Page 32 of Every Heartbeat After

“Being divorced?” I can’t help how squeaky my voice is. Is this jealousy? Why the fuck am I jealous of a woman he’s not even with anymore?

“Discussing it with you,” he grumbles. “While hovering one hundred feet above the ocean.”

“Technically that’s not the ocean. It’s the Gulf of Mexico.” That earns an almost smile. “And besides, weren’t you in the Air Force? This is literally your area of expertise, no?”

“I worked on base. Which is on theground.”

Oh.I swallow against a dry throat. The boat is getting close, which means they’re reeling us in. And while a part of me is hoping that being back on steady footing will cure whatever momentary insanity this is, another part wants to remain suspended in the air with Kit awhile longer.

Though, by the looks of it, much longer and he’d be emptying his stomach.

“So I get that this whole thing is miserable for you, but it’s almost over. They’re pulling us in. And it’d be a damn shame if you didn’t open your eyes long enough to see how freaking beautiful this view is, Kit.”

For a moment it seems like he’s going to ignore my advice and keep his eyes plastered shut until he feels something other than air beneath his feet. But then, a little miracle. His eyes fly open, and our gazes meet for the first time since takeoff. I expect him to glance away. To take in the powdery strip of beach dotted with brightly colored umbrellas and the array of resorts visible from here to the pier. To land on the vast expanse of the ocean, so he could feel even a portion of what I’m feeling now. Like if we’re so small in the grand scheme of things, maybe something like being drawn to someone you shouldn’t be in the midst of your pain isn’t so big a deal after all.

But instead he holds my gaze the entire way down. And just before our feet hit the stern of the ski boat, he smiles. “You were right.”

I try to laugh, but the sound gets caught in my throat. “You didn’t even look.”

“I saw everything I wanted to see.”

My lips part, but without words to form, they stay that way. Agape and useless as my heart, which does a happy dance that resembles nothing of the pulse that’s meant to keep me alive.

“What’d you think, you two?” Jimmy’s son, who can’t be older than sixteen, holds out a hand to steady me as we touch down.

I take it, finding my legs surprisingly wobbly as they try to adjust to bearing my weight again. “Amazing!” I say, distinctly aware of how breathless I sound.

“It was…high,” is Kit’s answer.

After we’re both released from our harnesses, I lead the way back to where we sat before. My steps are still unsteady, though, and the water is choppier now. All it takes is one slick spot and suddenly the sky is beneath my feet and my head is connecting with the bench meant for my butt.

A solid thud reverberates through the chasm of my thoughts. The sun flares bright, and ringing fills my ears. I’m not sure if I’m upright, or even if I’m still on the boat. Not until the flash of light subsides and I see Kit’s face, concern lining every hard plane.

Calloused fingers smooth my cheeks more gently than should be possible. The sound of lapping water returns, and then his voice. “Are you okay?”

“Hm?” I hear myself mumble. I blink rapidly. Then the pain sets in. “Fuckingouch.”

He chuckles, and it sounds a bit like relief. “Fucking ouch is right.”

I’m sitting on the floor of the boat, and when I glance around, Jimmy is speaking into a radio and his son is watching me like I might’ve just died and risen again all before his very eyes. I laugh nervously and try to stand, but Kit holds me still.

“Maybe just stay put until the EMT from the lifeguard stand can check you over.” He runs his fingers through my hair. I have to fight the moan of pleasure that hits the back of my throat. That is, until he touches the spot where my head made contact with the hard plastic seat. I swat his hand away on instinct and he scowls. “Hey, I’m just trying to make sure you’re not bleeding.”

“Yeah, well, it hurts.”

His lips are thin, but I still remember how warm and full they felt against mine. Now they’re a breath away. Turning down at the corners, like I’ve wounded him by admitting I’m in pain. “I’m so sorry, Tess.” His hand moves to cup my jaw instead, and he leans forward, brushing those lips against my forehead. “I’d take the hurt for you if I could.”

I melt faster than a dropped ice cream cone on the sidewalk. And I’m pretty sure I hurt less, too.

We make it back to the marina in record time. As father and son work to tie down the boat, Jimmy says, “Radioed the lifeguard station. EMT is en route.”

Kit glances over my shoulder. “I can see them coming down the dock.”

I try to look, but he pinches my chin and raises a brow at me.

“I already feel better.” The dizziness has subsided, and there’s just a knot on the back of my head that throbs dully, save for when I reach back to touch it and the pain grows sharp. Tongue to teeth, I suck in a breath.

Kit grimaces like he can’t believe I touched it after I chastised him for doing so. “That’s a good sign. Maybe don’t push it, though. I don’t think you’re concussed, but I’d appreciate a second opinion to be safe. Let’s just see what the EMT says.”

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