Page 50 of Situationship
“I didn’t mean it as one, but now I don’t know,” she admitted.
His gaze held hers until she had to look away. He chuckled, then went back to staring out at the ocean. “When you figure it out, let me know. As for the surfing lessons, the offer stands.”
Her palms went damp at the thought of being in the open water. “Honestly, that offer scares me worse than the first.”
“I know,” he simply said. “Just remember that I’d be with you the whole time.”
He knew why water more than ankle-deep sent her into a panic attack. Used to tell her how a father should be and how, when it came to kids, they’d do better. Even though they never had kids together, Colin had kept up his end of that promise.
“I know you’re wondering if you made the right call, but you’re an outstanding father, Colin. Don’t lose sight of that.”
She looked at his profile and it brought her back to those summer nights long ago when they’d share their deepest secrets and dreams on that same deck, holding hands and watching the tide roll in.
His thoughts must have tapped into a similar memory because, eyes still on the ocean, he reached out and took her hand. She scooted close enough to rest her head on his shoulder and they both released an exhausted breath.
“When did everything become so complicated?” she asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the sounds of the ocean coming in to wash away the footsteps and lines in the sand.
“I wish I knew because I’d go back to that moment and appreciate it.” He didn’t have to remind her that those struggles had begun that last summer before college. She wondered how differently things would have turned out had she stayed.
“I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You already apologized.”
“For not saying goodbye. But I never told you how many times I regretted robbing us of those last few months.”
He bent his head to meet her gaze. “We started out as friends, and though I was hurt for a long time, I knew deep down that you didn’t do it to hurt me—you did it to protect yourself. And how could I be mad at you for that?”
She’d been with Frank for over a decade, but she’d never felt so understood or seen as she did with Colin. Their connection hadn’t diminished with time, and she hoped it never would because he was the only person who knew the adventurous and fun-loving dreamer she’d been before the suffocating responsibility and heartache that came with adulthood.
Marriage, divorce, losing loved ones—it was enough to disillusion a person.
“Thank you.” She had to look away to tame her emotions. “And thank you for still being that patient and forgiving guy I spent the best summers of my life with.”
“Best summers of your life? Wow.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “I might use that as an endorsement.”
The last comment pricked a little, which was completely ridiculous. Who cared if he used it to pick up another woman. She wasn’t looking to date and she certainly wasn’t ready to date the guy who’d once owned her heart. No, tonight’s walk down memory lane was enough.
She casually nudged him back, feeling anything but casual. She had not a single idea as to how he was feeling. That was one thing that had changed. Colin kept his feelings locked up tight these days. Not surprising, since his divorce sounded as turbulent as Teagan’s parents’ split. Betrayal did permanent damage, especially when you were the betrayed.
“Have you considered giving Maddison another chance?” she asked, hoping to turn the conversation away from them and onto common ground—kids.
“Clearly, you weren’t there for the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ part of the conversation.” He straightened and let go of her hand.
“I have no idea what it’s like to have a teen in the house but maybe she’ll surprise you. If Harley turned it around maybe Maddison can too.”
He looked at her as if she were crazy. “Do you remember how many times you snuck out of your house to meet me at the beach?”
“This is different. And if I hadn’t snuck out,wenever would have been.”
He turned to face her, his gaze flicking to her lips, long enough to let her know she wasn’t the only one having some unwanted feels. “Do you remember what we did those nights we snuck out?”
“Yes,” she said, breathless.
He traced his thumb along her jawline, and the feels spread to encompass all the great continent of You Know You Want Him. “Yeah, so I know exactly what those guys are thinking. And I’m not ready for that.”
“You mean the white bathing suit line of thinking?”
My word! Sizzle, sizzle, pop indeed.“That bathing suit consumed my every thought.”
