“I will,” she says. “I promise.”
For the next few hours, I watch Lexi surf. She’s amazing out there. Completely in her element. Eventually Max and Ricco decide to head out, saying they’re going to grab a coffee.
While I wait for her, I look up jewelry stores on my phone. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m planning to make her my wife sooner rather than later. I know without a doubt she’s the one for me.
While I’m scrolling through rings, my phone goes off with a text.
Chase: I crashed on the couch after my shift. Woke up and realized all my shit was gone. Luckily Georgia was here to tell me you moved it all into Lexi’s room. Thanks, man. And please tell Lexi thanks.
Me: It’s hardly a hardship having Lexi in my room.
Chase: I figured as much. But still… thanks.
Me: We’re going to dinner at the Scotts’ tonight. Wanna join?
Chase: Thanks, but I’m going to crash. Shift tomorrow. You know, the job you haven’t been to in weeks…
His text reminds me that I go back to work soon. I needed the time off to deal with my father’s death. I knew in the state of mind I was in, I wouldn’t be of any use to anyone at the fire station, especially if there was an emergency. But now, I’m looking forward to going back to work. I enjoy my job.
Me: Yeah, yeah… I know you miss me, sweetie pie. Don’t worry, I’ll be back next week.
Chase: Oh, thank God, pookie bear.
Me: If you change your mind, just let me know.
Chase: Thanks.
“You ready to go?” Lexi asks, standing in front of me. She’s already unzipped her wetsuit and is pulling it down her toned body, exposing her tiny yellow string bikini she’s wearing underneath. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and droplets of water are dripping down her neck and disappearing into the swell of her breasts. Her belly button is sporting a tiny navel ring, and on the curve of her hip is her moniker—a multi-colored silhouette of a woman holding a surfboard.
“What?” She glances down at herself.
“Come here.” I grab her hand and pull her down to me. My mouth closes over hers for a hard kiss. “I can’t keep my eyes and mouth and hands off you.” I drag my hands down to the globes of her perfect ass. “You smell like the ocean,” I murmur, kissing her again. Lexi laughs—it’s light and carefree and it does crazy shit to my insides.
“We’re really doing this, aren’t we?” she asks, her ocean-blue eyes sparkling with happiness. I love that I’m the reason for her happiness—that we’re the reason for her happiness.
“If I have it my way, for the rest of our lives.”
After we’re packed up, we head up the beach toward her jeep. We’re about halfway there when Lexi stops and says, “Do we have any waters left in the cooler?”
“Yeah,” I say, confused. It’s not that long of a walk to her vehicle. Does she really need to stop and take a drink break?
She grabs a couple waters out of the cooler, then grabs the bowl of fruit we didn’t finish. She drops her board where it is and runs toward the pier, yelling that she’ll be right back.
Unsure where the hell she’s going, I leave the cooler and her beach bag next to her board and follow after her. When she arrives under the pier, there are several tents popped up in the shade. This is common in LA, especially in the parks and on the beaches. Homeless folks sleep in tents anywhere they can pitch one up.
Lexi stops at a particular blue one and says, “Aiden, it’s Lexi.”
A second later, a tall man steps out of his tent. He looks to be in his late teens, maybe early twenties, dressed in a pair of raggedy jeans and a holey shirt. His long hair is on the greasy side and his face is covered in facial hair. He’s wearing a pair of bright green glasses that look like something a child would wear. With a bright smile on his face, he removes the glasses, that is until his eyes land on me, then he immediately puts them back on.
“Lexi, someone is here,” he says. “I don’t know him, Lexi.”
Lexi glances back at me, before turning her attention back to Aiden. “It’s okay. That’s Alec. He’s my boyfriend.”
Aiden’s fists clench at his sides. “Boyfriends are bad, Lexi. My mom’s boyfriend was bad.” He grabs Lexi and pulls her behind him. “You go away, Lexi’s boyfriend. You are bad.”
“No, Aiden. Alec isn’t bad. I promise,” Lexi says.
“Boyfriends are bad,” he repeats. It’s clear there’s something going on with this guy, but Lexi isn’t fazed, which tells me she knows this guy on a deeper level.
“Aiden,” she says calmly. “Why was your mom’s boyfriend bad?”