Page 95 of Valor on the Move
His heart thumped as another silence hung between them.
“Darling.” Camila sounded pained. “I think it’s likely very normal for people to develop strong feelings after experiencing a life-and-death incident. But…”
“It’s not that, Mom. It really isn’t. I know it’s weird for you—me actually dating a guy.”
“A man, Rafa!” she exclaimed.
“But I’m a man too, Mom. I’m not a kid anymore.”
She sighed. “We’ve tried very hard to support you and encourage you to be happy. We really have, darling. But you should be seeing boys your own age!”
“It’s not what I want. Last semester I tried it. I met other guys at school. But I don’t want anyone else. I love Shane. I love him.”
After another pause, Ramon said, “Well. This was certainly not the phone call we were expecting, Rafa.”
“I know. I’m sorry to spring it on you. But I needed to see if he even wanted to be with me.” A powerful wave washed higher on the beach, and Rafa jumped back just in time to avoid a soaking. He smiled to himself. “And he does want to be with me. I just…I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
His father said, “Things can be wonderful when they’re brand new. But when the shine wears off…”
“Then we’ll see what happens,” Rafa insisted. “We love each other, and we’re going to make it work. We’ll never know if we don’t try. Don’t you remember when you were first in love?”
“Vaguely,” Camila replied dryly. “But love is hard work, Rafa.”
“I know. But I’m not going to give up on something I want—something that makes me so, so happy—just because it won’t always be easy. You didn’t teach us to be quitters. You always said anything worth having is worth hard work.”
His father’s voice had a smile in it. “I suppose you’ve got us there.” He sighed. “And I don’t suppose we really have a choice but to accept this.”
Grinning, Rafa danced away from another wave, not caring that his feet were like ice now. “You said you were worried about me going to Australia alone. Well, not only will I have company, but he’ll keep me safe too.”
“He’d damn well better,” Camila snapped.
Rafa laughed. “Language, Mom.”
“Yes, yes. When are you going to Sydney now?”
“Soon. Shane just has a few things to wrap up.”
“Perhaps we should visit California before you go,” Ramon said. “We can get to know this man better.”
Rafa sucked in a breath. “Oh, uh, I don’t think there’s time.” He imagined sitting across from his parents in Shane’s living room, the Secret Service lingering outside while they make awkward conversation. Shit, we’ll go tomorrow if we can. “Besides, aren’t you guys doing that event for the foundation?”
“We are,” Camila said. “You’re off the hook. For now. Australia isn’t really so far away.”
“That would be great if you came to visit.” At least he’d have a couple months to plan awkward conversation topics. Glancing over his shoulder, Rafa saw Shane on the porch with a mug. He lifted it and nodded toward the house. “I’ve got to go. But I’ll talk to you guys soon, okay? I’ll give you my new itinerary when I have it. And thanks. For not completely freaking out and stuff.”
“Oh, we’re completely freaking out, dear. But you’re lucky. Having Adriana as a sister taught us to roll with the punches, so we’ll cope with this too. No matter what, we love you. We’ll speak to you soon.” She added, “And tell Shane Kendrick we’ll have him killed if he hurts you.”
Rafa smiled. “I love you guys.”
Turning off his phone, he slipped it into his hoodie pocket and hurried back to where Shane waited with coffee and a soft, slow morning kiss.
“That’s it. Paddle. Paddle!”
Freezing water splashed his face as Rafa moved his arms in his new wetsuit. The wave was breaking, and he needed to catch it at just the right time and pop up into a crouch. It swelled beneath him, and he pushed up, trying to use his core and get his feet under him—
Tumbling through the white water, he squeezed his eyes shut and let the wave take him in. His rented board thumped into him as he found his feet. Coughing, he watched as Shane rode in the next wave, balancing so easily and carving out a line right to him. Shane hopped off his board and scooped it up, shaking water off his head.
“Okay?” Shane squeezed Rafa’s shoulder.
“Uh-huh.” He shivered. The sun was already setting and it wasn’t even five o’clock yet.
“Want to quit for today?”
“No. One more time.”
On their bellies on their boards, they paddled out. His shoulders burned, and Rafa knew his arms would ache in the morning, but he was determined. They’d spent most of the morning on the sand while he practiced popping up from his stomach into the crouch. St. Ann’s beach had smaller waves, which Shane had insisted on. Earlier there had been some local body boarders, but as the afternoon waned, they almost had the place to themselves.
