Page 74 of Fall Apart

And there it is. I lose my balance, bite it, and fall into the water again.

He takes his time to swim out to me, grabbing the board, and checking on me again.

“That was better,” he teases, tucking my hair back over my shoulder. He reaches for my hand, pulling me to my feet in the shallow water.

“Let’s see you try,” I scoff playfully, shoving him in the chest, almost losing my balance again. He catches me and pulls me into him. Even through these wetsuits, I can feel his warmth.

He grins and gestures with his head towards the boulder he was sitting on. “Alright then. My turn.”

I wade over to the boulder, prop up my board, and hop up onto it to watch him.

I watch as he wades into the water. He looks focused as he lays on the board before he pops up into a standing crouch in one smooth motion.

He makes short, smooth graceful turns, left and right before losing his balance and falling into the water.

He pulls the board back to him, shakes his head in frustration and slaps his hands, sending beads of water flying. He lays back on the board, ready to try again.

“Not bad, Chapman,” I shout.

He looks at me and gives me a small smile before turning back to the waves, clearly focused. I can see that competitive side in him now.

He takes a second before popping back up into a low crouch. But this time, he doesn’t fall. He makes turn after turn, riding the wave.

Of course.

Of course, he’d be instantly good at this.

I stay silent watching him. The longer he does it, the more natural he looks. The intensity, the harsh scowls I’m used to, all of it fades away.

He keeps reacting to the waves, not trying to control them. He looks relaxed, calm, and confident. He looks like his brother, Tanner.

I hold my hands to my lips, trying to contain the smile spreading across my face. This is what I wanted.

And then I see it. The harsh man, the one who’s given up so much, slowly fades away, revealing what should have always been there. He smiles and laughs with each turn he makes.

I watch in pure glee. I’m in awe at the happy, beautiful, twenty-eight year old, enjoying life to the fullest. The smile on his face, with his dimples popping, is so warm and infectious that it would melt glaciers the same way it melts my heart.

Finally, he hops off his board, grabs it, and wades over to me.

He props the board up next to mine and stands between my legs facing me. I cross my arms and look up at him, trying to look annoyed but I can’t hide my excitement.

“Did you get bored or do you just want to rub it in that you’re better?”

He shrugs. “Maybe a little of both.” He winks before leaning down to kiss me. I loop my arms over his shoulders, pulling him to me. My mouth opens and his tongue grazes mine before he pulls away. He presses his forehead to mine.

“Thank you.” His raspy voice is softer than I’m used to as he still catches his breath.

“For what?”

He lets out a long, ragged sigh. The rush of warm air across my cheek sends goosebumps over my damp, cool skin.

“For everything.”

We walkinto the garage at TJ’s house, still in our damp wetsuits. Clay opens the door heading into the mudroom.

“Anyone home?” His voice booms through the house.

He waits a second and shrugs. “Guess no one’s here.”

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