Page 13 of Break Line

“Yeah, you have. Been a sad, sorry pup in the love department. Leilani was thinking about setting you up with her sister.”

He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m not that desperate yet, man.” He’d seen Leilani’s sister, and he was not interested. “No offense.”

“I thought that might light a fire under you. None taken. I wouldn’t tap that eitha.”

They finished their lunch with conversations of ohana, the surf report, the weather, and the upcoming surf championships that he wanted to attend. They hashed out details for the event before Kai left.

* * *

Nathan lay backon his bed, hands clasped behind his head. His daughters would be here in two weeks. His former in-laws would stay with them at his house while he finished up his rehab, then he could go home.

He had formed a good relationship with Kini over the past several weeks. All of his dreams and fantasies revolved around her. He’d managed a few trips with her down to the pier, down the main boulevard, or out to the beach, but when he got near the water’s edge, he made excuses to stay where he was. He wasn’t having as many flashbacks or nightmares, but the PTSD was still there. The terror of the ocean and sharks would start rising in his chest, and he’d back away.

The staff counselor had offered little help in getting it under control. A Captain James from the Veterans Association stopped by to visit him, reminding him that he qualified for full veteran’s benefits, and they had a counselor that was familiar with lost limbs and PTSD. Well, he didn’t throw the PTSD out there; Nathan read it in the pamphlet that he left. It was tempting, except he’d have to leave Kini. Their timeline for receiving his prosthetic leg was half the time in this place.

“What are you doing just lounging about? We’ve got work to do.” Kini stood arms crossed at the foot of the bed.

He swung his legs to the side, reaching for his crutch. “Sorry, must have dozed off. Hey, you want to go for ice cream after our session?”

“Can’t. I’ve got three more people to see before I can go home.” She walked beside him, not aiding him. “Good job. You haven’t made excuses all week long.”

He grunted a response as he swung the crutch forward.

“Except for why you won’t go near the water.”

He leveled her a look. “It’s complicated.”

She rolled her eyes as she turned, facing him. Kini put her hands on her hips, leaning toward him slightly. “Just like a haole. No, it isn’t complicated. I get it.”

She opened the door and Nathan pushed his way through at a brisk pace.

“You were attacked by a shark, you lost part of your leg, and it amplified your PTSD. It’s not going to get better without facing your fears.”

Nathan pushed through the physical therapy as fast as he could. It pissed him off that she was poking into stuff that she had no right.

“How do you know that?” He said through grunts of his weightlifting.

“I read it in your file, Mr. Former Marine.” She was smiling as she said it, not realizing how angry he was getting.

“Why are you reading my file? Checking up on me?” He grimaced as he pushed the barbell onto the support bracket. Any other day he might have found it flattering, but not today. Today, it pissed him off.

She crossed her arms over her chest, cocking her head to one side. “Well excuse me for trying to make a therapy plan for my patient.”

Her patient. Of course, he was her patient. He mentally berated himself for reading more into the long walks down the beach and pier. He scolded himself for assuming she had feelings for him.

Nate felt ten times the fool, just like when he'd found out about Tonya's cheating.

“Are we done here?” He spoke through the panted breaths, a sheen of sweat around his hairline and under his armpits.

“Here, yes. There,” she pointed out the window toward the surf, “You are a long way from being done.”

He couldn’t explain his reaction. It was irrational, but his anger got the better of him. “That’s none of your business,” he shouted as he shoved the chair across the room.

“OK.” She held her hands up in surrender. “Now that we have that straight…”

She paced around for a few seconds, her hands on her hips as she moved. She came to a halt, standing in front of him. She barely came up to his chest. She stood so close that he could smell the shampoo she used.

“Work on getting your steps in this weekend. I’ll see you back here on Monday.” She turned on her heels, letting the door slam shut behind her.

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