Page 39 of Gravity

“Do you have to get home soon?” he asks, leaning in closer.

“Nope. Wade is with Dad, so he’s taken care of. Why?”

When he turns to look out of the window, I sense something is on his mind. Coming back to face me, he smiles. “You wanna go someplace?”

“What about work?”

“I only came in early so I could catch you. I can escape for an hour or so. What do you say?”

I grin, hopping off the chair before he can change his mind. “Okay. But only if you buy me an ice cream.”

“That sounds like bribery.”

“No, it’s called taking care of your Shortcake.”

Once we get into Grayson’s truck, we take a short drive and head toward the north side of Chick’s Beach. After he gets us both an ice cream, we leave our shoes in the truck and make our way to the beach. My sore feet crave the softness of sand and the coolness of the water as we stroll toward Lynnhaven pier. Grayson has hardly spoken a word since we left the bar, but I don’t call him out on it because the silence between us is comfortable.

“I can’t remember the last time I came here,” I sigh peacefully.

“I come down here often. It’s most times quieter than Oceanfront beach.”

Lynnhaven pier is an all wooden, quarter-mile fishing pier that has been a tourist attraction for decades. With the batterings it has been served over the years by the hurricanes that have hit Virginia, it still stands proud amongst the golden sands.

“Can you remember that time we came down here when we were younger and went fishing with your brother?”

I laugh, licking my mint chocolate ice cream. “You mean the time a crab decided it wanted to eat my big toe?”

“I’ve never laughed so hard. Your face was a picture.”

“My face was of someone in pain. In that moment, I hated everything to do with Oceanology and just wanted to curl up and cry.”

“Grayson to the rescue. What would you do without me?” He laughs, bumping his arm against mine.

“I’ve no idea. You’re the only one who helps me out when I’m hurt.”

“That’s because I don’t like seeing you hurt,” he pauses. “Even though I’m guilty of causing it of late.”

I glance at him. “But you had your reasons, and we’ve sorted them now. Haven’t we?”

“Of course. Still doesn’t make me feel any better, though.”

“Dad’s been telling me for ages not to give up on you and to give you time. So, I did.”

He frowns “He has?”

“Yeah. And even though you were an ass, I guess deep down, I knew I’d never give up on you.”

“Why?”

I’m in two minds whether to say what’s on the tip of my tongue or to say nothing at all. But the moment we shared the other night keeps playing on my mind, and I want him to know just how valuable he is to me. “Because you mean too much to me for me to just throw it all away.” I hold his gaze for a moment before I turn back and look toward the water, knowing he's watching me.

The breeze picks up the closer we get to the water, and I have to keep brushing the loose strands of hair from my face to avoid them getting caught in my ice cream. Like always, the weather this time of year is glorious and it warms my skin, just the way I love it.

“How are things at home with your dad? Is he more willing to have his physical therapy now? Asher mentioned he was a little off at first.”

“He was only off because he couldn’t have his own way. As easy going as Dad is, you know he can be stubborn at times, and a young man like Wade being a voice of authority is not how Dad saw his life. In his eyes, it should be the other way around.”

“Yeah. I get it. It’s a pride thing.”