Page 86 of Broken Hearts

Smiling, I brush the hair back from her face, leaning in to kiss her as I whisper, “I’m doing pretty damn good now though.”

She lets out a half-laugh, half-sob against my lips. “Please tell me my dad came back downstairs. Please tell me he got that guy away from you.”

“He did,” I confirm, my thumb brushing across her cheekbone again. “He saw what he was doing, and even though I fully expected Mitch to walk over and deck the guy, because that was everything I was used to, he didn’t.”

“What did he do?”

I huff out a smile, remembering my surprise when I saw that Mitch wasn’t resorting to violence like everyone else in my life did. “He walked over,” I start, my smile growing. “And he just casually pulled this guy off me, basically pinning him against the wall now, while he checked if I was okay. And then he bound his hands behind his back with a surfboard leash and called the cops.” I burst out laughing at the memory, shaking my head as I say, “I legit never expected him to do that.”

Sage laughs. “My mom always said he was a total softie.”

I tilt my head to the side. “He was, but he could be tough as nails when he wanted to be. He just showed it in a really different way,” I add, turning back to her. “A way I wasn’t used to.”

She smiles up at me and fuck, I still can’t believe she is staying. Still can’t believe I got this lucky. “I am so glad Mitch was there for you, Nate,” she says. “He gave you the life you deserved to have.”

Now it’s me smiling. “He gave me you,” I whisper.

“He did,” she says, kissing me again. “You ready to read your letter?”

“No,” I say, blowing out a breath.

“Yeah, you are,” she says, handing it to me. “And I’m right here while you do. I’m not going anywhere.”

I kiss her, hard, wishing I had the words to tell her how fucking amazing I think she is or how much she means to me or how grateful I am that she’s not only letting Mitch’s dream continue, but that she’s staying here to help it. That she’s staying here for me.

“Fuck, I love you,” I say to her. “I’ve never said that to anyone before, and now I…fuck, I can’t stop saying it to you.”

“Good, I never want you to. And I’ll never stop telling you either.”

Chuckling, I say, “I feel like we’re being kinda cheesy and dramatic here.”

Sage scoffs as she says, “What? How dare you, Nathan Peterson. We’re having a moment!”

Grinning, I pull her close. “I can’t wait to have all our moments.”

She snorts at that, elbowing me in the stomach. “Now who’s being cheesy,” she teases. “Come on, enough stalling, read the letter.”

I suck in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly as I take the letter from Sage. Sliding my thumb under the flap, I carefully open it, pulling out the paper with Mitch’s handwriting.

Dear Nate,

Shit, so this is it, huh? I’ve finally left you. I’m sorry, kid, you know that was never part of my plan, and I can only hope that you are okay this time around. That my leaving is different to all the others. It’s not my choice to leave you, I hope you know that.

And…I’m guessing you’ve probably met Sage by now, too. Guessing you’re probably wondering why I never told you about her. Shit, maybe you’re glad I’m gone since discovering that piece of news.

Two things to know, Nate.

First, me not telling you about Sage was never anything to do with you. Ever. It was on me and all the things I’d done. The father I wasn’t able to be for her. I never wanted you to know that side of me, to know I’d failed at something.

And second, no, you were never a replacement for her. That’s not why I took you in, so please don’t ever think that, okay? You were, are, like a son to me, Nate, and I will forever be grateful for that pissy little kid I found sleeping on the beach.

I hope you and Sage can get along, that you can find some common ground with the future of The Pipe Dream. I kind of have a feeling that you will, but what would I know, right? I’m just a crusty old surfer.

Whatever happens, I hope you are happy, Nate, and I hope you follow your dreams.

I love you, kid.

Look after my girl for me.

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