AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Then she saunters out of sight.
She knows what she’s doing, letting her hips sway like that.
Mason and I both stare after her, clearly only one thing on both our minds.
“We have to get our own place, dude,” I say in a low voice.
“Working on it,” Mason sighs.
“Well, work on it faster.”
Mason pushes on my shoulder in a playful manner. “Shut up, man. I’m making the final touches on the design. It has to be right.”
For once, Mason is enjoying designing a condo.
His firm’s latest design is a luxury building straight across Central Park on the Upper West Side, a neighborhood with more spirit than the Upper East. He’s worked out a deal with his firm to be able to design a condo specified to our exact needs so we can all live together and not have to deal with this shuffling between apartments.
Then we can really start our lives.
“Okay, shall we go?” Mason asks.
“Yeah, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can go home.”
We walk out together, laughing.
Only a few weeks ago, everything surrounding Laney felt wincing and tender. Now, it’s our life. And we can laugh about it, discuss it openly, enjoy it together.
That’s what friends are for, right?
39
MASON
Two months later…
The late summer sun beats down on us, harsh and perfect for a day of surfing.
All members of the Lyons clan, Seth and Bridget, Bridget’s dad, Solomon, who is also Edwin’s best friend, Laney, and me.
In a way, we’re all extended members of the family in a way.
The only one missing is Nate. For good reason, though. He’s the reason we’re all here.
Today, Nate’s in his first surfing competition since the accident. He’s been practicing for the past two months with Laney’s blessing out at the Rockaways.
She’s been the only one who has been allowed to come out and watch him. She says it’s because she wants to be able to support him physically in case he has difficulties with the echoes of his injury.
But we all know the truth. Shelooooveshim.
While the rest of the group is all gathered around the beachside bar, hiding under the eaves of the roof, watchingthe competition being streamed live to the television inside, Laney and I are posted up on the beach, huddled on a towel, exchanging a pair of binoculars as we watch Nate paddling out to catch another wave.
The competition gives each heat of competitors a half hour to catch as many waves as they can.
So far, Nate hasn’t had much luck with the waves, and his best one ended in a wipeout. He’s only got a few minutes left.
“I’m nervous,” Laney whispers.
“I know, me too.” I hand her the binoculars. “You should have them for the drop in.”
