Page 37 of The Summer I First Saw You
She eyes me warily, but there’s excitement in her gaze too. “I wouldn’t be in the way?”
“I haven’t spent any significant time with Oliver in years. Matthew was the extrovert of the group, and he isn’t coming. If anything, you’ll make it less awkward.”
Her mouth softens. “Just admit that this is, at least in part, that you’re worried I’ll drown if you’re not looking out for me.”
“It is, at least in part, that I’m worried you’ll drown if I’m not looking out for you. But I do actually want you to come.” Our eyes meet. Come. I can’t think of anything I’ve wanted this much in years.
“Then I’ll come.” Her smile is so wide that I’m stabbed by it, both glad that I asked and regretting it at the same time.
There’s no way Oliver’s going to leave her alone, and I can hardly blame him.
I’m barely managing to do it myself.
20
DAISY
My ex took me on loads of trips. St. Michael’s, New York City, Miami. I’d gladly trade in all of them for two days of surfing with Harrison, even if I suspect he’s mostly invited me to make sure I stay alive until Sunday night. Fortunately, I already told Wharf Seafood that I couldn’t work weekends, but I’d have quit if it meant not going. I’ve never been so excited for a trip in my life.
“We should surf on the way,” I tell Harrison Tuesday night as he glides up alongside me in the water.
He quirks a brow. The dying light catches on the droplets of water on his unshaved jaw, and my heart quickens. I’ve never laid eyes on a man who looks better than Harrison on a surfboard.
“Surf on the waywhere? Aren’t we surfing now?”
“On the way to Malibu. I was looking at the map last night. We could stop at Asilomar in Monterey, then drive through Big Sur. You could finally see McWay Falls.”
“Daisy, it would take us hours longer to travel along the coast, especially if we’re stopping.Especiallyif we’re surfing.”
“Right. That’s why we should leave Thursday morning instead and stay in Santa Barbara that night.”
He grins. It’s that same feral, cocky grin I fell in love with a decade ago, but there’s something sweet in his eyes at the same time. I amuse him and irritate him in equal measure. “Thursday? You want me to taketwodays off work?”
“I’ve got it all plotted out. We spend the first day surfing and driving through Big Sur, like I said.” I sit up straight, too excited to be chill about my plans for us. “Then we surf at Rincon on the second day before driving down to Malibu. Come on. When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“Well, there was the two months I spent pretending to be in London.”
I lean back on my palms. “That isnota vacation.”
“You’re going to get me fired, Daisy.” He says it as if he doesn’t really mind, however.
“And then you’ll just be a super-rich guy enjoying the final days of his youth while searching for a career he actually enjoys. I can see why you’d be worried.” My mouth forms a pout, as if this is indeed a sad state of affairs. His gaze falls for a moment to my lips before he glances away.
“I’m not rich, these are notthe final daysof my youth, and you have an unnerving ability to make ridiculous ideas sound entirely plausible.”
“So we’re leaving Thursday?”
He laughs. “No, but I can probably take Friday off. Half the office is out with the flu anyway. We can stop atonesurf break and possibly see McWay Falls.”
I guess it’s better than nothing, though it does shoot my “Oh, this hotel only has one bed?” fantasy to hell.
“Stop pouting,” he says. “If I’d agreed to Thursday, you’d have suggested we leave Wednesday to see Carmel too.”
“Idolove Carmel. And there’s a good break right at—”
He barks a laugh. “I knew it. You’re a bad influence, Daisy.”
“I’m the best influence.”
