Page 64 of The Now in Forever
I hardly notice when Anh and Robin make their way back to the blanket. When I can’t feel my toes anymore and the next twochapters are plotted in my head, I head back, the sand sticking to my wet feet.
Ed is walking down the beach as I am walking up. He smiles, and my insides melt like a forgotten popsicle in the sun. I don’t think. I just run, the sand kicking up onto my calves in prickly bursts. He catches me when I get to him, lifting me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist, planting a big kiss on his mouth. I can hear whistles from our friends over on the blanket, but I don’t care.
When our kiss ends, Ed puts me down. “Whoa. I feel like I should’ve been carded for that kiss.”
I shrug. “The lemonade is a pinch strong.”
“Apparently.” He grabs my hand, and we find a spot on the blanket. He sits down first, and I sit in front of him, leaning back like he’s my chair. The sexiest chair. He drapes his hands around me, and it feels like we’ve been a couple for years instead of days. The sunset is brilliant, shades of deep pink and swaths of gold. We all sit, watching it in silence for a while.
“So, Ed,” Robin says, lying on the blanket and propping herself up with one elbow. “You are the man from the perfect day.”
Ed’s cheeks turn a shade of pink deeper than the sunset. “Uh…”
“Robin.” I give her mydon’t do iteyes, but she ignores me.
“Hattie has talked about that day for years. About how you two shared this connection.”
Ed moves away on the blanket then stands to get a beer from the cooler. I’ve switched to water, my head still swimming from the lemonades. “Yeah. It was pretty magical.”
Anh sits up, getting involved now. “So, why weren’t you there six months later?”
My stomach roils, like I’m on a rollercoaster after eating too much fried food. I may actually be sick. They’re looking out for me, and in their drunky drunk way, they think this is a good idea.
“I…I couldn’t get away. I’m going to check out the water.” Ed walks off toward the shoreline without even a glance my way. No invite. No, would you like to come?
I throw a chip at Robin then Anh. “Why do you two hate me?”
Anh frowns. “We love you. That’s why he needs to answer for where he was.”
Robin is pointing at Anh and nodding.
“Babe,” Nathan says but quickly stops when Robin shoots him a glare.
“We’re just looking out for you,” Robin says.
“Please don’t. I can take care of myself.”
Robin holds up both hands, one still holding a mango White Claw. “Okay. I’m sorry, honey.”
Anh sighs. “We worry about you. We just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
I soften, the fire in my argument snuffed out by the genuine concern in her eyes. “Thank you. But please don’t mama bear this, okay? He explained it to me.”
They both nod as I stand, a little unsteady on my feet, and go after Ed.
I catch up to him walking along the edge of the water. “They’re a little protective.”
Ed laughs. “You could say that again.”
“I told them to ease up.”
Ed runs a hand through his hair. “I’m happy you have people that have your back. It’s just a trip, you know. I don’t like talking about my mom’s problems. Honestly, I’ve kicked myself for ten years for not being there that day. It’s hard to have other people do it too.”
I hold his hand in mine.
He lets out a quick breath. “And what was it all for anyway? She’s still out there getting fucked up—maybe not with pills, but how long is that going to last? She hates me for trying to help.”
“Hey. It’s okay. I get it. My dad and I don’t talk. It’s hard.”
