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I stare out to the water. Hunter leans in and kisses me, and I close my eyes, savoring the touch of his lips on my own. “Catch you later, babe,” he whispers.
“Are you ready, Cody?” Hunter asks, picking up his board and holding out his fist for his young friend to bump.
Cody smiles up at Hunter. “When I grow up I want to have as many tattoos as you,” he states, not a hint of doubt in his voice.
Hunter shakes his head, smiling, and shoves him playfully in the shoulder. “First you have to ask your mother. My guess is she’ll have something to say about it.” He grins at Quinn who heads over to us, her thick red hair blowing in the soft breeze.
“About what?” she asks.
“About the tattoos, Mom,” Cody says, all serious, looking from Hunter to Quinn, his eyes full of mischief.
“We’ll talk again when you’re eighteen,” she says, smiling at me. I can’t help but chuckle.
“Mom,” he whines, “that’s still eight years away!”
“I guess it is,” she says, laughing and smiling down at her son, she makes a move to ruffle his hair but he ducks, and she winks at me. Hunter tries to hide his grin behind his inked hand, as he looks at Cody, whose cheeks turn a bright shade of red. My smile is just as wide as Quinn’s. I love the way Hunter is around Cody, he adores him. Quinn keeps looking at her son and Hunter, while the little boy talks about BMX. I recognize her smile, and my heart feels full because I know he’s not going to be alone.
“Come on, Cody,” Hunter says, putting his arm around the little boy’s neck. “Let’s catch some waves.”
“Hey, Sky,” Quinn greets me, a hint of a Texas drawl in her voice.
“Hi.” I say softly.
Hunter scrunches up his eyebrows, looking between me and her. “Go,” I tell him, motioning with my chin to the ocean.
“Come on, Hunter. I’ll race you,” Cody yells, getting a head start.
“Kid is fast.” Hunter snorts, running after him.
Quinn giggles, watching them sprint to the water’s edge.
“Sit?” I rasp, talking slowly.
She nods, taking a seat next to me and pushing her Wayfarers on top of her head.
“Hunter really loves Cody,” I tell her, struggling to form each word.
Quinn nods, grinning from ear to ear when Cody tries to pull Hunter underwater. “God, I’m glad he has a good male role model in his life. I’m forever grateful Hunt took Cody under his wing. Don’t know where we would be if he hadn’t helped us.” She stares at her hands. “I’m so sorry, Sky, for what is happening to you.” She sniffles, wiping away a tear.
I nod, flashing her a smile, focusing on the boys in the water.
Quinn talks for a while about her life as a single mom, as a nurse and I really get to know the person she is—kind, caring and funny as hell. She loves eighties music, has been riding a motorcycle all her life, and tries to take Cody on small road trips whenever she can.
She claps as Cody rides a big wave. I take a deep breath, smiling at her, trying to bring up the courage to tell her what she needs to hear from me. “You really love him, don’t you,” I say, taking my time to pronounce each word.
“Yes.” She beams. “The kid is the love of my life.”
“Not Cody,” I respond, dipping my head in Hunter’s direction.
Color creeps up her neck. “Sky, I …” I lay my hand on hers and she takes it.
“Sky, I don’t… I would never… he loves you so much. I would never come between that.” I keep looking at her. “I’ve known Hunter for years, I hope he’s my friend, I respect his work with the kids, and I admire his career, the risks he takes.”
We both smile at the same time, and she whispers, “I really do care for him, maybe more than I ever wanted to admit to myself. But I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you. He loves you so much, Sky, and I’m so grateful I’ve gotten a glimpse of what true love is. He’s…” she stops talking, and looks at her son talking and laughing with Hunter in the water. “I…how did you know?”
I shrug and wink at her.
“I do love him,” she tells me, a soft smile warming her face.
