Hannah took up space in my head as usual. I glanced at her on the beach again, her light hair catching the sun, and my chest eased a notch. Three waves and I could take her for lunch and ask her to come with me.
She was going to say yes. I knew she would. Why wouldn抰 she? She抎 been stuck in Queen抯 Cove her entire life like a bug under glass and now that she had broken free, she could see the world at my side.
The store was finally hers, though. Maybe she wouldn抰 want to leave after all the work she抎 put in.
Behind me, the wave approached. I gauged its speed, and when my instincts flashed now! in my head, I paddled hard. My arms dipped in and out of the water, propelling me forward, my back muscles burned, and as the water lifted me, I snapped up, used my core to turn, and coasted along the length of the wave. The adrenaline rush I had come to love raced through my veins as my board shot forward.
The spectators cheered but I ignored them, taking another deep breath and paddling back to my spot while another entrant caught a wave. When it was my turn again, I followed the same steps I抎 done a thousand times. Gauge wave speed. Listen to instincts. Paddle. Snap up. Engage core. Feel like a fucking king riding on the massive energy of the ocean. Repeat.
When I returned to the beach, I glanced at my scores. Top marks across the board, no surprise. I had been dealt a lucky hand today, with no wind, clean waves, and a clear head.
Hannah and my family surrounded me, and I chatted with them for a few minutes before I pulled Hannah away.
揕et抯 get some lunch. I just need to stash my board. I want to sit on The Arbutus patio with you and a beer.?I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple. 揑抎 put my arm around you but I don抰 want to get your nice dress all wet.?She wore the blue and white striped dress, the same one she had worn to dinner with herself.
She rolled her eyes before tucking herself into my side, under my arm, with a grin. 揑 don抰 care, it抯 just water. Can we stop at the bookshop on the way? I want to see if that book came in for Randeep, he was asking me about it earlier. I should check in to make sure Liya and Casey are okay.?Hannah had hired Casey to help out part time, now that the store was busier. They had walked into the store and introduced themself as a massive romance fan, charming Hannah immediately.
I left my board and wetsuit at the surf shop, pulled a t-shirt over my head, and took Hannah抯 hand as we wandered through the streets. The town was busy this weekend for the festival, with surfers wandering around in wetsuits and tourists taking pictures in front of the Queen抯 Cove sign by the marina. People packed into the alley with the mural, taking photos.
The sun streamed down, the perfect September temperature to sit on a patio with the girl I loved and ask her to come with me.
The bell on the door of Pemberley Books jingled as Hannah opened the door and held it for me. The light inside was dim and I had come to love the dusty smell of the books.
揌ey, Liya,?Hannah called, waving.
Liya turned with a weird, tight expression on her face. Her eyes were wide. Something flipped in my stomach and my eyebrows knitted. Hannah tilted her head and her mouth fell open as Frank Nielsen walked out of the back room.
28
Hannah
揇ad. I thought you weren抰 back until October.?
Wyatt抯 hand settled on my shoulder. Blood rushed in my ears while I watched my dad抯 expression. Liya slipped away to help a customer.
He shifted on his feet, taking in the changes. I couldn抰 read his expression. Furious? Sad? Confused?
揧our uncle got home early so there was no need for me to stay.?He looked around the bookstore, shaking his head at the wallpaper. He reached out and touched a leaf hanging off a nearby vine before he shook his head again. His eyebrows knitted together and his gaze flicked to Wyatt抯 hand on my shoulder.
Wyatt抯 hand tightened and he stepped closer so my back was against his chest.
揥hat is all this??my dad asked, gesturing around us. His voice was soft, like he couldn抰 believe it. 揥hy is everything different??
揈verything is different because this is a business.?My heart was in my throat and unease ripped through me. 揑 ran the business your way for years and it wasn抰 working. Now we抮e doing it my way.?
Wyatt抯 hand squeezed me again and I pulled a deep breath into my lungs. Holy shit. Did I actually say that?
My dad抯 eyes widened, and the way he stared at me was like he didn抰 recognize me. He blinked. 揝o your way is to paint over her? To rip out everything she picked out??He pressed his fist to his mouth and inhaled. 揧ou erased her mural, Hannah. That mural was everything to her.?
Something dark and miserable bled into my chest and I swallowed. 揘o.?I shook my head. 揑 didn抰 erase her.?