Page 91 of Britta & the Beach Boy
My eyes dart to the long-haired brother—Adam, he’s the one with the man-bun—but quickly retreat at the searing glare he’s got trained on me.
“She wasn’t alone. We came down from Idaho to help,” the other brother with the bushy beard—Bear, that’s his name; because he’s as big as one—says in a deep voice, and I can’t tell if he means to scare me with the tone of his voice or if he’s just stating a fact.
“So, the place is yours, then?” I ask Britta, which is a stupid question. Of course it is. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help. I shouldn’t have gone.”
“All mine.” Britta smiles and turns in a slow circle with her arms out. “If I’d known how much work I was in for, I would have told you to stay. Luckily, Adam and Bear showed up to save the day.”
“Yeah… that’s incredible.” If she meant to make me feel better, it doesn’t work. Not with her brothers staring at me like I’m the biggest doofus this side of Joe Rogan.
They’re not wrong. That’s the worst part. I’ve got no defense for leaving, other thanI was trying not to fall in love with your sister, who happens to be my wife.I get the feelingthey’re already suspicious about mine and Britta’s relationship, so anything I say is likely to muck things up even worse.
But I try anyway. “What can I help with?”
Britta shakes her head. “We’re done with the big stuff, and I’m too tired to do anything else tonight. Adam and Bear leave early tomorrow, so I say we head home and get some rest.”
She slips her arm around mine, and it feels so natural, I take her hand like her brothers aren’t even there. I wish it was real.
“You sure there’s nothing I can do?” I ask as she reaches for the light switch.
“Bear, grab the lights in the back, will you?” she says before turning to me, the dim light only making her glow more. “You can help me clean all this up tomorrow.”
I scan the room, taking in paint cans, rollers and brushes. Canvas tarps cover the floor and dust covers everything else. So, I haven’t missed my opportunity to help. There’s still heaps of work.
“And help me think of a name.” Britta squeezes my hand and bounces on her toes. “It can’t stayAnnie’swithout her here.”
“End of an era.” Even though it’s still a construction zone in here, I see the changes Britta’s already made. Fresh paint, new tables and chairs, different counter set up. StillAnnie’s,but with an update.
“Why notBritta’s?” I ask as we walk hand-in-hand to the door.
“I thought about it, but it doesn’t feel quite right.Breakfast at Britta’swas always my great-grandma Britta’s, even after Mom and then I took over. I think I want something that’s all me.” Britta lets go of my hand to lock the door, then takes it again. “I’ll ride with you, if that’s okay.”
She waves to her brothers before I can answer. Doesn’t matter. I’m keen to have some time alone with her without her bodyguards.
But our ten minutes alone as we drive back to the house isn’t what I hoped. Not because of Britta. She’s got heaps of questions about my trip that I try to answer, but my mind’s on her brothers who looked ready to murder me and what Archie said back at the resort about my needing to be more aware of what Britta’s sacrificed for me and how I shouldn’t forget that. His words ring even truer now that I’ve seen all the work Britta did in her coffee shop without me there.
What if her brothers hadn’t shown up? What if the waves in the Azores had been really stellar? I would have stayed longer, leaving Britta totally alone with a mountain of work to do in a place where she hardly knows anyone.
I knew she’d be getting the keys toAnnie’swhile I was gone. I should have canceled the trip. But I didn’t think twice about what my being gone would mean for Britta. My only concern was surfing. My only concernissurfing. Always has been. I’ve lived my whole life around it, and everyone close to me has lived their life in a way that makes it possible for me to surf.
That’s not right. Especially in a marriage.
But I also can’t change it if I’m going to stay competitive and make the Olympic team. Surfing has to stay my focus, as much for Britta as for me, otherwise she’s sacrificed for nothing. I’ve got nothing else to contribute to this relationship other than the one thing I know how to do.
That’s all I think about as we drive home in silence. By the time I pull into the garage, all I want to do is climb into bed. I’m knackered from traveling. I feel like a complete whacker, and I really don’t want to socialize with Britta’s brothers.
Adam and Bear haven’t arrived yet, so I tell Britta goodnight and head up the stairs to my room. I only get halfway when Britta calls from the bottom.
“Dex! You’ll have to stay in my room tonight.”
I turn and blink.
“My brothers are staying here.” Her cheeks turn pink, and that’s all the explanation I need.
I nod. “Got it. I’ll see you in a bit then.”
After a quick shower, I go into Britta’s room. I don’t know when she did it, but she’s already moved some of my things there. Probably before her brothers got here to make it look like this is a proper marriage.
But, maybe because of what I said before I left, about wanting to be more than a fake couple. Maybe her kiss that day was a yes, not a maybe.
