10. Dan
I woke up with a smile on my face and my girl wrapped around my body. Both of us naked, our limbs tangled.
And I had never been happier.
I would have been able to walk away after seeing her that first night. I might have been able to walk away after talking to her face to face. Maybe I could have walked away after knowing what her lips tasted like and how she felt in my arms.
But now?
There was no way.
But how could I stay? The thought kept floating in and out of my head throughout the morning. When she woke up, the smile on her face would be something I knew I’d remember till the day I died.
Karolina was so beautiful, inside and out. Soft and sweet. Crazy smart. She made me laugh and feel like I could be myself around her. Like we belonged together. More than that, she felt like home.
When she realized the time, she rolled out of bed and hurried to get ready. Wearing a pair of my gym shorts and a sweatshirt, I drove her home so she could get ready for work. I waited for her in the car because I knew if I followed her up to her place and walked into her bedroom, there would be no fighting the temptation to take her again.
I returned home and surfed. Washed up in the outdoor shower, where all I could think about was how I’d taken her in it. Then I headed to the boardwalk and checked it out.
The longer I explored, the more I liked Poppy Beach. It was a cute little town with a good amount of tourism that went through without being overwhelming.
I stopped at a fruit vendor and bought a cup of fruit before I turned and saw it. A board rental spot. I had my own, but I found myself walking in and waving hi to the teenage kid working behind the cash register.
The shop reminded me of a skate shop. They sold all sorts of swimsuits and swim trunks. Tees and sweatshirts. I picked up a Poppy Beach sweater for myself and a matching one for Karol, along with a woven, bright-colored striped throw blanket before checking out.
That was when I spotted it.
The sign I had been waiting for.
But this one was an actual sign. One that was nailed to the wall behind the cash register saying the shop was for sale by the owner. I talked to the kid about it. He told me it was his grandfather’s place, and he was moving. The kid was nice and super informed. It was obvious he was bummed about his grandfather selling the shop.
I asked if they rented more than surfboards, and he said they did and showed me the paddleboards and bikes they also offered as rentals. I rented a beach cruiser and rode around with an idea slowly marinating in my head and excitement flowing through my veins.
After I returned the bike, I grabbed a slice of pizza from a small pizzeria window by the pier and sat down and watched the foot traffic that flowed into the shop.
Buy it, a voice whispered. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I loved the beach. The idea of living inland hadn’t called to me. I knew all about watersports and the equipment that went with it.
I could do it. I could buy the place and run it. Hire local kids to run it. Do it, the voice whispered. I took out my phone and made a call.
“You butt dialing me or—” Abel started spouting off, but I cut him off.
“Shut up,” I chuckled. “I figured it out,” I blurted and winced at how stupid I must have sounded.
“What?”
“What I wanna do next,” I shared. “I figured it out. But I’m going to need your help.”
“Oh, yeah? Talk to me.” And I did. I told him about the shop and my plans to stay in Poppy Beach. When I finished talking, he cleared his throat and exhaled.
“That sounds…”
“Bad?”
“No, Jesus, you always worry about he worst-case scenario.” He laughed. “No, man, it sounds solid, and honestly, it fits you. But I gotta ask you something, and I don’t want you to take it wrong.”
“What?”
“You staying here because you like it here or because of Karol?”
“Can it be both?” I asked. “I mean, if this shop doesn’t pan out when I talk to the owner, I can always check nearby beaches, see what”s around, but this works for a bunch of reasons, man. It’s the only one on the boardwalk, and other than that skate shop at the end of Main Street, it’s the only one like it.”
“I know. I live here, remember?” he muttered. “You can keep staying in the condo if you want. I can pull it off VRBO,” he offered, and I grinned.
“So, you don’t think it’s a stupid idea?”
“Not even a little bit.” Relief hit me. “I’m not gonna lie. I like the idea of you staying in town, being able to see you like I was supposed to, but for some reason, I can barely get you on the phone.”
“We’re going to that game, right?”
“Right,” he muttered, but I could tell from his tone he wasn’t angry. If anything, my best friend was happy for me and more than likely smiling. “I’m guessing this means things with Karol are going well?”
“Better than well, man. I think I’m in love,” I shared and waited for something inside of me to recoil, maybe want to take the words back, but nothing did. It was the god’s honest truth. I wanted a future with her. I was in love.
“Love, huh? This quick?”
“What can I say, Abe? When you know, you know.” I grinned. “She’s the one, man… She’s the reason shit never made sense before. Why I couldn’t get close to other women and why… I don’t know, why shit never stuck, ya know?”
“I get it.” His tone changed, and the smile died. He got it because he was in love with someone.
“Wanna talk about it?” I offered.
“Do I ever?” He scoffed.
“Man—”
“I promise when I’m ready to spill, I will… it”s just… let”s focus on you. For now? Yeah?” I didn’t like it, but I understood.
“If you’re sure, but you know if you change your mind?—”
“I know,” he cut me off. “You got my back like I got yours.”
“Always.”
“Hell, yeah,” he grunted. “So, you ready to call Poppy Beach home?”
“I really believe I am.” I grinned and looked at the beach. It was beautiful, but all I could see was the life I’d build there. With Karol by my side.