image is impossible to blink away.
I hop from the bench and dust off my backside. “Glad you were happy with it.”
Harve focuses on my face for the first time, my words trailing off as his gaze cuts through my I-have-it-all-together veneer. “But just like the seasons, sometimes goodbyes come too soon. And sometimes too late.”
The punch to my heart shifts to a permanent stab-throb-squeeze. “How did you…?” My words stumble, and a gentle smile tugs at the inside corners of his mouth.
I don’t understand all the hows or whys, but the erratic beat of my heart tells me his wisdom on changing seasons is much like his prediction of coming rain. Spot on.
How many times have I buried my head instead of facing potential conflict, potential hurt? How many times have I closed my eyes and wished my changing world away?
Far too many.
I bite the tremble from my bottom lip and will myself to be braver than I am, will myself to be a lesson learned. I could stand here and hope that Drew comes to his senses before it’s too late. That he shows up like the Neighbor In Shining Armor he’s been for me a billion times over in the last three weeks. Or I could go to him.
I could be the one who takes the risk, bets it all. Because he’s worth it. “Th—thank you, Harve.”
Harve tosses another donut hole at his dog, and then lifts his leathered-palm and waves. “Anytime.”
*
I burst through the front door of Grandma Culver’s house because naturally Drew’s left it unlocked and call out his name. No answer. I run around to the garage, fully expecting him to be in the midst of another insane rowing workout. But he’s not there either. My heart pounding hard in my temples, I race down the sloppy hill to the well-worn trail.
I see him.
Drew paces at the end of the dock, his phone in hand.
A happy sob escapes me. “Drew!”
He spins around, and before I can catch my breath to say more, he’s rushing toward me. Our bodies collide in the soggy grass where land kisses sea. He tucks me in close and wraps his arms around my waist.
My hands are at the base of his neck pulling his mouth toward mine. I kiss him because I can. I kiss him because I didn’t leave. I kiss him because hope is stronger than regret.
Drew’s words are filtered through choppy breaths as we break for air. “I thought you were gone.”
I shake my head. “The cabin sold. My parents came to the island last night. I was gonna tell you this morning and then—”
“I know. I just talked to the realtor. She told me you took the ferry back with your parents. I’m so glad she was wrong.” Drew tightens his hold on me. “I’m sorry, Joss. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”
“No, I was wrong to push. You have a lot to process, and I never should have made it seem like an easy decision. It’s not.”
Drew’s crescent-shaped eyes are a Grand Canyon of light and dark brown, of amber and copper flecks. “I decided.” He answers my next string of questions before I can ask, before I can take another breath. “I’ve seen four doctors and two physical therapists. All of them are in agreement.” The slow shake of his head makes me want to kiss his words away, kiss the truth away. “I drained my savings account for one last opinion, a high-end surgeon near Seattle. That scan was my last hope for competitive rowing, but the tear in my rotator cuff is inoperable. Because of the multiple tears, and the trauma to surrounding tendons, my best hope is continued physical therapy. For normal use function only.”
“Drew…” But I have nothing more to add. No words that will ease that kind of blow or soothe that kind of loss.
He kisses the end of my nose and then the middle of my forehead. “I took the job, Joss. You were right. Assistant coaching is a much better alternative than denial. I’m headed back to school tomorrow.”
His words are a chiming benediction for us both. Neither of us can stay on the island forever. Eventually summer turns
I hop from the bench and dust off my backside. “Glad you were happy with it.”
Harve focuses on my face for the first time, my words trailing off as his gaze cuts through my I-have-it-all-together veneer. “But just like the seasons, sometimes goodbyes come too soon. And sometimes too late.”
The punch to my heart shifts to a permanent stab-throb-squeeze. “How did you…?” My words stumble, and a gentle smile tugs at the inside corners of his mouth.
I don’t understand all the hows or whys, but the erratic beat of my heart tells me his wisdom on changing seasons is much like his prediction of coming rain. Spot on.
How many times have I buried my head instead of facing potential conflict, potential hurt? How many times have I closed my eyes and wished my changing world away?
Far too many.
I bite the tremble from my bottom lip and will myself to be braver than I am, will myself to be a lesson learned. I could stand here and hope that Drew comes to his senses before it’s too late. That he shows up like the Neighbor In Shining Armor he’s been for me a billion times over in the last three weeks. Or I could go to him.
I could be the one who takes the risk, bets it all. Because he’s worth it. “Th—thank you, Harve.”
Harve tosses another donut hole at his dog, and then lifts his leathered-palm and waves. “Anytime.”
*
I burst through the front door of Grandma Culver’s house because naturally Drew’s left it unlocked and call out his name. No answer. I run around to the garage, fully expecting him to be in the midst of another insane rowing workout. But he’s not there either. My heart pounding hard in my temples, I race down the sloppy hill to the well-worn trail.
I see him.
Drew paces at the end of the dock, his phone in hand.
A happy sob escapes me. “Drew!”
He spins around, and before I can catch my breath to say more, he’s rushing toward me. Our bodies collide in the soggy grass where land kisses sea. He tucks me in close and wraps his arms around my waist.
My hands are at the base of his neck pulling his mouth toward mine. I kiss him because I can. I kiss him because I didn’t leave. I kiss him because hope is stronger than regret.
Drew’s words are filtered through choppy breaths as we break for air. “I thought you were gone.”
I shake my head. “The cabin sold. My parents came to the island last night. I was gonna tell you this morning and then—”
“I know. I just talked to the realtor. She told me you took the ferry back with your parents. I’m so glad she was wrong.” Drew tightens his hold on me. “I’m sorry, Joss. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”
“No, I was wrong to push. You have a lot to process, and I never should have made it seem like an easy decision. It’s not.”
Drew’s crescent-shaped eyes are a Grand Canyon of light and dark brown, of amber and copper flecks. “I decided.” He answers my next string of questions before I can ask, before I can take another breath. “I’ve seen four doctors and two physical therapists. All of them are in agreement.” The slow shake of his head makes me want to kiss his words away, kiss the truth away. “I drained my savings account for one last opinion, a high-end surgeon near Seattle. That scan was my last hope for competitive rowing, but the tear in my rotator cuff is inoperable. Because of the multiple tears, and the trauma to surrounding tendons, my best hope is continued physical therapy. For normal use function only.”
“Drew…” But I have nothing more to add. No words that will ease that kind of blow or soothe that kind of loss.
He kisses the end of my nose and then the middle of my forehead. “I took the job, Joss. You were right. Assistant coaching is a much better alternative than denial. I’m headed back to school tomorrow.”
His words are a chiming benediction for us both. Neither of us can stay on the island forever. Eventually summer turns
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