with starry eyes and rosy cheeks just from looking at each other. Something’s gotta give.”
“How am I supposed to tell him? Hey Ben, by the way, I know all about you. In fact, we were engaged to be married until you up and left me a week before the wedding to go find yourself. Sorry I haven’t told you. Just thought maybe you’d remember and it would all work out.”
“No need to get snippy.” Emma splashed water on Tess’s legs.
“Sorry.” Tess sighed. “Believe me. I’ve thought of nothing else since he showed up. But now I worry it’s too late to tell him, and I still wonder what would happen if I do and it doesn’t bring back anything for him. Then what?”
Emma looked toward the guys and back at Tess. “So are you willing to move forward as things are?”
“Yes…and no. I love how things are. It’s like when we first met. But I know I could never move forward with such deception between us. It would never work. I was just hoping spending time with him would help…jog his memory somehow.”
“Mike says Ben told him he’s not remembering anything. Just a few visions of things here and there.”
“That’s what he said to me too.” Tess splashed water onto her legs. The cool water felt good on her sun-touched skin. She thought of that night in the utility room when Ben kissed her. Many more just like it had followed since, and a part of her hoped he would never remember. Just let things continue to be as perfect as they were now. Just last night, a kiss had turned into a hot and heavy make-out session. Their bodies tangled together, his pressed over hers. It had ended abruptly when Tess’s phone rang, which essentially was a good thing. Her head said that, but her body fought to agree.
Mike and Ben paddled over to them, ending the conversation. Tess made a mental note to talk to Mike later, get his professional advice. Maybe it was time to tell Ben.
“Whatcha girls chatting about?” Mike asked.
“Nothing. Just girly stuff.” Emma winked at him.
Ben smiled at Tess and her body warmed. She smiled back. She did love the ways things were between them. But she knew it couldn’t go on this way. Either he needed to remember and they’d hopefully work through why he left, or she’d have to tell him the truth and pray that it wouldn’t interfere with their future. If they even had a chance at one.
“Here comes a decent-sized wave,” Mike said. “I say we men folk take this one.”
“Are you saying we girls couldn’t handle a wave that size?” Emma challenged.
“Never, sweets.” Mike winked at her.
“Oh, it is on!” Emma flopped to her belly on her board and paddled her way into position. Tess did the same. Ben was already positioned near Mike, waiting for just the right moment.
They all caught the wave in perfect time, soaring towards the shore with Mike whooping and hollering and Emma yelling something about girls being the best at surfing.
Tess caught Ben’s eye, and the joy and wonder showed on his face that Tess felt every time she caught a wave. She understood. But his face changed, and he suddenly stood up straight on his board, causing him to lose his balance and disappear into the water. He went under and didn’t come up. He was gone.
***
“Ben! Ben!” Tess shouted. Her cries caused Mike and Emma to look back and realize Ben’s empty board floated toward the shore with him nowhere in sight.
The cord that usually attached to his ankle dangled free on the end, the empty circle of Velcro a sign of what was missing.
“Where’d he fall?” Mike shouted.
Tess pointed and Mike dove into the water in that direction. Tess and Emma jumped off their boards as well and began swimming to the spot.
Tess’s pulse raced in her ears. The waves came over her, slowing her pace toward where Mike dove in. Now she couldn’t see either one of them. Hot tears mixed with salt water covered her cheeks. She couldn’t lose him again. She glanced at Emma, her face
“How am I supposed to tell him? Hey Ben, by the way, I know all about you. In fact, we were engaged to be married until you up and left me a week before the wedding to go find yourself. Sorry I haven’t told you. Just thought maybe you’d remember and it would all work out.”
“No need to get snippy.” Emma splashed water on Tess’s legs.
“Sorry.” Tess sighed. “Believe me. I’ve thought of nothing else since he showed up. But now I worry it’s too late to tell him, and I still wonder what would happen if I do and it doesn’t bring back anything for him. Then what?”
Emma looked toward the guys and back at Tess. “So are you willing to move forward as things are?”
“Yes…and no. I love how things are. It’s like when we first met. But I know I could never move forward with such deception between us. It would never work. I was just hoping spending time with him would help…jog his memory somehow.”
“Mike says Ben told him he’s not remembering anything. Just a few visions of things here and there.”
“That’s what he said to me too.” Tess splashed water onto her legs. The cool water felt good on her sun-touched skin. She thought of that night in the utility room when Ben kissed her. Many more just like it had followed since, and a part of her hoped he would never remember. Just let things continue to be as perfect as they were now. Just last night, a kiss had turned into a hot and heavy make-out session. Their bodies tangled together, his pressed over hers. It had ended abruptly when Tess’s phone rang, which essentially was a good thing. Her head said that, but her body fought to agree.
Mike and Ben paddled over to them, ending the conversation. Tess made a mental note to talk to Mike later, get his professional advice. Maybe it was time to tell Ben.
“Whatcha girls chatting about?” Mike asked.
“Nothing. Just girly stuff.” Emma winked at him.
Ben smiled at Tess and her body warmed. She smiled back. She did love the ways things were between them. But she knew it couldn’t go on this way. Either he needed to remember and they’d hopefully work through why he left, or she’d have to tell him the truth and pray that it wouldn’t interfere with their future. If they even had a chance at one.
“Here comes a decent-sized wave,” Mike said. “I say we men folk take this one.”
“Are you saying we girls couldn’t handle a wave that size?” Emma challenged.
“Never, sweets.” Mike winked at her.
“Oh, it is on!” Emma flopped to her belly on her board and paddled her way into position. Tess did the same. Ben was already positioned near Mike, waiting for just the right moment.
They all caught the wave in perfect time, soaring towards the shore with Mike whooping and hollering and Emma yelling something about girls being the best at surfing.
Tess caught Ben’s eye, and the joy and wonder showed on his face that Tess felt every time she caught a wave. She understood. But his face changed, and he suddenly stood up straight on his board, causing him to lose his balance and disappear into the water. He went under and didn’t come up. He was gone.
***
“Ben! Ben!” Tess shouted. Her cries caused Mike and Emma to look back and realize Ben’s empty board floated toward the shore with him nowhere in sight.
The cord that usually attached to his ankle dangled free on the end, the empty circle of Velcro a sign of what was missing.
“Where’d he fall?” Mike shouted.
Tess pointed and Mike dove into the water in that direction. Tess and Emma jumped off their boards as well and began swimming to the spot.
Tess’s pulse raced in her ears. The waves came over her, slowing her pace toward where Mike dove in. Now she couldn’t see either one of them. Hot tears mixed with salt water covered her cheeks. She couldn’t lose him again. She glanced at Emma, her face
Similar Books
