Page 79 of Wilder Love
I laughed. “It would take zero effort to knock you off that board.”
She raised her brows in challenge. “Prove it.”
“I’m thirty years old, not thirteen,” I scoffed.
“You’re practically a senior citizen. You probably don’t have the same strength you used to.”
My hand darted out and I flipped her board. She tumbled into the water and came up sputtering, pushing her hair out of her face.
“You play dirty,” she said, laughing as she got the board underneath her again.
I winked. “And if memory serves… you loved it.”
Her laughter died, and she stared at me for a few seconds, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. I averted my gaze. Why had I said that? I stifled a groan.
We surfed for another hour until it got too crowded to get in a decent ride. Remy chose to leave when I did, and we stood side by side at the outdoor showers, rinsing away the saltwater. We toweled off next to my Jeep, and I secured our boards to the roof. This part, surfing and all that went with it, felt so familiar.
“Come on. I’ll give you a ride.” Which was how this whole damn thing had started nine years ago.
“I can run home.”
I sighed, sensing her hesitation. She wanted a ride, otherwise she would have taken off already instead of standing in the parking lot. “Get in.”
She climbed into the passenger seat and directed me to Dylan’s house. She was still shit at giving directions.
“Oh. You were supposed to turn left back there,” she said, pointing back at the street we’d just driven past.
I rolled my eyes and turned around in someone’s driveway, hanging the next right. Eventually, after a series of wrong turns, we reached our destination—Dylan’s two-story Spanish-style house. I’d always liked this neighborhood with its views of the hills, the canyon, and the sea. The guy was only twenty-five and he’d gone from nothing to everything. The St. Clair twins had conquered the world. Good for them.
Which brought it home all over again, just how much our lives had changed and how far apart we’d drifted.
“Thank you,” Remy said as I handed her the surfboard. “For the board and for getting me out there today.”
“No problem.” I climbed back into my Jeep and she came to stand by my open window.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Her voice was hopeful. I didn’t turn my head to look at her face.
“I’ll be there.”
She was still lingering outside my open window like she didn’t want to leave. I watched her from the corner of my eye as I shifted into reverse. Her lower lip was clamped between her teeth. Those poor damn lips.
I remember those lips, Remy. I remember your kisses.
“Gotta run,” I said. Yeah, I was being a dick. But like falling in love with Remy, I just couldn’t seem to stop myself.
Her face fell in disappointment, but she plastered on that smile again. It must have been something she learned from the modeling gig. Smile and pretend everything is fine even when your world is falling apart. “Yeah, okay.”
She took a few steps back and watched me reverse out of her driveway. As tempting as it was, I didn’t even glance at her as I drove away. Being around her again was hard. Being without her was harder.
But then, nothing about me and Remy had ever been easy.
32
Remy
Ididn’t need an excuse to hang out with Jimmy, but on the Monday after Shane gave me the surfboard, I came up with one anyway. “I thought the three of us could have dinner together. I bought some steaks. I know you guys don’t eat meat that much, but you used to love steak sometimes, right?” I was blabbering like an idiot as I unpacked my bags onto the kitchen counter. “We can grill them. And I’ll make a big salad. I wasn’t sure what vegetables you had from your garden, so I bought some, but we can use yours.” I stopped and took a breath, noting the amused look on his face. “In other words, I’ve just invited myself to dinner.”
Jimmy chuckled. “I’ve worked that out. You’re always welcome.”
