He teasingly pulled back. “Still glad we made a pitstop before the hotel?”
“Regretting it now,” my voice was hoarse.
He wound one hand through my hair and gently pulled until my head tilted up to greet his gaze. “Why?”
“Because being alone with you behind a locked door again will be better than anything else.”
His thumb tugged my lower lip downward until it released. “I made you say it. Soon, I’ll make you believe it.”
“Isn’t it a crime to use someone’s words against them?”
“I’ll let you punish me later.” He tugged my hand. “C’mon. The sooner we go, the sooner we can check in.”
When we reached the entrance, I did a double-take of the white sand beach on the northwest side of Maui. A reef extended on either end, the crescent shape giving the illusion of it being sheltered from the ocean. Bright blue sky. Sparkling water. Puffy white clouds. All of it looked far too perfect to be real.
“A week ago, did you imagine you’d be standing here with me?” he asked.
“Not a chance, but I wouldn’t change any of it.”
Our conversation continued as we walked, never lagging in rhythm or lacking for content. It remained consistently comfortable while one subject flowed and found its balance to settle into the next. We paused, hand-in-hand, to watch a group of teenagers splashing, a few people snorkeling, and two children building a sandcastle. Twenty feet away, I saw Roxy lying on her own little island of an oversized, pink beach towel.
We closed in on the distance until my shadow cast over her face.
“Will, don’t be an ass. You’re standing in my sun.”
I nudged her shoulder with my toe.
“Would you knock it off already? I’m still pissed about…” She lowered her sunglasses, her baby blues making a dramatic transition from squinting slits to growing wide. “Jade? What are you doing here?” She stood up with an excited squeal, which quickly muted when her eyes panned to the person next to me.
“Seth, Roxy. Roxy, Seth.”
“Hey,” Seth said.
Her response arrived in the form of a rapid comprehensive glance. I shivered and had no doubt the temperature on the beach dipped fifty degrees.
Energy in the air shifted as he tried to pull his hand away, but I held on tighter.
“I thought you’d be happy or surprised to see me,” I said.
“I am, but I figured you’d take out the trash before you left Cannon Cove, not bring it with you.”
Without intending to, I broke out her full name. “Roxanne!”
“High-end orchid.” She crossed her arms and looked from me over to Seth. “Weed.”
“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“Didn’t you listen to a word I said about him on the phone a few days ago?” She looked at Seth. “No offense.”
“Um. Some taken,” he replied.
“I heard you loud and clear,” I said.
“And you didn’t listen?”
That beach temperature soared again, thanks to my anger. “You have no clue how much listening I’ve done over the past week.”
Seth shifted his weight. “Maybe I should go wait over—”
“No,” I said. “I’m not dismissing you like you did something wrong because you didn’t. Whatever Roxy wants to say can be said to both of us.”
“Fine. You ended our conversation before I could finish the other day.” Her focus aimed my way. “Rumor also has it Seth, Miles, whoever he is knocked up someone in town, and you deserve better than—”
It felt like I went back in time to Seamless. However, instead of Seth shooting daggers at me with his eyes, I targeted them, along with Seth’s words and aimed at Roxy. “Don’t talk about what you don’t know.”
So much had changed in such a short period of time. I studied the woman I’d held up on a high pedestal and released my invisible grip, letting her fall to her knees. Over many years, I’d admired Roxy. Not anymore. I used to be envious and jealous. Also, not anymore. I wasn’t sad to not be like her on the inside or the outside. For the first time, I realized it must be sad to be her, judging and trying to influence the lives of others because she didn’t like her own.
Her voice pulled me back to reality. “Before I left, you said you’d stopped dating guys with four-lettered names.”
Seth took a turn to jump in and defend himself. “My given name has five letters. Judge rules in my favor.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “We can discuss this later, Jade.”
Not happening.
“Don’t forget, we rescheduled our weekly meeting for tomorrow night at Brady’s,” Roxy continued. “There are consequences if you’re not there.”
“About that…” I said.
Roxy using our weekly meeting as a reprimand or leverage left me on the edge of losing the rest of my temper I’d held back.
“You know the rules.” Her eyes flicked toward Seth and then over at me before she mouthed, “We pinky swore.”
“Maybe we should rethink the stakes if we miss a meeting,” I said.
Confusion clouded Roxy’s face. “But we had a deal.”
“We still do, but I don’t think Barry’s interested in my underwear or hearing me sing Nine Inch Nails’ Closer to him in public anymore.”
Roxy raised an eyebrow. “Anymore?”
“Barry kinda dumped me.”
Roxy’s eyes popped again. “You’re kidding. Right?
I kept a straight face.
“Shut up. You went out with…with Barry? More things I miss when I leave Cannon Cove.”
“I’ll vouch for it,” Seth said. “Whirlwind romance. For a minute there, it seemed like the real deal.”
