Page 84 of Valor on the Move
But Rafa ignored Shane’s words, kissing him fiercely. The aching pressure in Shane’s chest threatened to explode as he kissed him back, wishing they were in the dark of the cave again, where the rest of the world had seemed so far away. He breathed Rafa in, their bodies driving together and wanting more. Needing more as they gasped and gripped each other.
With every ounce of self-control he had left, Shane ripped himself away. At the door he turned back a last time. Rafa stood in the middle of the little kitchen, his chest rising and falling as red sauce simmered on the stove behind him.
Shane cleared his throat. “Remember that with some waves…you can’t catch them. Better to dive through and wait for another one. There’s always another one.”
Rafa stood forlorn, hugging himself.
With a shuddering breath, Shane managed to walk away, nodding to people downstairs who said things to him he didn’t hear over the rush of blood in his ears. He didn’t stop for anyone as he hurried to the parking lot. Just kept moving until he sped down Pennsylvania Avenue, leaving his heart behind.
Chapter Twenty-One
Five months, seventeen days, and twenty hours later
Rafa inhaled deeply, the salt in the air complementing the lingering flavor of watermelon and pistachio on his tongue. The January sun was surprisingly strong over a quiet Brooks Street Beach late on this Saturday morning, and the four-foot waves carried loyal riders clad in black wetsuits. Rafa watched them paddle out and wait for their turns, popping up gracefully on their boards as the waves broke.
He’d forgotten his sunglasses on Adriana’s coffee table, and Rafa held his hand over his eyes as he watched Shane ride a wave into the shore. This was the third one he’d caught since Rafa had arrived, and Rafa could have happily stood on the sand watching for hours with his sneakers off and duffel at his feet, the sand gritty between his toes. Just seeing Shane again was enough for the moment.
But with his board under his arm, now Shane picked over some rocks at the shore and headed across the sand. Not many people were on the beach. Lightheaded and tingling, Rafa was about to call out when Shane jolted to a stop, staring at him.
At a distance, Rafa couldn’t quite make out his expression, and his mouth went dry. Would Shane even want to see him? He’d probably moved on, and this would be awkward and weird and a huge mistake. His heart went into triple time as Shane changed course straight for him, walking steadily with his board still attached to his ankle by its leash. Too late to run away now, and Rafa waited.
When they were a few feet apart, Shane thrust his board into the sand on its end and peeled open the Velcro leash around his ankle. His dark hair was still shorn close to his glistening head, and water dripped off the end of his nose. Rafa could see he hadn’t shaved for a few days, and thought of how Shane’s stubble had felt on his skin that night in the cave.
He’s actually standing here. This is actually happening. This is real life.
“Come to catch a wave?” Shane asked nonchalantly, the low rumble of his voice so wonderful to hear.
“I…uh…” They stood there staring at each other, and suddenly all of his carefully rehearsed words evaporated in Rafa’s mind. He thrust out the slushee. “I stopped by Maddie’s for you. It really is good. I hope you don’t mind that I had a sip.”
“Course not.” Shane took the cup, their fingers brushing. He had a sip through the straw. “Thanks.”
Stay cool. Don’t spaz. “You looked great out there. Glad you’re surfing again.”
“Thanks. It’s been really good getting back into it. I don’t know how I managed so many years without it now.” He took another sip. “I saw a bit of Livingston’s inauguration the other day. You’re officially done, huh?”
“Yeah.” Grinning, Rafa glanced around. “No detail. It’s weird, just walking around by myself. But awesome too. So far people don’t seem to recognize me much.”
Shane’s lips lifted. “It’s the hair.” He dropped his gaze to Rafa’s jeans and purple Ripcurl hoodie. “And the clothes. Looks good on you. You’ll fit right in with the other surf rats.”
Rafa ran a hand through the loose curls that spilled over his forehead. “Thanks.”
“Saw the interview you did with your parents a few months ago. You were really good.”
He shrugged, blushing a little. “Figured I owed it to those little gay kids out there. And I realized it was easier to just say what I wanted to say so people could deal with it and move on. That way there wasn’t the whole is he or isn’t he thing.”
“Makes sense.” Shane took another sip of the slushee. “So. You just stopping by on your way down under?” he asked casually.
