Page 34 of Landing Her Eagle
It feels like everything else is changing—our relationship, my feelings for Logan, what I want for my life, how I see my life. It’s nice to have something remain the same, even if it’s something small, like kicking Logan’s butt at mini golf.
22
LOGAN
Daphne’s right.I’m not beating her at mini golf today. There’s a birthday party group playing and a couple of families, so it’s crowded. Mini golf is no fun if you feel the need to rush through the course because there’s a group waiting to tee off on the hole you’re playing.
Daphne bends down and picks up her ball with a nervous glance over her shoulder at the group behind us. She comes to my side and whispers near my ear, her gaze still flicking now and then to the group. “Want to stop playing and check out the gift shop?”
“Sure,” I say, grabbing her hand.
We turn in our putters and enter the shop. It’s a cute store, having everything from books to food mixes to Christmas ornaments and jewelry. The most important thing right now is the fact that they have sweatshirts. It’s windy here at the southern tip of New Jersey, and it’s colder than we expected.
“How about we get shirts for now and walk the beach?” Daphne suggests. “I need something more to block the wind.”
I nod. “Sounds good. If we want other souvenirs, we can come back in and get them later.”
Daphne uses the restroom while I pay for our shirts. Her absence gives me the chance to grab a necklace that caught my attention and add it to my purchase. It’s an open heart-shaped silver pendant that appears lacy with a round Cape May diamond in the center suspended from a silver chain. It’s not an expensive piece of jewelry, but it’s pretty. I can’t wait to give my love genuine diamonds and pearls, but I hope she’ll like it as a reminder of this day. After paying for everything, I slip the necklace in my pocket and tell the cashier there’s no need for a bag for the shirts since we are going to wear them now. I take the receipt and exit the store to wait for Daphne on the porch, ripping the tags off and shoving them in my pocket while waiting. I’m pulling my shirt over my head when I feel my belly being poked. I’m so surprised, I jump and give a bit of a squeal.
“Oh my goodness, you sounded like the Pillsbury Doughboy!” Her uncontrollable laughter sounds like an asthmatic seagull I know. He’s a friend of Liam’s. She wipes the tears from her cheeks and dries her damp fingers on the thighs of her jeans. I remember one time in college when she was tipsy and started laughing like this. Then she started crying because she laughed so hard, she peed herself a little. Thank goodness she used the restroom already because with how hard she’s laughing right now, I’m thinking there could be some sober leakage happening.
I glare at her sternly. “Are you done?” We both know that’s an act and I’m one goofy expression away from laughing like a loon myself.
Daph takes a deep breath and composes herself, taking her sweatshirt from my outstretched hand.
With a direct gaze, she answers, “No, not at all.”
Sighing, I thread her fingers with my own and tug her toward the beach. The wind carries her giggles away.
Even though it’s windy and cold, it’s nice to walk along Sunset Beach with Daphne, searching for Cape May diamonds. We decide not to collect any of the quartz stones, but Daph finds a pretty green piece of sea glass that we can’t leave behind. I’ve been to beautiful beaches all around the world with crystal blue water, white sand, black sand, roiling waves, calm seas—you name it, I’ve seen it. But I think this beach on the Delaware Bay at the southern tip of New Jersey is my favorite beach ever.
“Daph?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we okay?”
She gazes up at me quizzically. “Yeah. Aren’t we?”
I can’t articulate what I mean. My instinct is to leave it at that and lean in for a quick kiss. However, that won’t progress our relationship.
“I leave Monday.”
“I’m well aware of that, Logan.”
I let out a huff of frustration. Why isn’t she making this easy for me?
“I feel like there’s a lot we need to talk about before I go,” I say.
“There is,” she agrees, “but I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“Daph, come on…”
“Not now.” There’s an edge to her voice she usually doesn’t use when speaking to me.
“When?”
“Later.” She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “I just want to enjoy today. Enjoy being together while we still can.” Daphne shivers. “I’m becoming a popsicle. How about we drive back to town and check into our room? I saw a coffee shop, and if they’re still open, I want hot cocoa.”
