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CHAPTER28
ZENNOR
Now
It’s a beautiful day. Looking out of my bedroom window, the blue of the sky reminds me of summer, when Cornwall can trick you into thinking you are in the Caribbean.
Appointments have packed the last few days, and the plans are coming together. I feel excited about everything coming together into something positive. I still have to check my focus to keep it on the future and fight the natural pull of my thoughts to dwell on the past. But the work and effort needed to get this business off the ground fill me with a new goal, and I thrive on working towards that—to be successful.
My days do require a visit to Molly’s, and today is no exception. Just because it’s a Saturday doesn’t mean I won’t be working. I slip my feet into my boots and grab my bag to head out.
As well as the business side of things, I need to look at my personal situation. All of my belongings, bar the suitcases I came with, are in storage. No transport, no furniture, nothing, and if this place is going to be my home, there is the question of my own accommodation to deal with. It’s still a sore subject, and I’m reticent to jump into buying a property—at least just yet. But living with Mum won’t work, either, although she is wonderful for letting me stay.
I’m moving forward, and that means standing on my own. The business plan is in place. Next is the personal one. And no matter how I approach it, I can’t think of my next step without Jayce invading my thoughts.
Or, more specifically, the kiss he left me with and the words that made my breath hitch in my chest when he whispered them in my ear.
God, I hadn’t realised how starved I was of those small moments shared between two people.
Derek never took my breath away and never made my heart beat faster. Not the way Jayce did, anyway. And that was with the myriad of confusion and mixed feelings between us.
Molly’s is packed with people taking advantage of the outside seating in the glorious weather. Amazing what a little Vitamin D can do for you, and it’s infectious. I grab a latte to go and walk back along the beach to get my own dose.
With it being the weekend, the beach is busier than it has been since I arrived, so I stride out towards the damper sand to keep out of the way of families and their sun tents in the soft sand.
“Tegan?” I shield my eyes from the sun to check it’s my sister sitting on the beach looking out at the surf. I’ve never seen her in Tregethworth since I arrived unless I’d invited her or had plans.
“Hey, you.” She smiles as I get closer.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Oh, Nat has surfing lessons.” I follow her gaze out to the small waves rolling to shore. I wouldn’t be able to identify Natalie, but I do know who’s giving her the lesson.
Jayce.
I drop down onto the towel with Tegan and stare out at the ocean.
Watching him help Natalie, I can’t suppress the memories of when Jayce gave me my first surf lesson—of how I wanted to please him despite the fact I hated the cold of the sea. Instead of fighting anything that reminded me of that time, I let the memory take form and infuse me with warmth in my heart. The pain doesn’t follow, and I stay in the moment, replaying our kiss in the waves, the fun we had.
“Why are you smiling?” Tegan asks, and I look at her.
“Just a memory.”
“Let me guess. Jayce teaching you to surf?” She cocks her head to the side.
“How did you—?” I start and then look back out towards Jayce.
“Jayce might have mentioned something to Natalie. She couldn’t believe it.”
No. Neither could I when I agreed to it. But then, didn’t that sum up how I felt about that boy.
He isn’t a boy anymore. He’s a handsome, far too sexy, patient and kind man who, no doubt, has the power to destroy whatever is left of my shrivelled heart.
Tegan rests her head on my shoulder for a moment and wraps her arm around me as if she knows I need a little courage right now to face the past and present collision that’s occurring before my eyes.
We watch as Natalie plays in the small rollers, balancing but not quite making it to standing. She’ll get there, though.
Finally, they both turn and walk out of the sea towards us. Tegan stands and turns to pull me up. I drink the rest of my coffee and try not to fidget as they approach.
