Page 155 of Hooking Up
"You don't think I'm pathetic?"
"No."
"Merciless?"
"No. I get it. You do cut her off, she dies. You try to help, she might take you with her. And if your parents aren't following through on their threats…" Her voice gets low. Soft. "How can anyone choose between those options?"
"What would you do?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
She presses her index finger into her thumb. Stares at her purple nails. "I'd give her one chance then cut her off."
"Forever?"
"Let her know you'll be there if she gets sober. That the door is always open. But if she's not…" She looks up at the bright blue sky. Then toward the horizon. "It's too calm, huh?"
"You know a lot about this."
"Yeah."
"Anyone you know—"
"No one I loved. I, um… I guess you should talk to your parents."
"They wanted to do dinner tonight. But that was before—"
"I can talk to them if you want. Scare them with research."
"Nothing scares them."
"I can still go. Hold your hand." She presses her lips together. "Or… I don't want to intrude."
"No. I want you there."
She nods. "Good." She turns back to the ocean. "Oh. That's one, a set, right?" Her voice gets bright. "I'm going to catch this one."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. You'll see. I'm going to have a Roxy contract in no time flat." She looks to me with a smile.
The first waves crashes into the beach.
The next rolls toward us.
"Go." I push her board in the right direction.
She paddles. Catches the waves. Pops up with one messy step. She rides the wave for a second and a half, then she falls/jumps into the water.
It's a smooth fall. Like she's been surfing for years.
She pushes the board back to me.
And she wraps her arms around me and she kisses me like she needs everything I have to give.
