Page 4 of Cheesecake
“Tina—that’s Rob’s girlfriend’s name—says age is just a number. She says our souls are ageless and that’s why you’ll find yourself drawn to someone much older or younger. It’s all about whether your souls recognize each other.”
A smile spreads across his lips. “You think our souls recognize each other?”
I’m not sure if he’s teasing me or if he’s serious, but my face goes red hot and I laugh nervously. “No. I’m saying… Oh God, that just came out and sounded rather creepy. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” We fall silent for a moment, looking out at the crashing waves before he takes a deep inhale. “But I wouldn’t hate it if it were true. It’d explain a lot.”
“Yeah?” I want to ask so much more of him in this moment, but honestly, I’m scared of what he might say, of what it might mean. I’ve never felt the way I do toward Corey when I’m around any other person, and knowing that I’m leaving soon is making me regard all of our interactions as more and more precious. I don’t want to mess this up and lose our friendship because I misunderstood his intention and tried for more.
“Yeah. But, ah…I should get out of here. Stuff to do at the café, you know?”
“Of course. I won’t keep you.”
He grabs his board and tucks it back under his arm before he pauses. “If you’re going to come out this early in future, why don’t you bring a board? You surfed when you were a kid, right?”
“Ah, yeah. But I was never that good at it. It’s why I stopped.”
He runs a hand over his face, frowning slightly like he’s warring with something in his mind. “I can teach you.”
My heart leaps and thunders excitedly in my chest. “For real?” Just the thought of having his hands on my body as he helps correct my posture has my entire body tingling.
“Yeah. Why don’t you meet me here tomorrow? 6 AM?” He takes a step backward as he speaks, and I get this feeling he might run if anyone spooked him right now.
“OK,” I say quickly. “I’ll be here.”
“Good.” He nods. “I’ll ah, see you then.”
“OK.” Butterflies dance with joy in my belly as he smiles then walks up the beach toward the café, leaving me here feeling dizzy and excited. Is this a date? Or is it just a friends thing? Corey and I have never done anything outside the café before, and I couldn’t be more excited if I tried. Maybe my soul really does know his…
Corey
Penny walks down the beach with an old white surfboard tucked under her arm. It looks scratched up and dented in parts and has definitely seen better days. All of these are things I only notice because I’m trying desperately not to stare at her body. She’s wearing a pink and blue two-piece costume with bikini bottoms that show off her round thighs, and a long sleeve rash top with a zip up the center. She has it pulled up all the way, but her breasts are straining against the fabric, her skin tauntingly pushing its way through the low-cut neck.
“You look like an old pro with that board,” I say as she nears, clearing my throat and looking out to the surf before I cave and start drooling all over her tits.You’re stronger than this, Corey. She’s practically a kid.It’s the same pep talk I give myself daily, but ever since she mentioned souls being ageless and connecting the other day, I can’t seem to stop thinking that maybe that’s what this is. Maybe my soul recognizes her as mine?
“It’s ancient.” She laughs as she swings it so it’s standing in the sand. “My dad’s actually. One of the few things he left behind when he skedaddled.” She uses two fingers to mime running away.
“You never mention him.”
“Nothing to mention. I was a kid. He left and never returned. But we’re all cool with it. We know it wasn’t us, it was him. So I don’t have daddy issues or anything—in case that’s what you think this is.” She gestures between us and I totally feel my cheeks heat.
“I wasn’t…I didn’t…I…uh…” I’m stuttering, and it’s awkward as fuck. Penny grins before she giggles.
“I’m sorry. Bad joke. I was trying to break the tension because there’s tension here, right? I’m not imagining it.”
Pressing my lips together, I take a deep inhale through my nose then meet her eyes. “There’s tension,” I admit.
“OK. I feel much less crazy now,” she says with a laugh. “But I’m leaving soon, and you’ve got a kid so…” She lets that hang in the air, leaving it up to me to finish it.
“We just surf,” I say, hating that I’m putting a wall up here but knowing it’s for the best. She has a life to live and a world to see. My life is right here. No matter how much I want her, giving into this is pointless. We’re in completely different life phases right now.
“OK.” She releases a heavy breath and nods. “Let’s surf.”
Checking my wetsuit is completely zipped up, I grab my board, and we head for the water, side by side in silence. “Should we be going over basics?” I ask as we enter the water.
She shakes her head. “No. I can do it. It’s just been a long time. I need someone to give me a few pointers and spot me. Can you be that guy for me, Corey? Can you be my spotter? After all, I did watch a vampire movie for you.”
I grin. “You watched it?”
