Page 35 of Whispering Waves

She flipped through her tees and found a shirt with a cartoon orca on it.

“You don’t have a lot of clothing.” She could tell he was trying to ask her a question casually.

“I was planning on spending time with my brother at the base or on the boat. I was restricting my laundry options. I had no idea I was going to run into you.”

“You were going to the ocean. That is where I am.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you were down the path from my brother.”

“It was a delightful surprise for me as well, but I really want to make this house a more suitable match for you.”

“It’s fine.”

“You need your own space, so today, we are going to discuss what you like to do.”

“Are we?” She carefully strapped her sandals into place.

“Yes, we are.” He said softly. “We don’t wear shoes in the house. Sand.”

“I will take them off downstairs. Right now, they are loadbearing.”

“You can’t bend down, can you?”

“Nope. I got them on and just about cried.”

“Come on, nymph. We will get you some anti-inflammatories and breakfast.”

“No one ever says you need to stretch before sex. They really should.” She muttered it as she moved past him at a glacial pace.

He snorted. He carefully picked her up and carried her down the stairs.

“I am sorry, Kimo, this is going to get old fast.”

“You don’t weigh anything. I think I could sign up for this for the rest of our lives.”

“That’s beta-type talk.”

He chuckled. “Well, I live here on my own, and you will be here with me, so whatever world we design is ours.”

She sighed, and he set her on a chair. He leaned in, and she lifted her chin. The kiss was sweet, and they were both smiling when he backed off.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

“Coffee and pain relief.”

“Done.” He got a med kit out from one of the drawers and put it on the counter, getting a bottle of generic over-the-counter pain relief.

A glass of water and two tablets of ibuprofen were set next to her, and he went to work on the coffee. The birds were excited outside, the heavy scent of flowers filling the room.

She took the painkillers. “I have a friend who would love it here. She loves flowers.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but not for normal reasons.”

“What are abnormal reasons?”

“Cel is a beekeeper. She loves flowers.” She smiled. “She curates the honey carefully, directing her bees for the best result.”

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