Page 32 of Fools in Love

What did someone wear on a sailing trip? She’d grown up in Pride and, as a child, had gone on plenty of boat trips. Most of the time, she’d dressed in swimsuits, shorts, and T-shirts.

The weather app claimed that it would be clear skies and in the high seventies, which was perfect weather to jump into the water.

She started with her new white two piece, then switched to her blue, and finally settled on her red one. She pulled on a pair of cut-off shorts and a blue and white tank top. She stuffed an oversized hat and her dark sunglasses into her bag, and then for good measure, some condoms she had in her purse. Just in case.

There was no doubt that Tom was responsible, but she had to look out for herself first and foremost.

Since she’d stopped dancing two months ago, her body had changed in so many ways.

First, she’d gained almost seven pounds. She hated the scale in her parents’ bathroom. Every day, she watched it go up, knowing that there was little she could do.

She enjoyed working out with Tom, both the boxing and doing Pilates, but nothing could compare to the hours she used to work in New York.

Her entire dancing career, her monthly cycle had been sporadic. She’d used birth control pills to regulate it but had stopped taking them since her injury, which had caused its own changes to her body.

She was excited to spend the day with Tom and to be with him. If last night was any hint to what being with him would be like, she just knew that today was going to be magical.

She pulled on a pair of white tennis shoes and walked out to see her brother and dad with their heads bent over a computer.

“This one should work,” her dad said.

“Mom’s going to kill you for spending so much money,” Nick replied.

“Spending all your retirement savings on car parts?” she asked, setting down her bag.

They both jumped and then looked up at her.

“No,” her father said, then he sighed. “Maybe.”

She smiled and hugged him. “Mom knows you spend money on cars.”

“Where are you off to today?” Nick asked, running his eyes over her.

“Sailing with Tom.” She walked over to the fridge and poured herself some orange juice.

“Is that getting serious?” her dad asked.

“It could.”

“That kid has been through some stuff. He’s a good kid. In the years that he’s been in Pride, I haven’t seen him go on a serious date with anyone,” her father said with a slight frown. “He took Brook out once, but I think they settled on being friends before the dessert arrived.”

“I won’t break his heart.” She touched her father’s shoulder.

Her dad nodded and then hugged her. “Sounds like he’s here,” he said when they all heard a car pull into the driveway.

“Kate?” Nick said, stopping her from leaving the room. “Today is… a hard day for him.” Nick glanced towards their dad and then back. “Thanks for going with him.”

“I know, he told me.”

Tom was just about to ring the doorbell when she opened the front door.

“Ready?” she asked, handing him her bag. She didn’t want to take her crutch with her, so instead, she was using the cane Dr. Stevens had given her.

“That’s cool,” he said, motioning to the thing.

“Like it?” She twirled it once. “I added bling to it.” She showed him the sparkles she’d glued on.

He chuckled and tossed her bag over his shoulder. Then he held out his hand to help her down the stairs.