Page 46 of River
Our kiss was long and playful, like the ones I used to have with my first girlfriend back when kissing was the only sexual act we were ready for.
Being that we were on a public beach with families within view, I didn’t touch her anywhere inappropriate. Kissing River this long established a new intimacy between us, and when she finally broke off the kiss, I smiled at her.
“You’re a good kisser.”
“So are you.” I drew in a deep breath and turned to my stomach to try and compose myself and get my boner under control. “Do you want to surf some more, or should we shower off the sand?”
“I’d better get back. Maximum has been really outstanding about encouraging me to spend time with you, but I feel bad sneaking out all the time.”
“It’s hardly sneaking out if he’s okay with it.”
“He thinks that you’re good for me.”
“Yeah? How so?”
“He’s not been too impressed with my taste in men so far.”
“So, he doesn’t care that I’m a policeman and not a banker?”
River drew with her finger in the sand. “Maximum couldn’t care less about that sort of thing. His best friends are his rugby pals.”
“I like your brother.”
“We call him Saint Mumsimax because of all the charity work he does. It’s like he’s on this endless crusade to counterbalance the wrong his father did.”
“His father?”
“Yes, Maximum is the biological son of the leader of the cult where we grew up.”
“Huh.” I tried to think of something to say, but I’d never been good at discussing emotions. “I supposed that if your biggest fault is that you’re helping others, it’s not that big of a deal.”
“No, I suppose not, but I still worry about him.”
“Why? He seems happy enough.”
“Maximum has always been in the shadow of his older brother Atlas, who is somewhat of a genius. Atlas is the CEO of Solver Industries, while Maximum is a semi-professional rugby player and philanthropist. It’s like we’re all waiting for him to decide what he wants to do with his life. He’s rootless with all his traveling and incredibly hard on himself.”
“But he’s helping all the children.”
River lifted her gaze to look deep into my eyes. “I honestly think it’s more the other way around. He’s been doing this sort of work for years, Noah. Maximum could easily say that he’s done enough or just send money, but it’s as if he needs his next fix to feel that he’s worthy.”
“Doesn’t that make it a win-win?”
“Not if he ends up being alone all his life. He has us, of course, but three months here and three months there doesn’t allow him to settle down anywhere. He has an apartment in Dublin, but even when he’s there, it doesn’t feel like a home.”
“Why not?”
“There are no plants, and his fridge is never full. It’s like he’s always planning to go rather than settling in to stay. Anyway, I’d better get back.”
We got up from the sand and walked to my cabin, where we left the boards. The beach had shower hoses that helped us wash off all the sand before we dried off with our towels.
“Let me walk you back,” I offered because I wasn’t ready to let go of River yet.
I was bursting with pride when we walked hand in hand through the city, exchanging loving gazes.
“Do you know any jokes?” I asked her.
“Jokes? Ehm, no. I’m rubbish at that sort of thing. Wait, no, I actually do know one, but it’s from when I was a child.”
