Page 67 of Chasing Sunrise

Amanda sighed. “I wouldn’t tell them to be angry at their dead parents.”

He squeezed her thigh. “Okay. I understand being angry at them doesn’t help—”

“I’ve heard all the arguments, Kasey,” she interrupted. “Barry and my therapists have brought up everything you’re firing at me.”

“Well, they obviously didn’t reach you.” All of the sudden, his expression changed. He slipped from the couch and kneeled on the floor in front of her. He raised his hands and placed them on her waist. “I get it now. I get why you don’t want to get into a relationship with me. When you said you’ve never had anyone you can depend on, you didn’t only mean Barry. You also meant your folks.”

She bowed her head. Her body trembled like a jumbled heap of nerves.

“You, Amanda, more than anyone, deserve someone who will always, and in every way, have your back.” Then he surprised her by saying, “I want to be that guy. Right now, I can’t. I can’t quit my job and move here to see where our relationship will go.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“I don’t want to argue with you, but yes, you are.” His gaze bore into hers. “The only way you’ll explore whatever is between us is if I live here.”

She glanced away, hating the truth in his words.

He stood and went over to the window. “The sun will be up soon, want to go for a walk?”

“A friend is always good to have, but a lover's kiss is better than angels raining down on me.”

~ Dave Matthews

Chapter Fifteen

Sensing Amanda’s delicatestate after she’d shared so much about her past, Kasey lightly clasped her hand and led her toward the shore. The rush, hiss, and whispering retreat of the ocean water soothed him. The cool breeze caressed his face, which he needed since he’d been inside most of the day. He’d kept busy and slept for a few hours while she was asleep. Then, while Amanda spoke of her past, he began to feel closed in. It’d taken all his strength not to show his anger while she shared what she’d been through.

He wished he hadn’t reacted or said anything. At least, he’d caught himself from spiraling too far and making her overly angry at him.

“Dre, Zack, and I spent loads of time here during high school. My brothers and cousins were here a lot too. We’d play volleyball, frisbee, football, you name it.” He kept his voice light. “During fall, we’d drive up on Friday nights following football games if someone didn’t throw a party. We didn’t come as much in the spring because of weekend baseball tournaments.”

They stepped through the last of the grass and onto the expanse of sand. Faraway lights from boats on the ocean bobbed in the darkness. The beach was deserted at this hour. He turned toward Amanda and made out most of her features from the cabin’s lights.

“Did you go to many football games?” he asked.

“Not in high school, but I did my first year in college. My roommate dated a guy who played on the offensive line. Then Barry and I married before my second year. He entered The Navy and was stationed at New London Base in Groton, Connecticut. I finished college there and worked as a waitress.”

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