Page 19 of Beach B!tch
Dean gave me a quick shake, trying to pull me out of my fog yet again. I heard every word out of his mouth and I was stunned silent. Floored. I'd never had anyone say something so beautiful. I wanted to rewind and write it down so I could read it later when I was feeling lonely.
He was spot on about me both pushing him away and wanting him closer, and I couldn't believe he'd been paying such close attention. I desperately wanted to tell him...well, whatdidI want to tell him?
"I...but..." I faltered and didn't know how to say all I needed to say.
"What, Brinley? What are you trying to say? Please say it so I know where you stand. I promise I'm listening," Dean implored.
I took a deep breath and tried again. My heart was racing, but I had to get this out. Make him understand. "I want you to be closer, but I'm scared to death to have you, or anyone really, get to know me. I'm scared you'll hurt me. I'm scared I'll come to rely on you and you'll let me down. I'm scared you'll be so fantastic I’ll lose my focus on volleyball and won't go pro this year. I'm scared you'll get to know me and not like what you find. Hell, I'm scared I'll keep cracking some really bad jokes and one day you'll get sick of them." I ended with a half laugh, half sob. This was more than I ever thought I would say to him, but maybe it was better for him to know now how messed up I was.
"Hey. I know you're scared. And to be honest, I'm a little scared too. I've never felt this way about anyone, especially before we've even had our first date." He chuckled as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulled me closer, and ducked his head so he was looking right at me. "But that's how I know this is worth pursuing. That's how I know this means something. And I'll make you another pinky promise right now: I will never hurt you. I will kick my own ass, rather than let you get hurt, by me or by anyone else. Will you give me a chance to prove it to you?"
"I'm gonna mess this up, Dean," I whispered to him. I pleaded with my eyes, trying to get him to understand everything I couldn't say.
"No, sweetheart, you're not. Because we'll take this slow. And we'll talk things out. I don't run at the first sight of trouble, and I've seen you in action when you're determined. Nothing can stop you." He rubbed my back, soothing away my nervousness and leaving a trail of goose bumps everywhere his hand went. "Please. Give us a shot. Allow us both some happiness."
I smiled up at him, resigned and elated to give him the green light. "Full court press, huh?"
"It's the best defense," he countered with a big smile.
"Since my eyes seem to tell you so much, what are they telling you now?" I raised my chin in challenge. Hot damn, I was flirting!
He pressed his hips into mine, shooting tingles up and down my body. The sun came out from behind the clouds and the seagulls starting chirping. It was like the whole beach came alive in a Snow White moment of magic. If the press of his fully clothed hips could do that, imagine what he could do without the clothing barrier.
"Did you know your eyes go a touch on the blue side when I get close to you? And judging by how blue they are right now, I'd say they're telling me you want me. That about right, sweetheart?"
"Ummm..." That was about all I got out in response. I nodded and hoped that would suffice. His hips had short-circuited my feeble flirting skills. A girl could only be expected to endure so much.
He gave me a knowing smile and pulled me in for a hug. "I don't know who I like better: feisty Brinley who bites with her words or silent Brinley with the turned-on blue eyes."
I wrapped my arms around him, returning the hug. Then I pinched his side.
"Ouch!" he yelped.
I pulled back from the hug to give him a squinty-eyed glare. "We gonna try running, or did you get me out here to insult me?" A smile took over my face, letting him know I was teasing.
"All right, lady, let's run. Nice and easy to start, okay?" He let me out of his arms, trailing his hands over my hips, and gestured to the path ahead.
We both broke out into a slow jog and I tried to pay attention to my ankle and not the hottie lifeguard next to me. A few yards down the path, I suddenly burst out laughing and had to stop running. Dean stopped too and didn't look at me like I was crazy, so that was a good sign. He lifted an eyebrow in question and waited for me to calm down enough to speak.
"Oh my God, you know how Esa calls Ivan her 'hottie lifeguard'?" When Dean nodded, I gave him my own punch line. "Well I was just thinking now I have one too!" I erupted in laughter again as it seemed so absurd that I had a hottie anything and the fact that the Beach Squad was collecting them like Star Wars figurines.
Dean grabbed me and tipped me over his arm like an old-fashioned dance move, effectively cutting off my laughter. I grabbed onto his arms to keep from tipping over. His face was dead serious and his eyes were back to that warm, melted chocolate color. He buried his face in my neck and growled in my ear, "Damn right I'm yours." He dragged his lips up my ear, taking my breath away and only letting me go when someone whizzed by on their bike shouting "get a room!"
"Stop distracting me, woman. Let's run," Dean commanded. Then he lightly slapped me on the butt, ignoring my "Hey!" in protest. The boy moved quick, and I needed a little extra time to calm my libido and shift back into exercise mode.
We ended up running for about a mile before I had to slow to a walk. My ankle was beginning to throb, and my heart sunk realizing how little distance we'd covered. I hated to quit especially when every other part of my body felt great and wanted to do more. At this rate, I'd never get back on the sand in time to win a spot in the brackets this season.
"Hey, Brin. Stop thinking whatever you're thinking right now," Dean interrupted my dark thoughts and laid his hand on my shoulder. "You did great. You ran a mile after a serious ankle sprain. You gotta give your body time to rest and recover. You can't push hard every single day. The body doesn't work like that."
"I just thought I'd be further along by now. I only have a few tournaments left in the circuit to get the points I need to go pro this year. I don't want to wait another year. I have been giving it rest. And I'm sick of resting!" My voice was rising as I got more upset. I was trying not to pout or be a bad sport, but I was irritated that my ankle wasn't back to normal yet. I'd never had a major injury, just a muscle pull here and there that healed in a matter of days. This sprain was turning out to be pure torture.
"Maybe you need a lesson in patience," Dean countered.
I gave him my best death stare.
"I'm serious. Do you have another hour to spare? There's someone I'd like you to meet." Dean checked his watch and waited for me to say yes or no.
I admit I was intrigued. And another hour with Dean sounded like heaven, sprained ankle or not, so my answer was easy. "Yeah, I've got time. I can't workout, that's for sure. Where are we going?"
