Summer Rush (20 page)

Noticing the sun is starting to come up, and that my heart rate is barely going down, I realize I need to surf today. I need my escape. Getting my bathing suit out of my drawer, I quickly get ready and I’m out the door in no time. Knowing that I can’t go to my usual spot, by Joey’s house, I drive an extra ten minutes to the next beach over, Ocean Isle beach. It’s been years since I’ve came here, but I just can’t take the chance of seeing Joey, especially after the dream that’s still fresh in my head.

Slipping on my wetsuit and tucking my board under my arm, I make my way down to the beach. I’m immediately greeted with the heavenly crisp salted scent of the ocean. Already I know this is a good idea; I can feel my muscles relaxing, being back at the place I love most. No matter which beach it is, as long as I have sand and ocean, I’m home.

Paddling out into the water, I have a smile spread across my face for the first time since Trent handed me that newspaper article. I feel like there may be a little happiness left in me after all. If all else fails in my life, I can be sure of one thing that will put a smile on my face and this is it.

Seeing a wave approaching in the distance, I turn around and start paddling away from it. As soon as I feel it pushing up behind me, I jump up and plant my feet on my board. An image of me standing with Joey on his board flashes in my mind, but I quickly disregard it as I drag my fingers along the inside fold of the wave, letting it’s intensity and energy pass into me. When I see the end of the wave closing in I jump off, diving into the water. Coming up, I feel refreshed and recharged. Loving the rush I get after riding a harmonious wave, I quickly hop back onto my board and start paddling back out in search of my next ride.

I ride wave after wave, beating my body and my board to death until I can barely move and collapse on the beach. The waves are amazing. Deep down, there’s a small part of me that wishes Joey was here to witness and attack them with me. Annoyed that this thought is even crossing my mind I rub my hands on my face and try to scrub the idea from my head, but it’s no use. The guy has invaded my life from day one and I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to clear him from my brain.

Noticing that’s it getting late, I decide I better get going.

“Mornin’,” I greet my dad as I enter the kitchen.

“Mornin’ sweetheart. How were the waves today?” he asks as he pours coffee into his travel mug.

“Perfect. How’s mom?”

“Fed, showered, and dressed.” He smiles. “She’s all set, and in the living room. I’ll see you later.” He picks up his briefcase, says goodbye to my mom and heads out the door.

After checking in on my mom, I head to the bathroom to take a quick shower before starting my day. I actually have a lot of homework to do for my online classes, so that should keep me busy.

“Honey!” my mom yells when I open the bathroom door.

Worried that something is wrong, I rush to the living room to see if she’s okay. Noticing that everything appears to be fine, I allow my heart rate to slow back down to its normal pace.

“Did you need me?” I ask, coming up beside her.

“Your cellphone was ringing, then the home phone rang, so I just wanted to let you know.”

Thankful that everything is okay, I take a calming breath before picking up my cellphone that I had tossed on the couch earlier. Unlocking the screen, I see I have a missed call and a voicemail from Sheila. Anxious to hear her message, I call my voicemail. Apparently there has been a water main break in one of the pipes in the basement, so she will be shutting down the restaurant for the next couple of days to get it taken care of. Although it’s always nice to have a couple of days off, it hurts financially. Not to mention that I look forward to working as it’s a great distraction from my depressing life right now.

“Everything okay?” my mom asks as I place my cellphone on the coffee table.

“Yeah. Something happened with the pipes at the restaurant, so Sheila’s closing down for a couple of days to get it fixed.”

“Well, that gives you a nice little break,” she responds with a smile.

Just as I’m about to explain that I’d actually rather work, I hear a knock on the door. Confused and nervous, I turn the corner cautiously. Thankfully it’s neither of my exes, but it is a florist holding a bouquet of flowers so big that I can barely see his face.

“Hope Taylor?” he asks, looking at the name on the card.

“Yes, thank you,” I respond, taking the flowers from him.

“Have a nice day, ma’am.” He smiles before walking away.

After wishing him the same, I close the door and carry yet another beautiful bouquet of flowers into the living room, setting them down next to the other one.

“Wow, those are stunning,” my mom says with big eyes.

Grabbing the card that is sticking out of the top, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what is written inside.

“Honey?” my mom asks, breaking me out of a daze.

“Huh?” I respond, looking up at her with a blank face.

