Page 61 of The Best Friend Power Play

Pacific Grove isn't that far from Comfort Bay, so I came here a few times with my family when I was a kid to take in this amazing sight.

"I can't believe you've never been here before," I say. "I would have thought someone who loves flowers as much as you do would've made this an annual pilgrimage."

"From now on I will. This place is so beautiful. It feels…surreal."

"Yeah. It really does."

The vivid purple hue of the fields contrasts dramatically with the deep blue of the ocean and the bright green of the surrounding foliage. The carpet of wildflowers looks soft and velvety, stretching out as far as the eye can see over the gently undulating contours of the land.

I think about Hannah telling me she wants to see the Northern Lights. A sight that, much like what we're currently experiencing, would probably seem otherworldly, too. I wonder if that's part of the appeal for her—seeking out experiences that take her out of the real world and let her escape into something different and unique and unexpected.

She looks around excitedly, and I love seeing her so happy.

There's a designated track for visitors to follow in front of us. I stretch out my arm. "Shall we?"

She slides her hand into mine. "Let's," she says, her face beaming.

It's a perfect summer day, and she's wearing a perfect summer sundress with a soft pastel floral print against a white background, with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

We set off, and I inhale deeply, her coconut scent mingling with the subtly sweet aroma of the blooms and the salty spritz of the ocean.

We're finally focusing on her hot girl summer list, and I can tell it's going to be a really good day.

They've all been really good days since last weekend.

Yes, I know, we've only been married for a week, so we're still technically in our honeymoon phase. But I had no idea the honeymoon phase would be so much fun.

But I guess that’s what happens when you add daily kisses into the hot girl summer mix.

No complaints here at all. I take my responsibility as her accountability partner very seriously.

Hannah tugs on my arm. "Ooh! Look at that."

I see a flock of bright yellowbellied meadowlarks take flight into the sky. "That's so cool."

We keep walking along the path through the flowers, hands locked.

This past week was a lot like the week before it.

Hannah went off to work at her flower shop. I chilled out around the house and cooked dinner for us every night. I made proper Italian pizza from scratch to show Hannah that the pie we had in Fresno was the worst.

I had lunch with Ma and Pa.

Visited Nonna a couple of times and fixed a few things at her cottage.

Stopped by Malik's construction site, where he gave me some good brotherly advice about the inheritance. He assured me I was doing the right thing and that he'd do the same thing if he were in my shoes. I avoided any mention of Bianca since I picked up on some tense vibes between them at the will reading.

I had two physical therapy sessions with a real doctor who wouldn't prescribe kisses as a remedy. That was the most sobering part of the week.

My injury is at a precarious and, thankfully, relatively early stage.

After years and years of bruising falls and high-impact contact, it could be a lot worse than it is. But it is deteriorating, and the worse it gets, the more pain I'm in, and the more pain I'm in, the more likely it is to become more serious. It could lead to chronic pain, permanent decreased mobility, even osteoarthritis

Surgery is a last resort before it gets to that stage, and it comes with its own risks and complications. The biggest issue is that a full recovery isn't guaranteed. Yes, it'll likely alleviate my pain, but will it also kill my career?

For now, at least, I've been cleared to attend the upcoming training session in LA in a few days, even if I am limited to light participation only. I'm trying to focus on getting to see the guys again and not on the activity restrictions.

So all in all, it was a pretty normal ordinary week—with the notable exception of adding daily and nightly kisses into the mix. Have I mentioned that already?

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