Page 38 of Finding London

As our kiss continues, my mind returns to his words from seconds ago, and my heart swells with happiness. He said a lot, and I will take it all in later. But the one thing that rings loud and clear is that he is just as infatuated with me as I am with him. Nothing could make me happier.

Loïc

“Please forget my lame attempt at a joke. I’m not remotely funny. It’s one of my flaws.”

—Loïc Berkeley

“You’ve never done this before, have you?” I can’t stop from chuckling as I watch London struggle with the paddle, like she’s slaying a dragon with a sword.

“Um, no. Is it that obvious?” she calls over her shoulder at me.

“Yep.” I get the feeling that she really isn’t an outdoorsy type of girl.One more flaw to add to her growing list and one that I’ll gladly help her with.

I love being outside. There’s something comforting about being out in the elements, regardless of what they are. I’ve lived all over the United States and been to Iraq. It doesn’t matter if I’m sitting beneath the lush evergreens in Washington as it rains or in the Iraqi desert, covering my face as the sand whips around me. Being outside calms me.

I spent way too much time inside as a child, hiding from my fears, trying to make myself invisible to the horrors that surrounded me. A large part of my childhood passed by with me feeling suffocated between strong walls that didn’t protect me. I’ve learned that there are a lot of truly evil people in this world who will hurt others for their enjoyment. And that’s the thing I love about nature; it’s not out to get anyone. Yes, it can be powerful and even deadly, but it’s not personal. It is a force to be reckoned with, but at least it’s a fair force. And it’s always beautiful, whether it’s the waves coming onto the sandy beaches of South Carolina or a thunder and lightning storm in Georgia. Regardless of how serene or fierce its attributes are, nature is exquisite. I simply find it really intriguing.

Maybe that’s why I’m so obsessed with London. I have to smile at the similarities. She can be as soothing as a breeze floating through the trees on a warm fall day or as dangerous as an ice storm on a busy highway during rush hour. Her mood shifts from hot to cold on a dime, yet both are equally thrilling. Through both, she’s beautiful.

I think she has some growing to do as a person. I’m not sure she knows exactly where her place is in this world—not that I do either. But I’m hoping, when she finds it, she keeps her fire because I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t find it extremely hot.

She stops wrestling with the water and wedges her paddle into the space down by her feet. She twists back, so she can see me. “I get the feeling you love all this sporty outdoorsy crap, don’t you?”

I laugh and nod my head. “Yeah, I do.”

“Are all our dates going to be outside?” she says with a sigh.

“Probably.”

She groans and throws her head back with exaggerated effort, eliciting another round of laughter from me.

“You’ll get used to it,” I say.

“I think I should be in charge of planning some of our dates then. That’s it. I’m taking you out next time.”

“That’s fine. It won’t be as fun as this though.” I offer her a wink.

“This isn’t fun. My arms hurt,” she says with a frown.

“How can your arms hurt? You’ve barely done anything.”

“Hey!” She sounds offended, but I know she’s just being dramatic. “I’ve been paddling…a lot.”

“That’s what you call it?”

“I hate you.” She pouts.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

London leans back as I continue to guide us down the river, which is fine by me. She wasn’t that helpful anyway. We don’t talk for a few minutes, and I take in the soothing sounds of the water.

After a while, I say, “You know that’s kind of a flaw.”

“What is?” she questions.

“Telling people that you hate them because they don’t say or do exactly what you want them to.”

“Is this, like, our thing? Pointing out what we don’t like about the other person. ’Cause, if it is, that’s not really good for building a relationship.”

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