Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
He nodded. “I’m sure.”
* * *
Hersch walked across the sand so slowly it was like time itself was slowing down. It was the last Saturday in May and a sunny one at that, so the beach was alive with kids building sandcastles, dogs running and playing, couples walking hand in hand, a group of teenagers horsing around. A few swimmers bobbed in the water, but they wore regular swimsuits. He was the only person in a wetsuit, as the waves weren’t big enough today to lure surfers. He didn’t care. Mila was right. Just putting on the wetsuit had reminded him of Ironman training, of long swims in cold water. The least he could do now that he’d wiggled into it was put his toes in the water. His feet were bare, and he felt the sand soft beneath his feet.
He had spent all night and day thinking about Mila and wondering why he hadn’t just followed his instincts and kissed her at dinner. They’d both shared so much of themselves with each other, the moment was there. Then, when she’d revealed the check had been paid for by her company, he’d lost his nerve. She’d still been acting the part of his Realtor, even though the deal had gone through. And in that moment of hesitation, all the reasons why he’d remained single had come back to him.
And yet, it was like he had a fever, and he was burning for Mila Davenport. So after a long time deliberating, moving a few things over to the new place, organizing things the way he liked them, getting his new bed set up, and booking painters, he had finally taken the plunge and come down to the beach. Yes, it was after the lesson she had offered him, but he was here all the same. And now, with Mila’s help, he was back in a wetsuit for the very first time since his accident. There was no way he could have made it this far without her.
Suddenly, he felt Mila take his hand. Her skin was smooth and soft, and her fingers felt like they’d been made to twine with his.
“You’ve got this,” she said and squeezed his hand. “I’m already impressed that you showed up. You walked over the sand. You don’t have to go any farther.”
“I can go farther.” His tone was more gruff than he’d intended.
“Okay, then—just walk in up to your ankles. That’s all you have to do.”
He nodded grimly and didn’t let go of her hand as they walked to the edge of the water. She must be able to feel how tense he had grown, but she didn’t say anything. In fact, she might even be holding her breath, waiting for him to move. It was a good thing she’d been a pro surfer and was used to holding her breath, because for a long, long time, he remained standing at the edge of the surf without the water reaching him.
They kept holding hands as the waves advanced with the incoming tide, and the frothy edge of a wave tickled his toes. He fought the urge to turn and run, fought the panic rising in his chest. You can do this, he said to himself. You can do this.
A toddler screamed with delight, and gulls wheeled overhead, echoing the sound.
She remained quiet and then took the tiniest step forward, ever so gently showing him the way. Would he follow her? She looked back, that very question in her eyes. Yes, damn it, he would.
His leg could have weighed ten thousand pounds, it was so hard to move it forward even an inch. But he did it. And then he got the other one to meet it. Sweat broke out on his brow.
She said, “You’re doing great,” in a soothing voice that told him she understood. If Mila could get back to surfing after breaking her back, he could take another step forward. It took everything in him, but he did it, and then a wave broke over his foot.
A whoosh of breath rushed from her mouth as she cried out with joy. “You did it!”
He was stunned. “I can’t believe I’m in the ocean again.”
She gave him the biggest smile he’d ever seen. “I never had a doubt.”
With her encouragement ringing in his ears, he took another step and another, until he inhaled sharply. The water was up to his ankles. He’d done it!
It was humiliating to find that he was trembling. But then Mila threw her arms around him. “I am so proud of you,” she murmured into his ear.
Now he was shaking in a whole new way. Her body fit perfectly against his, their damp wetsuits feeling like skin on skin. It was exquisite. He wanted to stay locked in that moment forever, but he couldn’t quite let go of the fact he was standing in water again. The fear kept crawling back like a nasty parasite, eating away at his courage.