Page 49 of A Constant Love

“You. That’s what I want to do today.”

Just hearing him say the words made me wet. “Well, you are definitely going to do that, but anything else?”

He nodded. “How about some snorkeling?”

My smile widened. “I’ve never been snorkeling.”

“I figured. One usually doesn’t snorkel in a lake.”

“Shut up,” I giggled while playfully smacking his shoulder.

The next few hours were spent with us snorkeling all around our little part of the island. There was something so utterly peaceful and serene about being underneath the water and seeing all of the beauty and wonder it held.

It was like the second my head bobbed beneath the surface, every other thought completely exited my brain, and I was in a world all my own. It was a bonus that every few minutes, I’d see a Greek God of a man swimming by and knowing that later, he would make me scream his name.

It was only when my stomach started growling so loudly I could hear it, that I was ready to get out of the water.

Tyler had arranged for a chef to come in and cook for us a couple times a day, and this time, he had prepared an exquisite layout of every type of sushi imaginable.

We had come inside to the welcome feel of the air conditioning while we ate, considering sushi that had been baking in the hot sun didn’t sound super appealing.

As we dug in, I said, “I can’t believe I slept straight through like that. I’m sorry. I feel like we wasted half a day here.”

Tyler shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. Clearly, you needed the sleep. I know you haven’t been sleeping much at home.”

His eyes asked a million questions, but he vocalized none of them. He had been beyond wonderful in not asking me too many questions about my dreams or what they entailed. Instead, he would just comfort me after.

He was right though. I hadn’t been sleeping and not just because of the nightmares. My brain was constantly working on a plan on how to get out of my predicament with James without anyone getting hurt in the process.

Easier said than done.

Since I wasn’t keen on giving Tyler any information about my plans, I decided to let him in on a different part of me.

Licking my lips, I tried to find my words. “I dream about James, but I’m sure you already knew that.”

He nodded. “Do you dream about what he did to you in our house? I feel like the only place you have the nightmares is our home.”

I shook my head. “I’m not entirely sure why I only have them there. I don’t have them every single night, and I think sometimes, my exhaustion just wins out, and I don’t dream at all. When you and I are on trips, I think my mind just kind of shuts out all the bad. It’s like for a short amount of time, I can outrun my problems.”

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but what are they about? I know you said about James, but if it’s not about the recent attack, what is it?”

I sighed. “Honestly, most of them start out pretty good. It’s almost like a memory of he and I when we first started dating, back before all the bad happened. He’s sweet and innocent like he was back in the day, but something happens…a switch flips, and he gets angry, and I’m right back in that cornfield reliving the worst night of my life.”

He reached over to take my hand in his. “I’m sorry, Sam. I wish I could take it all away. I wish I could find him and make him pay for what he did. I wish I could make it better for you.”

I reached out and grabbed him by the chin. “Hey, this helps,” I said gesturing around the room. “Tyler, you have been more wonderful through this than I could ever express to you. You have put up with all my bullshit and never complained. I love you so fucking much, and I am so grateful to have you.”

As I said the words, a choked gasp escaped my throat and tears stung my eyes.

He took his thumb and gently stroked my cheek. “Hey, none of that on this trip. No tears. And no more talk of James or any of his bullshit. It’s just you and me here…let’s keep it that way.”

Following through on his word, he changed the subject, and we began talking about some of the cool ocean life we saw while snorkeling.

Once the sun started to set, we took a stroll up and down the beach with Mason and enjoyed the beautiful view of the sun setting over the water.

We stopped for a moment to marvel at the beauty. Tyler wrapped his arm around my shoulders, while mine snaked around his waist, and I rested my head against his chest.

“I meant what I said, you know?” I whispered against his chest.

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