Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Good on you,” he nods. “Settin’ yourself up.”
“That’s the plan. How is Cova? She didn’t come?”
I want to see Cova. Our relationship is strained, she doesn’t like how I’ve settled in, but the truth is we spent years living the same kind of hell. She got attached to the man who purchased us and, because of that, she’s never been the same. She has never wanted to be part of this world, or the club, she just wants to be on her own, and she’s made that very clear.
Still, I want to mend bridges with her, so to speak.
She and I have been through a lot.
We have a connection even if we don’t want to.
“She is coming later, too,” Briella says. “She’s not happy about it, but I convinced her. She’s still struggling. I don’t know if she’s ever going to be the same again.”
“It’ll take time, god knows, she had it so different to me,” I say softly. “Anyway, let’s go set up a fire on the beach and take our drinks down there. It’s so nice today.”
Briella claps and Waverly nods eagerly.
Then, we get all our things and make our way down to the beach.
I didn’t ask if Bohdi was coming, even though the question is on the tip of my tongue. Part of me wants to see him, yet another part wonders if it’s a good idea or not to see him. We agreed to be friends, but that’s not going to be easy.
Or maybe it will be.
Who knows?
We set up a small fire on the beach and take some chairs down with a few coolers full of beer. Then, we sit back and relax, watching the sun go down and listening to the waves crash against the shore. It’s beautiful, and as the night falls and the weather becomes cooler, we all find ourselves relaxing. Cohen and Aviana join us and, eventually Cova and Bohdi come, too.
I don’t ask where Isla is.
He didn’t bring her, but that’s okay, it’s probably for the best.
“Gosh, this is so nice. I could move here.” Briella sighs, leaning against Alarick as the two of them sit on a large blanket on the sand.
“Fuck, me too,” he murmurs. “I’m done with ink and bad business. Be nice to relax.”
“You couldn’t live without the club,” Cohen grunts. “Let’s be honest.”
“Yeah.” Alarick chuckles. “True.”
“Well, you’re all welcome to come here whenever you want to get away,” I say. “I’m going to grab another round of cocktails, do you want any?”
The girls all give me a yes, the guys have beers in the coolers. I stand, walking back up to the cabin. It’s only halfway up that I realize Bohdi is following me. I turn and glance at him, the alcohol slowly effecting my head. I don’t drink a great deal, because of the situation I was in, so it hits me a lot harder than everyone else. I take it slow and steady. I don’t want to make a fool out of myself.
“You’re following me,” I say, my voice soft.
“Thought you might need a hand.”
Right.
We make it to the cabin, and the lights burn my eyes when I walk in. It’s getting dark and peaceful on the beach. I grab a bunch of glasses and make some cocktails—Bohdi leans on the counter and just stares at me. His expression is so intense, it makes me slightly uncomfortable.
“It seems like you want to say something,” I say, stirring the fruity drinks.
“You ever surf?”
I look up at him, narrowing my eyes. “No, why?”
“You want to learn?”
Do I want to learn? Hell yes I do. I have a list of all the things I want to do, the things I never got the chance to do, and surfing is one of them. I love the ocean, and I’d love to spend as much time out on the water as I can. That includes sailing, but one thing at a time.
“Yeah, I do,” I tell him, placing the glasses on a tray.
“I’ll teach you. I haven’t been in the water for years. I’d like to get back into it. If you’re interested, I’ll come down a few times a week and teach you.”
“I don’t have anything,” I say. “I don’t even have a wetsuit.
He stares intensely at me, like he wants to say something other than what comes out of his mouth. “You get the wetsuit, I’ll bring everything else.”
God. Is this a bad idea? Probably, but he has spent time in the water, and I know, once, he was great at surfing. He can teach me, but the idea of being that close to him is scary. Still, my life now is about taking calculated risks that bring me happiness.
“Okay,” I agree, lifting the tray.
He follows me out, opening the door for me. We walk back down to the beach, and I hand out the drinks.