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“Give me your keys,” she says, holding out her hand.I do without questioning her.
She doesn’t take us back to my house like I expect her to.Instead she drives along the PCH, pulling off onto a narrow road with overgrown shrubbery.The road goes for about a mile before ending at a parking area that might hold two or three cars if they’re small.
“Where are we?”
She turns to me with a small smile, but her eyes are sad.“You’ll see.Come on.”
We exit the vehicle, and she takes my hand, leading me down a small path that was hardly noticeable from where we parked.The path is covered by bushes, but the sound of the surf is unmistakable.
Finally, we step out onto the sand, the view of the ocean breathtaking in all its vast glory.We walk to the edge of the water, the rush of it sliding over our feet—the cold a welcome jolt that makes me feel something besides grief.
“My dad used to bring me here,” Tamsin says while she stares out at the ocean.“The first time was right after my mom died.I remember the pain vividly, even now, but that day it hurt a little less.Do you know why?”she asks, turning her gorgeous hazel eyes on me.
“Why?”
“Because my dad told me that nothing ever seems as big when you look at the ocean.”She looks back out at the surf.“The ocean appears to be endless, and you realize how small you are compared to it, which makes your problems seem a little smaller.He also said”—she takes a stuttering breath before continuing—“whenever I was missing her, we could come here, stand with our toes buried in the sand until the waves wash up and rush over our skin, and it would feel like she was here with us.And you know what?”she asks, looking back at me.
“What?”I choke out.
“It did.Every time I came here with him, and even by myself when I was old enough, it felt like she was here with me.Maybe this can be where Robbie’s here for you.”
Unable to speak, I pull her against my chest, dropping a kiss to the top of her head and loving her more than any man has ever loved another woman.It’s so all-consuming, it even overshadows the grief that only moments ago felt like it was eating away at my soul.
“Thank you, Tamsin.”
She hugs me tighter.“I just want to ease some of your pain.”
I tilt her chin up so she’s looking at me and can see the seriousness of my expression.“Tamsin, you do that just by existing.You are everything I ever hoped for and the woman of my fucking dreams.I didn’t know I could love anyone the way I love you, and I feel so fucking lucky that I didn’t fuck it up with you.I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Miles.More than I thought was possible.”
I drop my forehead to hers and repeat the words I whispered in her ear the other night.“I’m going to ask you to marry me someday.”
She smiles and then snuggles against me.“I’m going to say yes someday.”
And I know no matter what, this is the woman I want by my side.Together, we can get through anything.
