Page 64 of Mr. July

Chase rolled his eyes. “I thought Char was your dream girl. See what I mean?”

I laughed. “I hope you’re into it.”

“He’s definitely into it,” Hunter interrupted.

“Ignore him. He’s an overgrown infant.”

“I’ll remember that when you ask me to be your best man!” he called out as I backed out.

I drove over to a public launch on the bayside where the water was calm like smooth glass. I reached up, unstrapping the fasteners holding the paddle boards, turning as Chase hoisted them off one by one.

“What?” I blushed. Chase wouldn’t take his eyes off me.

“I’ll tell you someday.”

“Um, okay. How’s Daisy? Did you remember her eyedrops?”

“She’s happy. Spoiled already. Hunter already called dibs on having her sleep in his room tonight.”

I shook my head. “He’s funny. Charming and can sing.”

“Charlie’s still here.”

“Let it be.”

“I’m trying.”

We each got on a board gently paddling out. The sun was sinking but there was still plenty of light. The sky was turning from blue to orange and pink hues. “There’s a peacefulness out here. Everything’ s perfect. No matter what’s happening in the world I feel everything will be okay. Nature assures me. Gives me confidence that everything always works out the way it’s supposed to. Just like the moon triggers the tides and chases the sun.”

“There is something about the ocean. It draws you in. I’ve always felt more at home here than anywhere else.”

“Me too. I never want to leave.”

He smiled. “I’ve never dated anyone like you. You boat, paddleboard, drive a Jeep with no roof and cuddle with homeless dogs.”

I shrugged. “I suck at bowling. Can’t draw a straight line with a pencil. Can’t cook like my Gran—”

“Well, that’s the deal breaker right there.” I lifted my paddle, splashing water at him. “I needed this.”

“What do you mean?”

“This whole weekend, meeting you. It was all a set-up. Bunny came into my office last month asking if I could read over your court filing. She wanted to help you. Hunter and I crashed her bridge night. You made me curious. I had to meet you and not in court. So, I came up with the idea of a 4thof July party at the shore house and invited my co-workers. Most of them had already rented places down here for the weekend anyway. Bunny didn’t know I planned this whole thing out to meet you, so don’t be mad at her.”

“I’m not mad. I’m flattered. Since we are confessing, when the power went out, I climbed on a kitchen stool to hunt for candles and flashlights. They were behind your Christmas box. I only took the top calendar. I don’t know what made me do it; the next day I was putting things back and just grabbed the whole box.”

“Was it me or Mr. December? He was pretty jacked.”

“It was you. The sexy smirk that oozed confidence. Your ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude grabbed me. Your abs didn’t hurt either.”

“Ryan Hill, it’s our third date and I already want hundreds more.”

“Second.”

“Third.”

I rolled my eyes humoring him. “Okay…”

“Will you be my girl? I have no interest in dating anyone but you.”

---