“Eventful week.” I blew a lock of hair from my face and forced fake emotion into my voice. “Be kind, please. The emotional wounds haven’t fully healed yet.”
Seth didn’t miss a beat. “Somehow, I lucked out and get to benefit from being the rebound. You should’ve seen it, though. They were hot and heavy at The Seaman a few nights ago.”
I wanted to kiss that man so hard for executing his flawless plays on my dialogue, but it’d have to wait.
Roxy grabbed my arm. “Who are you, and what have you done with Jade? The Jade I know doesn’t pick up and go to Hawaii on a whim. The Jade I know makes lists and calculated decisions. This is…”
“Impulsive? Spontaneous? You mentioned it yourself, Rox. You’ve missed this side of me. I’m back, and I’m never losing myself again.”
“What about your clients?” she asked.
“Gwen is scheduling a sub from Ocean Shores for my appointments, and I hired a painter. With all of that said, I won’t make it to Brady’s tomorrow, but I’ll text you to re-reschedule when we get back. Acceptable topics of discussion will be work and Annelies’s wedding, but this,” I lifted Seth’s and my interlaced fingers to my shoulder height, “is off limits unless you can be respectful.”
With a curled lip, Roxy huffed. “Just don’t go do anything stupid, like run off and get married. I’ve seen enough beach weddings lately to last a lifetime.”
Roxy and I said a brief goodbye, but I could tell she still wore her hostile eyes, even from behind darkened lenses. Additionally, Seth’s outreach for a handshake went unacknowledged.
On the way back to the car, we paused under a lone palm tree near the park entrance, its leaves rustling in the breeze.
He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind as we both stared out at the water. “Who do I have to sleep with around here to get serenaded with Closer by NIN?” he teased.
“I’ll give you one guess.” I laughed and then let the humor slip away. “Sorry about Roxy.”
“Don’t be. And you didn’t h
ave to defend me, you know. I don’t want this,” he tightened his embrace, “to affect your friendship.”
“I didn’t have to defend you, but I wanted to. It’s about time someone did.”
He patted the bottom of my shirt and my hips a few times as if he’d lost something important in a pocket.
“What are you doing?” I rested the back of my head on his chest when I glanced up at him.
“Sometimes, I have to check and make sure you’re real.” His soft breath fanned my cheek, causing a wave of heat to shudder my body.
Down near the shore, an elegant bride and groom walked along the sand, wading in the water to pose for a photographer, dress ruined, tuxedo soaked, nothing but laughter.
I caught Seth looking at them and asked, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
The corner of his mouth curved upward. “You want to do something else reckless?”
“Seth McCullough.” I turned around and laced my fingers behind his neck before taking the deepest breath possible. “Tell me. Are you brave enough?”
He smiled and locked his hands around my low back. “Jade Nash, did you just ask me to marry you?”
I pushed up on my toes. “I did.”
“I’m brave enough, Doc.” Seth’s hands greeted the sides of my face, and his thumbs stroked my cheeks. His lips met mine in a slow, seductive dance, one only we knew how to choreograph. And the power of that kiss made time stop and the rest of the world melt away.
“I’m calling it. Right here. Right now.” I pushed the pad of my index finger down on the table. “A proposal will happen in Maui. I can feel it.”
Thinking back, I’d predicted the future at Brady’s on July 1st. A proposal did take place in Maui. It just wasn’t the one I’d expected.
And the next day, on that same tropical beach, Seth and I did something unplanned and adventurous by solidifying our relationship. Most would argue we were irresponsible and thoughtless for getting married so quickly, but we didn’t care for one sole reason. Our truth was that important.
We are gathered here today…meant that.
A great blessing…meant that.
Holy matrimony…meant that.
Love, honor, and cherish…meant that.
Time of celebration…meant that.
Your vows…meant that.
Declare your intentions…meant that.
While all of the above were important pieces of our ceremony, they paled in comparison to six words. Tell me. Are you brave enough? That became our saying and theme in the life we shared. It rivaled each ‘I love you’ he and I ever spoke. Whenever the water got rough, one of us would ask the other if they were brave enough— the answer being an unequivocal “yes.” That meant weathering those storms side-by-side despite their intimidating power. Because together, Seth and I were strong enough.
The truth was that important. All of them were.
Except for one.
I’d never disclose the truth on that letterhead from Steele Falls Medical Plaza. When Mother Nature gave that single page to the fire so I didn’t have to, it was her way of gifting Seth a sense of peace after she stole Charlotte. With everything he’d been through, I wouldn’t be the thief to take that away from him.
In the end, we only regret the chances we don’t take. Regardless of how many hours, days, weeks, months, or years we’d have together, Seth McCullough was the most significant chance I took and never regretted. And I’d give all of me to him a thousand times over again, knowing I wouldn’t get any of it back. That truth was most important of all.
You have a choice to make.
