Page 225 of Fighting the Pull

He rode it in while my heart palpitated a little bit (because he was damned sexy, riding that board). He naturally fell off when the swell died, but instead of mounting it again and paddling back out, he stood, tucked it under his arm and jogged out of the surf.

Cue more heart palpitations and me resisting the urge to film him (done that already,loads).

We’d been there two hours. It was only eight thirty, but for surfing, it was getting late. I thought he was done.

He wasn’t done.

He walked up to what appeared to be a dad and son duo, the dad was in an electric wheelchair, the son, who might be maybe nine, ten years old, was watching Hale approach. They’d been there a while and I’d noticed them looking up and down the beach, like they were waiting for someone. Someone who didn’t show.

The boy had a kid’s wetsuit on and a battered surfboard that was probably rented.

Surfing lessons, gone awry.

Hale spoke with them for a bit, lots of nodding happening, and eventually, the boy started dancing excitedly. I could see, even if I wasn’t close, the kid was ecstatic, and the dad was in shock.

Hale looked to me.

I blew him a kiss.

He jerked up his chin.

Then he stood with the kid on the beach for the next half hour, showing him on dry land what he’d need to do out in the blue.

After that, they paddled out together.

During this time, I’d grabbed my book (that would be, after watching Hale with that kid—he was a natural with kids, so it was safe to say my heart palpitated a little more).

I had things to do and people to talk to, but obviously, this morning’s surf session was going to be longer than usual.

So, when it was all said and done, this was the only place I truly needed to be.

And this was the only thing I truly needed to be doing.

* * *

After I setit where it would always sit, I adjusted the plant that Hale gave me all those months ago so the leaves worked with the double photo frame on one corner of the desk.

I then looked to him.

He hadn’t entered the room, his father’s study. He was leaning in the door jamb, watching me.

“Okay?” I asked.

“It’s perfect there, baby,” he said softly.

It didn’t surprise me he thought that, since it was Hale who suggested I put it there.

I didn’t move from where I was standing at his dad’s desk when I carefully suggested, “Maybe we should renovate this room.”

“No,” Hale said quickly, but not harshly. He then explained, “He designed this room. He picked this room to be with me and Duncan and Genny. He—”

His voice had gotten thick, so I interrupted him, “Okay, we won’t change a thing.”

He cleared his throat before he asked, “Do you think it’s weird that I want it just like it was before he died?”

It was my turn to be quick when I said, “No.”

“I didn’t see it after he…” I watched Hale swallow. “It’d been cleaned up by the time I saw it. It’s just him.” He shrugged. “It’s him.”

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