AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She smirks.
“Save room for dessert. Or don’t. Again, anything you want, and I’ll respect it.”
Just tell me what you want and I’ll respect it.
“Cupcakes.”
“I know.” I hold out my hand until she takes it. Her fingers are thin and cool in my grasp. Holding hands is such a simple gesture, yet it sets my whole body on fire.
We stop at the water’s edge, both barefoot and close enough for the tip of a wave to brush our toes. She shivers, so I surround her from behind with my arms. I kiss her coconut hair. My goddess.
The wind picks up and a large wave crashes on the lookout point to our right. Her phone is muffled, so I read the screen. “Annette,” I say close to her ear.
“Tough. Kind. A no-nonsense lady with a generous heart. I know it’s hard to imagine, but I got bullied in elementary school. Dumb kids thought it was hilarious to make fun of my thrift store shoes and trip me in the hallways. When my mom found out, she showed up at school during the middle of lunch and chewed them out. Normally, you’d think kids would tease me for needing my ‘mommy’ to rescue me, but she did it with such flare that the entire school kept saying how cool my mom was. Suddenly, I had a lot more friends who wanted to come over to play video games. Those bullies never bothered me again.”
“Yeah. I miss her a lot. She always had great advice. Some days, I wish she was here to direct me. Give motherly advice.”
I squeeze her. You. “What’s your mom’s name?”
“And what’s she like?”
Paige is quiet for a long time, staring at the text box and various word groups on her phone. Finally, she says,
“Why is she lonely?”
I’m careful with my next words because this is the most she’s ever opened up about her past. “When did she remarry?”
“What’s he like? Her new husband. What’s his name?”
I got too loose with my questions, because she freezes, shrinking into me like her stepdad will jump out of the water to attack her. This was what I most wanted to know. Her reaction says everything. He’s the man who hurts her. He’s the man I’m going to hurt when I find him.
I will find him.
I change the topic before she completely shuts down. “My mom would’ve loved you. I wish you could’ve met her.”
A seagull flying overhead catches her attention. Her eyes follow its path through the sky until it joins its flock on the ground, squawking and mingling among them. Paige lowers her head, staring at the sand below her feet.
I tighten my arms around her, keeping her close, safe, protected. “Well, you can be honest and turn to them when you’re in trouble, knowing they’ll always be there even when you do dumb shit. Sometimes they feel like friends, but if you get out of line, they’re happy to remind you who’s boss. I could talk to my mom about anything and she always listened, even if it was shit that got me in trouble. She listened and gave me advice, but I always got punished big time. She never yelled, even at Amber, who was more of a pain in the ass than me. Mom needed help paying bills, so I was busy with after-school jobs while Amber was out getting in trouble for both of us.”
Paige sighs at the ocean.
