Page 145 of Champagne Nights

As I wiped my eyes and she wiped hers, she stood up. “Wanna go surfing?”

“What?”

“Keaton told me once that life is like the ocean. You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to ride them. Just like you can’t stop life, but you can learn to live it.”

“He’s a pretty deep guy,” I said.

“Yeah. He has a real gift.” She smiled.

“I think surfing would be good.”

“It’s a little chilly, so you’re going to need a wet suit. Are you up for buying one? There’s that surf shop right by the beach.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

We climbed in my truck, and I drove back to Paisley’s house so she could get the boards and her things. Romeo walked up to me and meowed as she unlocked the door, and we walked inside. I smiled as I bent down and petted his head.

“Hey, Romeo. How are you today?”

Paisley changed and grabbed her bag while I went into her garage and loaded the surfboards in my truck. I walked back into her house and smiled when she came out from the bedroom with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail. Seeing her seemed to make me smile more and more.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

“Yep. Let’s go hit those waves.”

We made a stop at the surf shop, and I purchased my first wet suit. As soon as I parked at the beach, both of us put on our suits and grabbed the boards. This was exactly what I needed today. We hit the water, and I couldn’t help but stare at Paisley. I noticed there was something about her that lit up the minute she was on her surfboard.

“I remember you saying that you stopped surfing after your husband passed away. When I see you on the surfboard, I can see how much you love it. Why did you stop? I mean, I get it, but you just seem to love it so much.”

She looked down as she moved her hand back and forth across the water. “I gave up almost everything I loved after he died. I just couldn’t stand to do anything anymore. I just wanted to hide away from the world and everything I enjoyed. Nothing mattered to me anymore.”

“I understand. I’m happy that you’re enjoying surfing again.”

“I guess I’m just trying to learn to live life again. Are you ready? Here comes a wave!” She smiled.

Learning to live life again. I believe that’s what the both of us were doing, and I think I liked it.

Paisley

“You’re getting better!” I yelled across the water.

“That’s because I have an amazing teacher.”

We finished surfing and walked back to Ben’s truck. After changing out of our wet suits and drying off, we climbed in, and Ben looked at me after he checked his phone.

“Would you like to go to dinner tonight with my family and me? Apparently, my parents are taking us out to celebrate Finn and Olivia’s engagement. They always seem to do things last minute, and I think they’re also doing it because of what today is. I told my mom last night I didn’t want to go out, and Finn had asked me to go to dinner, and I told him no. I bet my mom concocted the whole engagement celebration just to get me out of the house. She’s using it as an excuse because she knew I wouldn’t turn that down.”

I couldn’t help but laugh because it was the same thing my family would do. Was I ready to meet his family? I wasn’t sure, but he came to my parents’ house for dinner, so I needed to return the favor.

“Yes. I would like to go to dinner with you and your family. That is if your family doesn’t mind.”

“Are you kidding? They’ll be thrilled I’m actually being social with someone.” He smiled. “Dinner is at seven o’clock at the Palm Restaurant.”

“I love that restaurant.”

“Me too. It’s one of my favorites.” He smiled.

I looked at the time on my phone. It was three o’clock. “Where do you live?”

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