Page 85 of 7 Miles High
“Think you can carry her?” The short guy with the seventies porn mustache adjusts his waistband and puffs his chest. “I can do it if you can’t.”
Parker doesn’t call him out for trying to out macho him. He doesn’t have to.
“I’ve got her.”
I find my voice, shaky though it is. “Yes, you do.” I say it so only Parker hears.
The stunning smile is all I need. There’s no intuition required for him to see how much it affects me. I’m the girl under the spell of her great love. I don’t care if I have to be on crutches, or a cast. All I care about is us being together. Unbreakable.
He stands and reaches for the beach towel in one of the girl’s hands.
“Can we use this?”
“Sure. Here.”
The towel is passed and Parker lays it right next to me. “Okay babe, can you turn over? I”ll do the rest.”
I turn on my back, now half my body on half the towel. He comes around to my head and links his arms under my armpits. Lifting my upper half to the middle of the terrycloth. He comes to my feet.
“I’ll be gentle, but this might hurt a little.”
“Go for it.”
“Oh my God, be careful!” the woman who’s been quiet up til now calls.
With tenderness he lifts one leg and then the other, till I’m centered on my colorful chariot.
“Good job.”
“Okay let’s pull her slowly to the wall.” Then to mustache man. “Maybe you can take the other corner.”
That makes the young guy happy and he weighs in. “Watch out for rocks and glass!”
“Hold on, Natalie. I’m taking you home.”
With great care I’m pulled across the sand. Yard by yard, Parker and his helper drag me to the cement wall.
“Okay, climb over and I’ll pass her to you. We’re just going to sit you on the wall, Natalie. Then I’ll jump over and get you.”
“I’m ready when you are,” I say sitting up, fists in the sand.
“Just give me a second,” the guy says, straddling the wall and then stepping down onto the walkway on the other side. Before I have the chance to prepare myself, Parker slips his arms under me and lifts me into his strong arms.
“Oh!”
“You alright?”
“I’m fine, baby,” I say, snuggling close.
How he can so steadily walk the three steps required is beyond me. But he does. I’m set atop the wall.
“This feels good to be upright! Thank you both.”
“Welcome. You need me to help get her in the car?”
“Yeah, man. I’ve got to go get it. It’ll take about fifteen minutes. Can you watch over my girl till I get back?”
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