Page 23 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
I shook my head sadly. “No, Spencer. I don’t. I thought you knew that. I thought we talked about this?—”
“We did.” He looked away, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Slowly, his blue eyes met mine, the deep color swimming with tears he refused to let fall. “I was the fool who hoped it’d mean to you, what it did to me.”
I closed my eyes, one lone tear leaking from the corner of my right eye. “I’m sorry.” And I was, so fucking sorry.
I broke his heart once. I didn’t mean to do it again.
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat, looking at the house with new, saddened eyes. Like he was seeing it in a whole different way now. “Me too.”
Shaking my head free of the memories, I grab my purse from the passenger seat. Climbing from the car, I shrug the purse onto my shoulder and stroll up to the front door. Beautiful lush green ivy surrounds it. Reaching out, I press the button for the doorbell.
I barely need to wait until it’s swinging open and Spencer stands in front of me in a pair of low-cut gym shorts that expose the V leading down to his…
Don’t go there, Harlow.
Sometimes it’s hard. We were together for years, had a child together, and even though he’s not, sometimes he still feels like he’s mine.
“Mornin’.” He tilts a bottle of water up to his lips, draining it. His hair and chest are damp with sweat. “Just finished my workout.”
“Morning,” I echo stepping inside. “Please tell me you have coffee.”
“Help yourself.” He motions for me to follow him into the kitchen. Despite his help yourself comment, he grabs two mugs and pours the coffee himself, sliding one to me. Scratching his washboard abs, he lifts the cup to his lips. “You know, I’m kind of surprised you’re here.”
“You’re the one that suckered me into this,” I remind him. I take a sip of the hot coffee and close my eyes. “Oh my god, this coffee is amazing.”
“Best coffee maker on the planet.” He points to the shiny stainless contraption. “Worth every penny.”
“Rub it in,” I joke, but he frowns.
“I can get you one.” He brightens a bit.
I shake my head. “I don’t need one. Remember where I work? Free coffee all day, every day.”
He chuckles and looks away. “Right.”
I know there’s a huge disparity between our incomes, it’s impossible for there not to be. I also know it bothers him way more than it ever has me. I’m happy with my simple life. I’m the kind of person who believes in working for what they have, and I’ve never liked handouts.
Wrapping my fingers around the mug, I tilt my head and watch him as he leans his hip against the shiny marble counters and looks out the floor to ceiling windows that lead to his backyard, the pool shimmering in the sunlight, and the ocean beyond that.
“So why am I here?” I voice and he shakes himself free of whatever thoughts or memories held him captive.
“I told you. I want us to be friends again.”
“And that entails having coffee and sitting in your kitchen?”
A tiny grin appears on his lips. “Not exactly. Hold on.” He holds up a finger and walks away. I hear a door open and close and then he returns with a long black garment with aqua colored piping.
“A wetsuit? What do I need a wetsuit for?”
“We’re going surfing.”
I eye him suspiciously, reaching out to touch the neoprene. “I haven’t been on a board in years. This is going to be a disaster.”
His grin lights up his face, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes that wasn’t there before. “It’s as easy as riding a bike. You don’t forget. Besides, I’ll take care of you.”
I blow out a breath. Logically, I should say no, grab my bag, and leave. I’m bound to hurt myself, but for some reason I don’t want to. In fact, I feel excited. Maybe I need this as much as Spencer does. Our relationship has been strained for too long, and no matter what, we’re always going to be in each other’s lives.
“Fine.” I take the wetsuit from him. “If I get even one scratch…”