Stop reading here…or…
Is the truth that important?
Tell me.
Are you brave enough?
Seth
Three years later…
“Answer the question. Why did you drag me to a department store on my day off?” Sienna picked up the sleeve of an orange, zebra print dress from a rack and wrinkled her nose before letting it drop.
I allowed my serious expression to speak for itself first. “Because you love your brother and want to help him.”
“Mmm. I don’t think that’s it,” Sienna said as we walked down the broad aisleway with shoes to the left and formalwear on the right. “Don’t get me wrong. I do love you. I’d fight a bear for you. Not a polar bear or a panda. Maybe a teddy bear. A little one.”
“Thanks for the reassurance of affection and protection,” I replied. “Besides, don’t most women like shopping?”
“I’m not most women, you haunted meat sack.”
“Trust me, I know.” I laughed, stopping near the pajamas. “And we’re shopping for a robe.”
“A robe,” she repeated and turned toward me. “Seth. Please tell me you aren’t getting my sister-in-law a housecoat for your anniversary. That’s like buying her a vacuum cleaner or a mop. I taught you better than that.”
“Calling it a housecoat sounds archaic.” I moved a few feet over to look at a wall display. “It’s not all I bought her, and the robe has special meaning.”
“Meaning like, ‘I didn’t invest any thought into your putting up with my lame ass for three years, so here’s a shitty housecoat?’”
“Would you stop saying housecoat?” I picked up a hanger and immediately put it back. “And no. Her last one broke.”
“How does someone break a…”
I tuned Sienna out and tugged hard on the tie of the next to assess its strength.
“What are you… Oh, eww. Eww! Her face turned sickly and she reduced her voice, “Seth McCullough! Did you rope me into helping you buy…some weird kink of a sex outfit for your wife?”
“Ha. Rope. Good one. I just need your opinion on color.”
“There are other stores, better stores for that fuckery, ones where you don’t abduct me for the ride. I am so not amused right now.”
“If you were Jade—”
“Nope. Not even going there with being in her shoes…robe. So gross.” Sienna shuddered. “I’m going to need therapy after this, and you’re footing the bill.” She picked up the closest bathrobe within reach and extended her arm my way. “Here.”
I took it from her and put it back on the rack without consideration. “First of all, this is a kid’s size. Second of all, I doubt the poop emoji pattern will convey the right message.”
That’s when then I saw “the one” on the next rack over— the only of its kind.
“Seriously?” Sienna asked. “You’re kidding, right?”
“You can’t talk me out of this. It’s perfect.”
She huffed. “So, when you said you wanted my opinion, you were just looking to emotionally scar me?”
“I’m sure it’s payback for something you did over the years.”
“I’d suggest the traditional gift of leather for your third anniversary, but I don’t want to travel into some bondage wasteland with you where I can’t escape,” Sienna said.
“If it eases your mind any, I didn’t buy her a whip.”
“Ridiculous amounts of therapy,” she muttered. “And are you at least going to tell me what else you bought her or do I not want to know that either?”
I shook my head. “Nice try. You two machine gun text every day, and I’m not taking any risks with this.”
“You? Not take a risk? Doesn’t sound very Seth-like.”
I pressed my lips tight and didn’t give her the answer she wanted.
“Fine, but you’re still buying me lunch as a down payment over the robe thing,” she said.
“I already made reservations earlier, brat.”
“Good. Now, can we get out of here, please? Brother and sister shopping the intimate sleepwear section at Bellington’s would be explosive Cannon Cove gossip. I can see
the headlines in The Chronicle already.”
* * *
An hour later, I arrived home after taking Sienna to lunch at Brady’s.
Another two hours after that, I finished cleaning the house.
The next hour was spent in the kitchen, preparing Jade’s favorite dinner.
At 5:15 p.m., my phone dinged.
Wife
Running late. I’ll be there soon.
Drive safe. Love you.
I love you too. xoxo
I checked the clock every minute or two, refusing to lose track of time. The candlelit dinner on our small dining room table with the dimmed lighting turned out exactly how I envisioned. The Eagles’ Love Will Keep Us Alive sounded when I flipped on the radio station of ‘90s music. Charlotte was locked in the bathroom with a new toy and a handful of treats to keep her busy for a while. I’d outdone myself and let pride swell in my chest.
The crunch of gravel sounded when Jade’s Jeep pulled into the driveway. I waited at the door, listening for the exact moment to open it before she had a chance to grab the handle.
“Hey.” She jumped with her keys in-hand, the surprise on her face transitioning to a warm smile when she saw me.
I handed her the single rose I’d held behind my back. “Happy anniversary.”
That sunny expression clouded over quickly. “It’s our…I’ve been so busy at work…and…”
To me, it didn’t matter— all I cared about was her being home. I snaked my arm around her waist and whisked her through the doorway. “It’s okay.”
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