Page 38 of Since the Day We Wished

Luke nodded. “It’s the perfect weather for it.”

“I agree,” she said, still standing a couple of feet from him. Both of them seemed hesitant to move forward.

“Oh! Lisa!” Emma turned to her friend as if she had forgotten she was there. “Thanks for taking Riley for me.”

“No problem.” Lisa handed over the leash.

“Have you two met?” Emma asked.

“Just now,” Luke answered as he reached down to scratch Riley behind the ears. “Well, this sweet boy came up to me first, and then I bumped into Lisa.”

“I can hold on to him for a little while longer,” Lisa insisted. “He’s good at snagging hunks that are walking along the beach.”

A crimson blush crept up Luke’s cheeks as he chuckled at Lisa’s compliment. He noticed Emma had smiled as she gave Lisa a slight elbow, signaling that her comment might have been too much. Her smile had a mesmerizing power over him that calmed his soul. Perhaps it was the carefree innocence about it that reminded him of all the wonderful things in life.

As Luke stared into Emma’s eyes, he thought about a card he had received from an old friend after Kate’s funeral. It contained a C. S. Lewis quote, originally written in a letter to Mary Willis Shelburne in 1963.

There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.

Ever since he first read it, he’s wanted to believe those words—not to replace his love for Kate, but to find happiness again.Maybe it is true, he thought to himself. At least he hoped it was.

Just then, the sound of laughter and splashing caught Luke’s attention, and he saw a group of teenagers playing in the water. They shrieked as a wave caught them off guard, sending them tumbling into the surf.

A few weeks had passed since the last time he saw Emma and now they were here together again. The beach was a place of endless possibilities, a haven of relaxation and fun. Seeing her again was like a breath of fresh air. The short time away from her had only made him realize how much he enjoyed her company and couldn’t wait to catch up and see what adventures the day would bring.

Chapter 17

Emma

Emma hadn’t planned on making Lisa take Riley out. But when she got stuck in an extra-long tutoring session, she shot her a quick text asking if she could use the spare key and take Riley for a quick bathroom break. He was probably about to burst after being inside all day since early that morning.

While she found it peculiar that Lisa had walked him all the way there, it ended up being easier for her to get here straight from school. What she wasn’t expecting was to find the one man she couldn’t seem to forget, standing there and petting her dog.

“I’m gonna take Riley further down,” Lisa said, grabbing the leash back from Emma. “You two should hang out. Why don’t you grab a bite to eat at The Point?”

The thought of walking along the beach with Luke made Emma’s heart race. “Thanks for taking Riley, Lisa. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back.”

“Take your time.” Lisa waved at Luke, making the hashtag sign with her hands, and mouthing the words ‘hashtag Lemma’ when his back was turned.

Emma rolled her eyes and turned toward Luke as they began to walk down the beach.

“So, how was your day? Is it good to be back in the classroom?” he asked.

“It was great. I was so busy I didn’t have time to think, but I enjoyed every minute. I love kids, and it just feels natural for me to teach.”

Despite Chad’s negative comments about her teaching job creeping into her mind, Emma pushed them aside and focused on her conversation with Luke. He shared details about his career as a financial consultant and his travels, leaving Emma in awe of his experiences. He was unique and unlike anyone she had met before. The way Luke spoke, his confident demeanor and his sense of adventure, had her feeling drawn to him. She found herself wanting to spend more time with him, not wanting this day to end.

As they rounded a bend, a small beachfront bistro caught their eye, with its large neon sign reading “The Point” blinking on and off.

“This is The Point?” Luke asked.

Emma nodded, a grin spreading across her face. “The food is to die for. I haven’t been here in forever,” she said, her eyes brightening.

“Well, I’m hungry,” Luke said. “How about you?”

She laughed, her stomach growling in agreement. “Famished.”

Luke held out his arm with a devilish smile on his lips. “Shall we?”

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