AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He smirks. “Yes, ma’am.”
I grab the bag with all of our beach stuff and walk out of the room, knowing he’ll follow me. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but we’re different. Maybe I’ve learned how to let go and blindly trust him. Or maybe after talking to my dad, I realized I would do anything to be with Trace and I’m finally doing what I need to. Maybe it’s a little bit of both. I don’t know and I really don’t care because between making headway on getting my head on straight and what’s happening between Trace and me, I’m happy again.
The weight on my shoulders the past year has felt so unbearably heavy. All the negative that could be stacked and shoved into crevices was sitting on the invisible pallet on my shoulders. Ignoring it certainly didn’t make it go away even while numbing the pain in whatever method I used. Harboring and fueling the fire of my fury toward Trace only packed on the pounds, adding to the overall weight. Dealing with it, taking my meds like I should, being with Trace, and truly placing some trust in him, in us, has started to make me feel light on my feet again.
There’s still a hesitation in me. There’s still that nagging thought in the back of my mind that is begging me to tread carefully. There’s still a hurricane siren of a warning that is reminding me that when Trace hurts me, he nearly kills me.
But there’s also reminders that he does his best to take care of me. That, in particular, is something Mrs. Potter had to point out to me. I felt guilty that she had to do it to start with. However, in our last session, when I recounted the events at Ben’s party, she pointed out that even when we were at odds, Trace brought me food and ate with me. He listened to Melissa and gave me time.
There’s evidence that Trace loves me, wants to be with me, and is willing to talk to me in all the ways he didn’t before. The key for me, according to Mrs. Potter, is recognizing all those little things, acknowledging and appreciating them. She said that’s how I’ll be able to truly regain my trust in Trace. By finding those little things he does or says and building the blocks with those because it may not be obvious or grand gestures. She even stole Trace’s saying that we’re all constantly works in progress and suggested that I remind myself of that on the occasion of a misstep or something of the like.
So, that’s what I’m doing because I desperately want to be able to fully trust him.
Lily sticks by my dad’s side all day. She has even ignored Trace when he was going to take her for a bathroom break walk, so Dad did it. We’re wading in the water while my parents are enjoying the shade of the large umbrella with Lily. My legs are wrapped around Trace’s waist, my arms around his neck.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks.
“I think you’ve lost your dog to my dad. She might not want to come back home with us. I always wondered why we never got another dog.”
Trace looks to shore and shrugs. “It’s okay. As long as I get to keep you,” he adds.
“Hmm,” I hum as he pushes off of the sand to avoid the wave crashing into us. “I’m on board for that and I think my dad is too.”
“What changed his mind?” Trace blurts out. “I keep thinking about how last week you said you had a heart to heart with him, and last time I saw your dad, he was still pissed.”
“I don’t think he changed his mind.” When Trace frowns, I hurry to add, “I mean, what he said didn’t have anything to do with you. Not really. It was all about me, so I think he’s accepted that I’m keeping you, too.”
Trace grins and kisses me. A swell of water crashes on us, leaving me with burning eyes and nose while I spit some water from my mouth. The water caused Trace’s hair to go all in one direction.
I try to ignore that as I chide him. “Trace! You’re off wave-watching duty.” His hands are now fumbling with my top and boobs. “What are you doing?” I squeak, making him laugh.
“Readjusting before you flash everyone.”
Sure enough, my top has shifted. “Tie it again. It’s gotten loose.” I drop my legs from his waist, turn around, and float because I can’t touch the bottom like he can. “Hurry up before that wave gets here.”
“I can jump and tie at the same time, Britt.”
“Especially now that you’ve already copped your feel.”
Trace laughs. “You’re free to cop a feel, too.” He grabs my waist and turns me back toward him now that he’s finished.
I choose to ignore his comment, though I can’t help my smile.
We wade for a bit before I get thirsty. I tell Trace I’ll be right back and leave him in the water. But when I reach my parents and grab a bottle of Sun Drop from the cooler, Dad says, “Stay here for a few minutes, Brittany. I want to talk to Trace while he can’t escape.”
He’s out of his chair and walking away with Lily on his heels before I can open my mouth. Lily trots into the water a bit before stopping to wait for my dad to return. Looks like she doesn’t love the ocean enough to go too far in. I take a seat in my chair and look at Mom.
“What’s that about?”
“Don’t have a clue.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Don’t lie.”
“It’s between your father and Trace, Brittany.”
“But you know.”
“Your father told me, yes, because I’m his wife and your mother. If Trace wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
