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Nate shows me his own wedding ring. “Anyway, trouble always finds him, especially in the surf circuit. I don’t know how the guy gets more action than the surfers.”
I chuckle. “Because the girls think they can get closer to the surfers through him?” I raise my eyebrows.
Nate laughs. “You’re not new at this, are you?”
“Nope. Usually do wildlife but took this gig to get out of town.”
I hate to admit it, but I searched for any job that would get me out of Sunrise Bay after the wedding. I knew the lines were blurring between Mandi and me, and if I stuck it out there, I couldn’t predict what would happen. Mandi needed to know that things were still going to happen the way we said they were. That I’d leave and be gone for most of the year.
“You skipping bail or something?”
I laugh. “No. Just personal reasons.” I look at his sparkling ring as he snaps a picture. “Can I ask you a question?”
He shrugs. “Sure.”
“How on earth do you make your marriage work?”
He looks at his ring and laughs. “Well, it’s not as simple as I’m going to tell you, but there’s a lot of phone sex. There’s me turning down jobs. Her coming with me when she can. It’s like every marriage, I guess—compromise.”
I look through the viewfinder and snap off a shot. “Were you a photographer before you got married?”
He nods. “Traveled the world. Met her on her first trip to Europe. Before kids, she came with me a lot more, but now the kids need stability.”
“You could do something that leaves you at home?”
“I’d resent her for it and we both know it. We’re a special breed. And it’s probably selfish of me, but I wasn’t gonna give up either one of my loves. Don’t tell her, but she comes first. Always.” He doesn’t say anything for a minute. “I take it that’s why you ran? A woman?”
I nod because Nate will probably get it more than anyone else.
“Well, if she loves you and you love her, you’ll get through it. She’ll understand your need for adventure, and you’ll appreciate her that much more while you’re gone. But there are times when I get asked to do an assignment and she’ll look at me and I know she needs me there. So I turn it down and stay home.”
I look at him. “And you don’t get mad?”
“I’m never mad when I have to spend time with my wife. You really have to make the decision yourself. Oh shit, check that out.” He runs over to where the winning surfer is being carried on the shoulders of his supporters.
They lower him to the sand, and he disregards everyone but the woman pushing through the crowd to get to him. When she reaches him, he takes her head in his hands and she’s smiling wide like Mandi always did for me. They kiss while the crowd is still going crazy for the guy. I don’t follow surfing, but I know they’re gone a lot during the year. If all these people are able to make relationships work while they travel, why can’t Mandi and I?
Jesus, am I this much of a fucking idiot?
Spoiler alert: yes.
I take my camera off the stand and pack up my stuff.
On my way off the beach, Willy stops me. “So, we’re all set for tonight.”
“Sorry, man, I gotta go.”
His mouth drops open. “Where? What do I tell them?”
“Tell them I’m taken.” I turn around. “And tell them you are too.”
