patterns, and it was clearly not something Jack would have picked out.

Despite the fact that I’d never been here before, I felt oddly comfortable as I stepped into the house. It was spectacular, like something right out ofArchitectural Digest. Jack must have bought this house after taking over the aquarium, because this was most definitely not purchased with his previous salary as an Aquarium Manager.

To my left was a grand staircase that bounded thirty feet above me, an open hallway looking down over the entirety of the house. Walking a few more steps, I gasped when I eyed the kitchen. It was something out of my wildest dreams. The gigantic island right in the middle was painted a dusty blue, complementing the marbled granite on top of it, cascading down both sides. Suspended over the island were four stunning gold pendant lights in just the right size, and five wicker barstools sat around the counter, gazing onto the rest of the kitchen in all its glory. Even the damn appliances were perfect, clearly having been custom-built for the house.

After soaking up the kitchen and admiring every single thing in it, I decided to try to get settled—howeversettledone could feel in the house of their dead, mostly estranged dad. There didn’t appear to be any rooms on the main floor, so with my suitcase in hand, I took the stairs slowly, lugging the bag behind me. Walking up the steps, I felt a little closer to Jack as I passed pictures of fishing trips and article clippings from his diving trips all over the world lining the stairwell.

As I reached the top, I stopped in my tracks, awestruck at what laid before me. I inched closer, convinced my eyes were deceiving me, and then cracked the door fully open. This bedroom wasmy room, there was no doubt about it.Obviously it wasn’t technically mine, but it sure felt like it given that Jack had taken items I’d left in my old bedroom and decorated a room in his new house… It had to be for me.

The room was beautiful, with crisp white linens, built-in bookshelves lining the back wall, and all my favorite cookbooks stacked on each shelf. Not to mention the walk-out balcony that overlooked the ocean… The room was an absolute dream.

I threw my purse onto the desk next to the balcony door, the contents spilling out from the inside. Just before I stepped outside, something caught my eye. The papers Cal had given me at the aquarium splashed against a picture of Jack and I baking in the kitchen of our old house, as we did every morning, and an envelope stood out from the others.

Sprawled in Jack’s handwriting, I read, “To My Girl, Georgia.”

As I stood there, staring in disbelief at the envelope, I couldn’t help but feel immediately sad. Sad that we let life get in the way of our relationship. Sad that when my parents’ marriage ended, so did my relationship with Jack.

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