25. RJ
RJ
“ I can’t believe we only have two more days here. I don’t want to leave,” Summer says as I wrap an arm around her waist. The beach is mostly empty as we walk along the shore.
“Me either.” I look down at her.
She’s stunning in a simple sundress. It clings to her body, the ocean breeze making it billow behind her as it accentuates her perfect curves. Her hair is wildly whipping around her face.
“I know I should look forward to the quiet, but it’s unsettling to me. The house feels different when the kids are gone. I don’t like being in my house alone.”
Fuck, I hate this. I don’t want her to be alone ever again.
I want to be there making sure she always has someone with her.
“I could keep you company when I’m not at the firehouse.
But the guys will give me shit for taking another week off, especially since Raven made those arrangements for me, so I may have to pick up some extra shifts.
We could hang out when I’m not working, though. ”
“I’d like that. I’ve been without you for so long, and it’s felt so right being reunited. I don’t want to go back and not see you every day.”
I stop walking, my hand tugging on hers. “What if you moved into my place?”
“RJ, that’s…”
“It’s perfect. Probably the best idea I’ve ever had.”
“I don’t even know where you live. And the kids—I can’t just uproot them from their home.
They’ve already moved around a lot with the divorce and all the summer travel.
” She turns, running her hands up my chest and around my neck, her beautiful blue eyes locking with mine.
I search them for any sign of doubt or hesitation and blow out a relieved breath when I don’t see any.
“It’s not that I don’t want to. There are a lot of factors at play. And we haven’t even talked to Raven.”
“I live in one of Raven’s properties. It’s not far from the school and has great views of the mountains.”
“Wait. Are you talking about the stunning lodge that’s half glass, half concrete with almost 360-degree mountain views?”
“Yeah. You know it?”
“Of course I know it. It’s a beautiful home. You live there? By yourself?”
“Yeah. With Sophie. Jessica and I share custody, so I’m not completely alone.”
“But that house is huge.”
“Well aware. The glass is a bitch to clean. Raven keeps offering to hire someone, but I already feel like an ass for staying there rent-free. Kris’s family owned a lot of properties.
They gave it to them as a wedding gift, but Raven didn’t want to live in something so ostentatious, so they rented it out during skiing season.
Which makes me feel worse because now she’s out that income and not charging me rent. ”
“How many houses does she have?”
“A few.” Her face falls. “Shit, I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“Raven and I talk about a lot of things, but this clearly isn’t one of them. I didn’t even know about the beach house until she reached out about selling it.”
“You know her. She keeps things close to the chest.”
“I feel like I don’t even know her at all sometimes.”
“Are you mad?”
“No. I know she has her reasons. She’s my best friend and I love her dearly, but I wish she would let people in more. Bella, Lucy, and I have brought out sides of her over the years, but she’s still really guarded. I understand why, but I just wish I could hug her and tell her it’ll be okay.”
“She hates hugs.”
“Boy, does she ever. One time Bella hugged her, and she skipped playdates for a month. When I asked her about it, she said she’s just not touchy-feely, but later she told me that physical touch is hard for her.”
“It is.”
She sighs. “I hope she’s not mad at me for dating you.”
I can’t help but smile. “We’re dating?”
She picks at the button on my shirt. “I mean, yeah. Aren’t we?”
“We are,” I assure her with a kiss. “She won’t be mad. She’s the one that dared us to kiss back then. Part of her had to be okay with the possibility of us ending up together.”
The way she bites her lip in response tells me she’s hiding something. “A few months ago, she told me that she dared us to kiss because she knew I had a crush on you, and she thought kissing you would help me get it out of my system.”
“That sounds like her.”
“She said she figured I’d realize you were an idiot, and I’d get over my stupid crush.”
I throw my head back in laughter, then look at her. “Did it?”
“Not even close. But you think she’ll be okay with this? With us?”
“I don’t think it’s any of her business.”
“It kinda is,” she insists. “We’re both a big part of her life, and now that we’re together it’s going to change things for her. And you know she’s not a big fan of change. And if this doesn’t work out?—”
“Gonna stop you right there, darlin’. I’m not going anywhere, so you can get that thought out of your head.