“What’s the card say?”

“Um, it says…it says, he is lost without me,” I softly say, feeling the infamous knot returning in my throat.

“And?”

“That’s all it says.”

“And, what do you think?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know,” I admit.
The only answer I have been giving people lately.

“Are you mad because he denied it or mad that he actually did it?”

Denied it? What is she talking about? Am I, again, missing something?

“What do you mean, am I mad he denied it? He hasn’t denied anything, I haven’t even talked to him about it.”

Giving me a puzzled look she continues. “You guys didn’t get into an argument about it, where he denied it all happening?”

I look at her, baffled, “No, not at all. I didn’t even know anything about Joey’s accident until Trent brought over the newspaper article on Monday to show me.”

“Trent told you about it? With the newspaper article?” she asks, not looking happy at all.

“Who told you we got into an argument?”

“Trent,” she says with an angry look. One that I don’t think I’ve ever seen on her.

“Why would he tell you guys that?” I ask, completely confused with this whole situation.

“I don’t know, honey. He told us that when you finally confronted Joey about everything, he denied it and then you called him to come get you. Maybe Trent had ulterior motives,” she says with a raised eyebrow.

How could Trent do this to me? He caused this mess to try and get me back.

“So, why are you mad at Joey?” she continues.

Has she not made the connection? Does she not know who Joey is?

“He uh…I found out that…”

“You found out about his DWI and accident?” she says, finishing my sentence.

“You know about it? You know it was him?” I ask, shocked.

“Of course we know who he is. He was the talk of the town last year and his face was plastered all over the Carolina paper for weeks. I think you were the only person that didn’t know.”

“And it didn’t bother you guys? That the guy who was behind the wheel of that car was dating your daughter?”

“When the accident happened it obviously hit close to home with your dad and I, but it’s not something we’re going to hold against Joey. It seems he has learned his lesson and he’s a nice guy. We trust your judgment. Not to mention that we hadn’t seen you that happy in months. There was no way we’d step in front of that,” she explains, smiling with heartfelt eyes.

Huh.

Titling my head to the side, and thinking about what she just said, I’m shocked that they know, yet never said anything...that they didn’t even care. They see the new and improved Joey, the Joey I’ve seen all along. They believe that people can change and can learn from their mistakes...and Joey has.

“Is that why you and Joey broke up? Because of what he did in the past?”

I nod my head. “Yeah, I just can’t believe he has done something so thoughtless, so careless.”

“People make mistakes, honey. Some make bigger ones than others, but it’s how you learn from those mistakes that is important. From what I can tell, the Joey that has been sweeping my daughter off her feet the last few weeks isn’t the same Joey I read about in the papers last year.”

Nodding my head, I smile in complete agreement. The Joey I met last summer is nothing like the Joey I know now.

“You wanna go for a car ride?” I ask with a grin.

“Why don’t you drop me off at your father’s work and he can take me out to lunch. Maybe I can convince him to play hooky for the rest of the afternoon,” she says with a smile.

Pulling into Joey’s driveway, I notice all the parked cars and realize that everyone is here. I’m happy to see that Joey is home, but I had hoped that his parents would be away on one of their business trips. Coming here to see Joey is nerveracking enough, but having to talk about all this in front of his family just adds to the jitters.

Knowing it’s now or never, I take a deep breath as I walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell. Within seconds, Marie appears on the other side of the door, pulling me into a hug as soon as she sees me.

“Oh Hope, I’m so happy to see you!”

“Is Joey here?” I ask, eager to see him.

“Um, I don’t know where he is actually,” she responds, a frown replacing her smile. “We just had an argument and he stormed off. His car is still here, but I don’t know where he went.”

“I think I have an idea,” I smile. “Thank you.”

Running along the side of the house, I head down to the beach. Jogging down the shore, I start to slow down to a walk as I pass the last house. Taking a second to catch my breath, I find Joey, exactly where I thought he would be–sitting on the corner of the beach where you can see the ocean on both sides of you. My heart swells and the butterflies flap as I walk up behind him.

“I knew you’d be here,” I say, startling him.

Looking over his shoulder in disbelief, his eyes freeze on me, probably wondering if it’s really me standing behind him. I smile as I see the curves of his mouth change into a grin. Finally convinced that it
is
me standing before him, Joey jumps to his feet and throws his arms around me.