Page 144 of Committed to You

He wipes it away with his thumb. “Didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“Sorry. We haven’t ever gone back.”

He nods. “Your mama told me that when she was giving me lessons. She showed me on Google Earth where on the coast you used to live and about your family who are still back there.”

“It’s been so long I don’t remember any of them, but my parents will.”

“I bet you’ll remember them once you see them.”

“Do you think?”

He shrugs. “My guess is you will.”

I kiss him. “Thank you. This is beyond generous.”

“Selfish on my part. I get to rub suntan oil on you all week.”

“Do you like that?”

“Oh, I don’t like it. I love it,” he teases.

Several weeks later, we’re in Greece with my parents. After a few days of visiting with family I haven’t seen since I was a young girl and spending all our time with my parents, Chase tells me that he’s planned a surprise day trip to Sarakiniko, which is a unique beach in Milos.

I’ve seen pictures of it but have never been there. It’s about an hour from the town my family is from, and Chase has rented a car for us.

“You sure you don’t want to go?” I ask my parents.

My mama waves her hand. “No. Go have fun. We are going out with your aunts and uncles today.”

Her eyes are shining brighter than I’ve ever seen them, and she gives me a big hug. Páppa and Chase walk out of the hotel.

“Ready?” Chase asks.

I nod.

Páppa gives me a big hug and kiss on the cheek. “Have a wonderful day, Vivian.”

“You, too. You sure you don’t want to come?”

Both my parents shake their heads. “We will see you tonight,” Mama says.

Chase holds open my door, and I get in the car. We drive through several towns, talking about different things. When we pull up to Sarakiniko, I’m blown away. The coastline is pure white, the water clear and turquoise, and there are caves you can swim in. “Wow. This is amazing.”

Chase nods. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The beach we are on is secluded. There is no one around. We walk along the shore and dip our toes in the water.

I stop and pull him into me. “Hey.”

He smiles. “Hey.”

“Thanks for everything. This entire trip has been amazing, and I can’t tell you how much this means to my parents.”

He brushes the hair off my face, bends down, and kisses me. It’s a slow burn. Amelt in your mouth and explode with fifteen different flavors just when you think it’s endingtype of kiss that sets every nerve in my body on fire.

When he pulls away from me, I’m breathless. He strokes my cheek with the back of his hand, appearing a tad nervous.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him.

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