Page 86 of The Surfer

30

FIVE MONTHS LATER

RIPLEY

Lying next to me,Cove stirs. He wakes.

“Hey,” he says to me sleepily. He’s so cute when he’s in bed like this, he’s like my own six-foot long hot water bottle.

“Hello.”

He winks at me and closes his eyes again, relaxed. I smile and snuggle in closer against his warm strong muscular body as he wraps his big arm around me and pulls me in tight. I feel so protected in his solid embrace.

We’re in Cove’s giant bed together. We’ve done nothing all morning except fuck each other’s brains out, and it was glorious. Cove can really use his tongue and I can really use my hips. We were both exhausted after our morning session, so we’ve decided to lie here, gently napping, into the sunny afternoon. There is nothing to do, no commitments for the rest of the day. Just him and me together in his giant silk bed.

And I love it.

We’re in love.

But not all good things last forever. Our six months together are nearly up, and it is nearly time for me to head home. We’ve faithfully stuck to the deal we made to Sandy and their dad. Cove has been off drugs and alcohol since that day he tried to stand up again on the surfboard. He’s been clean for five months. Five months spent with me every day. Five months growing more and more in love.

It’s been good that Sandy and their dad had changed the terms of the deal to keep me. They didn’t mind the fact that Cove and I are together. I mean, anyone can see we are, somehow, the perfect match, despite our differences. Anyone can see how much we’ve both helped and supported each other. I got him off drugs and booze and Cove’s taught me to surf and to become an honorary Australian. Not too bad of a deal, if I must say so myself.

But now it’s time for me to leave.

I want to stay. I want to be with Cove, no matter where we are.

But it’s difficult.

My Mom is still back in New York. At least now the Finn family will support me through nursing university, at least now my Mom will never have to work another day of her life. But I just wish I can somehow still be with Cove even when I fly home.

Just a few years at university back home, that’s all. Just make it through a few years and then I’ll be with Cove again.

But, lying here in his bed up against him, my heart collapses at the thought. A few years is a long time to spend apart. It stretches out before me like an eternity. A few years on two different countries on the other side of the world. Apart. Alone.

I know I won’t be able to bear it.

Cove stirs once again and opens his eyes. We look at each other for a long moment, soaking in each other’s beautiful glare. His gorgeous blue eyes melt me under his gaze.

“Hey,” he says again softly.

Yeah, he’s so goddamn pretty.

“Hello.”

Cove pulls back his arm around me and makes a move to the side of the bed.

“Where are you going?” I ask, pouting that his warm body has left my side so quickly.

What’s he doing?

Cove smirks at me as he climbs out of bed. “I’m just going to get something.”

He is fully naked as he jumps out of bed. Completely exposed, just as he’d been when I first met him that strange morning half a year ago.

Back then it seemed like he was an asshole.

But that was a different Cove.