Chapter 9
Floyd
My head breaks the surface; the late summer sun warms my face. I take a moment to breathe before diving under for one last lap in my merman form, then drag myself out of the water to start my day.
I grab the towel I left at the shore and dry my hair as I walk up to the back deck.
My phone lights up with a notification from Lexi, and I can't help but smile.
It's been over two months since our fake-dating weekend.
And even though she's back in Phoenix, we've been texting nonstop, morning to night, with the occasional phone or video call thrown in.
Sighing, I plop down into a patio chair and respond to her good morning. As soon as I hit send, my phone startles me with a ring, and I see that it's Florence.
"Good morning, brother," she says when I answer.
"Hey. What's up?"
"Not much. Just checking in to see if you have finally come to your senses."
I roll my eyes, knowing full well her now-common nagging tirade is about to start again.
"She lives in Arizona, Flo," I say with a slight irritation in my voice.
"So? People have never moved before? You told me that she loved her time on the mountain."
"That doesn't mean she wants to move here."
"Sheesh, Floyd. I'm getting sick of this back and forth. For whatever reason, you're being annoyingly stupid."
"Thanks, sis," I say with a snort.
"I mean it, brother. You are clearly in love with this woman."
"I'm also twelve years older than her," I remind her.
"Oh, and did that bother her?" Florence asks with a clip to her tone.
"Well, of course it didn't bother her during that weekend. I was helping her out with something that she really appreciated."
"I think it was more than that. Actually, I know that it was more than that, and I think you know it as well," Florence says.
"Dude, what do you want me to do? She lives about eight or nine hours away from me. I don't know what you expect me to do."
"Dude?" my sister repeats, laughing. "What are we, fourteen? And what I expect you to do is to follow your heart and grab life by the horns."
I open my mouth to respond, but I don't even know what to say.
"Dammit, Floyd, go to her! Go tell her that you love her. Get off your ass and go. You will regret it if you never do. At least if you tell her, you'll never wonder what if or be angry that you kept quiet."
My sister's voice rises as she speaks, clearly passionate about the demand she is placing on me.
"Wouldn't that be creepy?" I mumble, more to myself.
"Hell, no! It won't be creepy. The woman has talked to you nonstop every day for the last two, two and a half months. If it were me, I would be bowled over by how insanely romantic showing up at my door would be."
Standing, I stare at the lake, processing my sister's suggestion. The thought of hopping into my truck and being able to see Lexi in person by midafternoon fills me with an excitement that I haven't felt since saying goodbye to her. Since the last time I held her.
"Earth to Floyd," my sister calls out on the other line, and I realize I've been quiet for a good minute or two.
"Alright. Fine. I'm going," I say, determined.
Florence whoops loudly into the phone. "Let me know how it goes and drive safely!"
After a quick five-minute shower, I grab some snacks before jumping into the truck and hitting the road.
Minus a couple of quick bathroom breaks, I drive nonstop toward Phoenix, sending just a couple of texts to Lexi, who has also been relatively quiet today.
Eight minutes out of the city, my phone rings, and I see it's the curvy woman for whom I would give anything.
"Hey, you," she says when I answer through the car's Bluetooth.
"Hi. How are you?"
"I'm good. You home?"
"Home? No. I'm actually not. How about you? Are you home?" I ask, a flash of worry landing in my gut.
"Crap. You're not home? Are you at least close by? Check the text I just sent," she adds.
I tap the screen, keeping my eyes on the road. But when the photo she just sent opens, I grip the steering wheel with a gasp. Lexi sent a selfie of herself in a summery yellow dress, standing in front of my cabin.
"Shit!" I blurt out as I'm about to pass a large "Welcome to Phoenix" sign on the side of the highway. Flipping on my blinker, I pull over, unable not to crack up.
"Are you currently at my place right now?" I ask, laughing.
"I am. What's so funny? Are you nearby?"
"Uh, yeah, not even a little bit."
Stepping out of my truck, I position myself in front of the sign and take a quick selfie, sending it back to her. Within seconds, I hear the love of my life gasp on the other line.
"Are you kidding me?" Lexi says, laughter following her shocked words.
"I wanted to surprise you," I say with a laugh.
"Well, holy crap, me too," she says, giggling.
"We need to see each other immediately," I say, climbing back behind the wheel.
"I'm getting into my car."
"Do you want to meet in Palm Springs? That's about halfway."
"Okay," she says on the other end, and I can hear her plugging the location into her GPS.
"Alright. We both should get there around nine-ish if all goes well."
I pull into the Hair of the Dog's parking lot and immediately see the woman I am head over heels for standing by her car.
Parking next to her, I jump out, but before saying hello, Lexi's arms are around my neck with her lips pressing against mine.
The sizzling electricity from her touch that I have missed every day since we last said goodbye consumes me, and I feel completely at home.
When we separate, she looks up at me with her warm eyes and says breathlessly, "Let's find a hotel."