Page 46 of Whispers on the Water

Thankfully, Tilly holds a hand up, indicating I should say no more. We both lapse into a comfortable silence. I should probably call it quits and head back to my worthless apartment, but I honestly don’t want to be alone.

An idea pops into my mind. It’s not the first time I’ve thought about it, but Tilly wasn’t ready for the suggestion. Not desperate enough. Now, it seems like the time to push. I take a deep breath. “You know who she probably called…”

But Tilly’s shaking her head in denial. “No way.”

I’m pleading now, hands outstretched. “Til, Tommy won’t ignore your call. Just check in, make sure she’s okay.” It’s the last person we can check with, and we both know Sam might be with him.

When she hesitates, I don’t wait. I grab her phone and hold it out, one eyebrow raised. Tilly snatches it back, unlocks it, and dials.

“Hey Tommy,” Tilly says, her voice cutting through the tense air. Despite the emotional whirlwind, she twirls a strand of her hair around her finger. “Uh, are you with Sam?”

My heart leaps at the mention of Sam’s name. While Tommy is talking on the phone, Tilly’s eyebrows shoots up in surprise, and she eagerly taps my arm before a gloomy expression takes over her face. “Nicaragua? Why?” I can barely contain my excitement, my mind racing with questions.

But I can’t hold back. Seizing the phone from Tilly, I press it against my ear and growl into the receiver, “Don’t say another fucking word. Just get back here.” Before anyone can respond, I end the call.

Tilly looks at me, her face beet red, furious at the rash move. “What the hell was that?” she demands.

“The FBI is probably listening to all our calls, Tilly. In person only.” I barely finish my sentence when a knock at the front window interrupts us. Benito, looking out of place in his casual attire, is waiting outside.

“Fuck,” Tilly mutters under her breath, her gaze flicking to me, desperate for guidance. “I forgot he’s taking me to dinner. What should I do?”

I know we have no choice. Any detour from the plan will be a giant red flag. “You have to go. The longer we can keep them from knowing she’s gone, the better.” Tilly nods, her resolve hardening. If I had any doubt about what she would do for Sam, and I really didn’t, it’s gone now.

She ties her hair up, transforming into a woman with a mission, and greets Benito with a casualness that belies any hint of what she was feeling ten seconds ago. “Hey Benito!” She kisses his cheek, feigning normalcy. “Should we go?”

Benito glances my way, suspicion in his eyes. “Who’s that?”

“Oh, that’s Greg. He’s gonna close up for me,” Tilly says smoothly, ushering him out. I wave at Benito, playing my part in the charade. I barely know the guy. Really, I’ve only met him once, but I will never forget his face. Benito is surely the same man who was at headquarters for a retirement party three years ago. I remember we both wanted the last of the Scottish whiskey at the bar, and he won a quick game of rock paper scissors to earn it.

Tilly gives me a final glance through the front window, worry in her furrowed brows. A reassuring smile is all I have to offer her, but she turns away and looks as confident as ever.

Once they’re gone, the silence of the shack presses in on me. Everywhere I look, I’m reminded of Sam. Her presence lingers like a fragrance, her sun-bleached clothes hidden in nooks and crannies. The woman always changed in a flash when it was time for a surf lesson. Overcome by a sudden urge, I start to gather her scattered shirts. I fold each one carefully, storing them away like treasures under the counter.

I think about how Sam lived here, always on the move, her life a series of spontaneous decisions that somehow always led her back to the ocean. Her passion for surfing wasn’t just a hobby; it was an extension of her soul. Watching her ride the waves, I was captivated by the sheer joy she radiated.

And I know that Sam was more than just a fleeting romance for me; she was a force that had shifted the direction of my life. Before her, I would never have considered lying to the FBI or risking my job. But her laughter, her intelligence, her beauty—it all resonated with me on a level I hadn’t known was possible.

But now, as I stand alone in the surf shack, surrounded by the memories of what we shared in a few short months, I’m filled with regret. I should have been honest with her from the start and should have shared my secrets when I confessed my love. Instead, I let my fear and my job come between us, and now I’m paying the price.

It feels like there’s a neon sign over my head, flashing the word, ‘Idiot.’ And I’m left wondering if I’ve lost her for good; if my failure to open up has cost me the most important person in my life.

After organizing all her stuff, I start sweeping the surf shack. There’s always sand on the floor, and I can keep myself busy trying to contain it for the next ten years. For a while, I manage to lose myself. Cleaning and putting around the shop without any real purpose.

The click of the front door instantly pulls my attention. Tommy stands there, fury etched across his face, and without a word, he charges at me. His fist connects with my cheek, the shock of the impact matched only by the pain thumping in my face. He doesn’t stop there, landing another punch straight into my gut, sending me tumbling to the shop’s cold cement floor.

“I told you what would happen, you dick!” His words ring in my ears as I hit the ground. “How could you do that to her?”

I don’t even try to defend myself. Everything Tommy says is right. I’ve earned this, every punch, every word.

“You gonna sit there like an asshole or get up and fight me?” He’s taunting me, but I keep my hands at my sides as I struggle to my feet. Throbbing courses through my body, but I relish it. He should kick my ass. Hell, I want to kick my ass.

But before he can hit me again, Tilly’s voice cuts through the tension. “Tommy! What’re you doing?”

“He’s a cop! He’s here to arrest Sam and take her to the States!” Tommy’s voice is trembling, and his whole body is shaking with anger. Tilly tries to calm him with a touch, but he’s too far gone.

“No! He took her from you, Til! She’s never coming back, and I know… I know what that’ll do to you.”

Tilly’s reaction is a mix of shock and something deeper. “You’re—worried about me?”

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