Page 112 of Rinkmates

Once we’re alone in the hallway, Liora’s breathing becomes frantic and she starts trembling uncontrollably.

I take her face in my hands and try to calm her down. “Hey, shhh, what’s going on?”

But Liora doesn’t respond, unshed tears glitter in her dull eyes as she struggles to catch her breath. My heart clenches. “Just breathe, Lia. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

Fuck. I need to snap her out of whatever is happening.

I scoop her up with ease, her limp body a telltale sign of her distress. I think her heart goes a mile a minute. Liora always put up a fight whenever I tried to carry her princess style, but not today. I need to get her back.

I walk toward the beach on autopilot, holding onto her tightly as I make our way through the house and out into the night.

My therapist’s words echo in my mind.Channel your emotions, focus on your surroundings.

That’s exactly what we need to do right now.

“Can you smell it? The sea?” The salty tang of the ocean breeze engulfs us as we make our way to the beach just behind my parents’ house. It’s a familiar path, one I’ve walked countless times in my childhood. “Listen to the crash of waves,” I say, the sound like a soothing metronome in front of us. The soft grains of sand shift under my feet as I walk, Liora’s tense shoulders gradually loosening with each step. “Feel the wind,” I continue.

She places her hand over my heart, and I can’t help but lean down to press a kiss to her hair. “I feel your heartbeat,” she says softly.

“It’s a mess,” I confess.

“It’s all I need right now.”

My stupid heart gives a happy spin.

I sit down on a weathered piece of driftwood, still holding her close to me. “You know, my grandmother taught me how to swim on this beach,” I tell her, just to keep saying anything, but there’s a tiny smile tugging at my lips, and I catch myself tracing little hearts on her back with my finger. I’ve never done this before. Telling a girl so much about myself. About what I truly feel like. “Gran’s the only family member besides Rosie that I truly care for. She’s an incredible woman, so patient and kind. The opposite of my parents. I used to spend a lot more time with her, but during the season, it’s nearly impossible. I’m just glad if I can manage to call her once a month. I can’t wait for the off-season when I’ll finally have time to visit her more often.”

Memories flood back to me like the tide as I think about spending summers here with her. Each time my parents fought, she was there, taking me and Rosalie away. We built sandcastles with shells and stones. It was beautiful.

Her hand remains on my chest, seeking comfort in the chaos of my racing heartbeat. “I can’t wait to see her tomorrow,” I continue.

The idea of introducing her to my grandmother feels like a daring decision, one I never had the courage to make before. There’s nothing fake about it. It’s the most real thing I could do. And yet, there’s a warm and comforting feeling blossoming in my heart at the thought of them meeting.

I know they’ll love each other. And I know I want them to.

“If you asked me as a child, I would have said I wanted to live with gran. She’s nothing like those rich-ass people. She comesfrom one of the wealthiest families around here, but she doesn’t flaunt it. She lives modestly, cooks for herself, and even donates her wealth to those in need.”

A pang of guilt hits me as I think about my own privileged upbringing. But then again, it’s not like I had control over that.

“I guess it’s where my Fruit Loops addiction comes from too. I hated eating healthy and she always bought the cereal I wasn’t allowed to eat,” I say, causing Liora to let out a giggle.

But then her tears resurface, and she attempts to brush them away. “I can’t with you and your Fruit Loops,” she says with another forced chuckle that quickly turns into a choked sob.

I hold her closer. “If you ever want to stop my tantrums, throw a blue loop my way and I’m a happy man.”

“They all taste the same,” she says, snorting.

I mock gasp. “Don’t you ever say something so cruel again.”

“You’re silly.”

I kiss her hair. “You’re better?”

She nods against my shoulder. “Thanks.”

“Always.”

The moon casts a silvery glow across the dark waters and we both stare at the sea for a few heartbeats.

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