I told you, I’m not making the same mistake my teenage self made.
You are it for me, Summer. I’ll get on one knee right now if you want me to.
” I start to lower to one knee and her lower lip trembles, right as a giant wave slams into me, soaking us both.
I feel like Ariel when the water crashes into her, except a whole lot less graceful.
She laughs, tugging me to my feet. “Don’t be ridiculous, RJ. We’ve only been seeing each other for the past week.”
“Technically two weeks.”
“That first week doesn’t count. The kids were here, and we were pushing each other away.”
“ You were pushing. I was chasing. And I’ve spent a lifetime wanting you.
We’ve grown and changed since we were kids, but we’re still the same people at our core.
You know me, you know my heart, and I’m telling you, you’re it for me.
It took me years to figure out all the things I wanted out of life, but I’ve known I wanted you since middle school. ”
“I’ve waited my whole life to hear you say that.”
“Then what’s stopping you?”
“I want to talk to Raven first. I just need to know that she’s okay with this.”
“She will be. And then I’m going to make you my wife.” I pull her against me and kiss her. The waves crash at our feet, the sand shifting beneath us, but I’ve never felt steadier than when she’s in my arms.
“You can’t just say things like that.” She breaks the kiss, burying her head in my chest.
I grip her chin, forcing her eyes to mine. “I mean it. Every word. If you need me to make you that promise now, or ask you that question, I’ll do it. I already asked you to move in with me.”
She smiles as she melts into my arms, exhaling against my chest.
We stand there far longer than we should, clinging to each other. “I’m getting hungry. We should head back.”
When I lean down to kiss her, she’s wriggling out of my arms. “First one back to the house has to make dinner.” She runs toward the house, splashing in the waves that crash at her feet.
Since I’m the runner, I give her a head start and smile as her laughter echoes on the breeze.
When she looks over her shoulder at me, I take off in a jog, slowly closing the distance between us.
Then her face contorts in pain and she stumbles forward, screaming in agony as she falls onto her hands and knees. I sprint over to her and kneel beside her. “Summer! What happened? Are you okay?”
She’s clutching her left foot, and it’s red, the area already swelling.
“It feels like… I got electrocuted… and stabbed… at the same time.” She struggles to get the words out as I search around her for what she could have stepped on. That’s when I see the tan-colored fish buried in the sand behind her.
Logan’s words from our fishing trip float around in my head. He mentioned a fish that was poisonous and camouflaged itself in the sand near the shore. What was it called? A star-something?
“Stargazer!” I shout over the crashing waves. Summer’s head has dropped to her chest, her eyes squeezed shut in pain. “We need to soak your foot in hot water.”
I bend down and lift her, jogging back to the house as quickly as I can.
Once we’re inside, I set her on the bathroom counter and fill the tub.
Holding up her foot, I don’t see any stingers or spines, so I rinse the area with hot soapy water.
She winces when she dips her toes into the tub, but slowly eases her foot in.
“We need to soak it for about an hour or so.”
“How did you know what to do? Is this something they teach you in firefighter training?”
I shake my head. “Believe it or not, it was Logan and all those sea creature facts he was spouting. We were talking about poisonous fish on our fishing trip and he mentioned a stargazer, and then I saw it in the sand behind you. They can feel like an electric shock at the same time they inject poison into you.”
Her eyes go wide. “Poison? Should we go to a hospital?”
“I’ll keep an eye on it, but the hot water will break down the venom.
I’ve already cleaned your wound, and I didn’t see any spines in your foot.
As long as you’re not showing any signs of an infection and you aren’t experiencing any dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or trouble breathing, you should be fine, but we can get you checked out just in case. ”
“It’s already feeling better. You don’t need to make a fuss over me.”
“I’ll always make a fuss over you, darlin’.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders as she leans back against me, still perched on the lip of the tub.
“Okay, maybe having my own personal firefighter isn’t so bad.”
“I got you.”