Page 66 of Taming Waves

He grabs his beer and heads off toward a table where a couple of girls are eating. They happily invite him to take a seat.

“Seriously, you can drink that,” I tell Parker.

“Prescription pills?” he says.

I shrug. “Xanax. The doctor gave it to me for anxiety after …” I pause and look up at him. “You know.”

He nods.

“I stayed on it way too long. I couldn’t deal with life without it. Turns out, I just didn’t want to deal with life. Once I tossed the prescription and started talking through my shit, I found out I was stronger than I’d thought.”

“So, you don’t take it anymore?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. Been off it for years. My preferred coping mechanisms are meditation and an occasional therapy session nowadays.”

I feel his hand on my knee, and he squeezes it.

“That’s healthy,” Amiya says. “I’d love to be able to meditate. I’ve tried, but my mind starts racing when I get in my quiet space and close my eyes.”

“That happens to everyone at first. You have to focus on your breathing. Concentrate on the rise and fall of your chest as you inhale and exhale, and when your mind wanders, you gently guide it back to your breath. Start short, just a few minutes at a time, and gradually work yourself up. It gets easier.”

“That sounds like what Eden tells us to do when she tries to teach us yoga,” Avie says.

“Eden teaches yoga? Heather and I have been talking about starting forever,” I say.

“You two will have to join us. We’re going to start at the beginning of the year after Eden pops that kid out. We can meet at my house three times a week. I’ll make homemade protein bars and smoothies for us,” Amiya says.

Avie leans over her. “See? Any excuse to play hostess.”

“Speaking of which, you’re still coming on Sunday, right?” Amiya asks.

“Yes. I’m working the lunch shift, and then I have to stop by my parents’ house for dinner, or my mother will disown me, but I’ll be by a little later.”

“Okay, but save some room for oysters,” she says.

Parker leans over and whispers, “You’re coming to my party?”

I bring my eyes to him. “Yeah. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. I would have invited you myself, but I assumed one of us had to work.”

“Nope. I’m going to let Leena and Leonard handle it, and Van is working. He’ll be there if they need him.”

He smiles. “I didn’t want a party. I was kind of forced into it, but now, I’m looking forward to it.”

“You’re welcome,” Amiya bellows.

Parker

The cool November breeze bites at my skin as I step onto the beach. Amiya went all out for tonight’s gathering. The air is thick with the smell of salt and faint smoke from the bonfire. I squint as I approach the scene, my eyes adjusting to the firelight that dances over the people gathered. My friends, a motley crew who feels like family, are a lively bunch tonight. Lennon, Sebastian, Anson, Wade, and Dillon are tossing a football back and forth while the girls laugh and shout near the warmth of the fire.

I shove my hands into the pocket of my hoodie. I wasn’t expecting this—a beach party. My early November birthday has always been overshadowed by the excitement of Halloween and the start of the holiday season. But here we are.

Anson steps out from the huddle and waves me over. “Took you long enough, man. Thought we were gonna have to eat all the oysters without you,” he shouts, his voice rising over the crash of the waves.

I roll my eyes. “Oh, yeah? I wouldn’t want you guys to suffer like that.”

He tosses an arm around my shoulders when I reach him. “Happy thirtieth birthday, old man.”

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