But maybe…just maybe he’s worth the risk.
“Thea?” my dad asks.
I lift my head. “I’m sorry I lied, Pops.”
His face crumples at the sight of my tears, and his arms are around me not even a second later.
“Shh. It’s okay, peanut. We’re not mad.” He squeezes me tighter. “But now I’m a little concerned. Things seemed to be going well—what happened?”
“It’s nothing,” I tell him, pushing myself away and swiping at my eyes. I can’t be crying in front of employees, embarrassing myself. “We’ll work it out.”
I hope.
“Listen, I’m only going to say this once, okay? Don’t throw something away just because you’re scared.”
I open my mouth to say something, but he beats me to it.
“Did you know I tried to leave your mother once?”
Now my mouth is open for completely different reasons.
He nods. “I did. It wasn’t my finest moment, but I got scared. We were young. We were getting married, moving in together. Everything was moving fast, and things were getting serious. I woke up one day in a panic because it was just all so real, you know? Then I realized I wanted real. I wanted the easy, the hard, the moments when I wasn’t so sure. I wanted it all because it made those good times all that much sweeter.” He exhales. “What I’m saying is, don’t let something good, something real pass you up just because you’re scared. Running might seem easy, but it’s not. It’s a lot harder than sticking around and wading through all the bullshit, because then you’re left with the regrets. Don’t run, Thea.”
Take the leap. Enjoy the fall.
Slice Twenty
Sully
“Okay, now that was a sick wave.” Winston slicks his wet hair back, looking down at his camera. He scrolls through the photos and lets out a low whistle. “I got so many cool shots, man. Gonna have fun looking through all of these later.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, not really paying attention.
I’m sure he got some great photographs, but it doesn’t matter. I wasn’t feeling any of it.
He pauses in his examination for just a moment but doesn’t say anything, continuing to look at the images with a creased brow.
I know he’s dying to. He’s been dying to.
All fucking week.
But he knows me. If I want to talk, I’ll talk.
And I do not want to talk.
Especially not about Thea.
Not about how I told her I love her and she stood on the edge, refusing to leap.
What hurt the most is that I know she wants to jump; she just doesn’t think I’m worthy of taking the chance.
I settle my board on the sand and take a seat, bringing my knees up and resting my arms on top of them. Winston sits beside me, scrolling through the pictures on his camera, still not saying anything.
We sit there in silence for I don’t even know how long. It’s early, the sun barely up over the horizon, and the water is a beautiful beast today.
I take a deep breath and try to exhale all the mixed emotions inside me, attempting to find my calm, but it’s no use.
It’s been no use all week, and it’s really starting to grate on me.
Surfing is my escape, the water my sanctuary—but I can’t seem to find a lick of peace in either.
My peace left when Thea did.
Winston clears his throat beside me. “So, any big plans this weekend?”
He doesn’t know the details of what happened with Thea—I haven’t broken that promise to her—but he’s put two and two together and has picked up that it’s nothing good.
I glare at my best friend. “I’m not stupid, Winston. I know that’s your way of asking if I’m going to the wedding.”
“Well, are you?”
“Yes.”
He seems relieved. “Good, because the whole town has been invited. You have to go.”
I had no intention of missing the wedding, but he doesn’t need to know that.
I might have broken the rule about not letting feelings get involved, but I’m not breaking my promise of being her date. I would never leave her in the lurch just because I screwed up.
Winston sighs dramatically, doing that thing people do when they want attention but don’t want to outright ask for it.
I’m not one to play games.
He does it again, and I grit my teeth.
“Dude, I am not in the mood for your shit. What’s that rule you have for me? If you have something to say, then say it.”
He tries to hide a smile. It pisses me off even more.
He doesn’t miss it.
“Sorry, man. I’ve just never seen you this worked up, not since the night you moved here when some dude was hitting on Thea and you got all pissed and stepped in.”
“I didn’t step in. You did.”
“Oh, Sully.” Winston laughs. “That’s not how that went at all. You were shitfaced, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t the one to initially say something. It was you. I was busy talking to Wren and missed what happened first. I didn’t get involved until you said something to the fuckface and he stepped to you to fight. That’s when I was there.” He grins again. “It’s funny…you were so pissed about it all night. You couldn’t fathom how anyone could be so cruel to a woman so beautiful. You promised if she ever needed rescuing again one day, you’d be there for her.”
He’s wrong.
He has to be wrong.
There’s no way.
“Why are you telling me all this now?”
“What? And ruin all the fun? I find it funny as shit that you, Mr. Juju himself, didn’t see this epic love story of yours coming from a mile away.”
Fucking hell.
“You think I’m lying?” he asks, testing me.
I know he’s not. I can sense it.
Fate is that sure of us, baby.
I said that to Thea the first day I met her.
I was kidding, just trying to screw with her since she had just ambushed me with the request to help her. I didn’t have a clue who she was then.
But I know her now.
I know who she is. I know what makes her tick, what makes her smile, what makes her laugh and cry and feel like she’s on top of the world.
I know what makes her real.
“Look, man,” Winston says, exhaling sharply. “You’re the most tightlipped motherfucker I’ve ever met, and while I appreciate that in a lot of ways, it makes it hard to read you sometimes. I don’t know what happened with you and Thea, but I can tell it sucks. You were there for me and Drew while we got our shit together and went through everything we did, so I want to be here for you too. If you love her, and I think you do, then fight. Don’t just walk away when shit gets too hard.”
I laugh wryly. “I don’t want to walk away, man. I told her I love her.”
“Take it that didn’t go well?”
“She left. She’s scared, and I don’t know what to do about that.”
“She’s not wrong to be scared. Love fucking sucks. It’s hard and it’s messy. It can hurt, but it’s also so fucking rewarding.” A dopey smile crosses his face, and I know he’s thinking of Drew and her son, Riker. “Don’t give up on her, Sully. Don’t stop fighting.”
I grab a handful of sand, letting the grains fall through my fingers. “I don’t want to. She feels like everything I had no clue I was missing.”
“Love will do that. It’ll sneak up on you, make you realize you were content but could be so much more. I mean, not me personally. I was a miserable fucking bastard before Drew came along, but it did catch me by surprise.”
“The best things in life usually do.”
“Funny coming from you.” He rises to stand. “All right, I’m out. My wife should be waking up any minute, and I’m sure she’ll be wondering where the hell I am.”
I nod, my eyes still trained out on the water.
<
br /> He pats my back and shuffles through the sand, making his way down the beach back to his house, which isn’t too far away.
He’s at least a hundred yards away when I hear him call out to me.
“Hey, Sully?” I turn his way. “Love her enough for both of you until she’s not scared anymore. Then love her some more.”
I didn’t bother driving to the ceremony. There was no point since the bride and groom are getting married in the middle of town…literally.
The small gazebo that’s been part of the town since its formation is a popular spot for weddings, and I guess they wanted to keep the tradition alive and hold on to their roots.
I slip into the back row, miraculously finding a seat.
“Ah, Sullivan. You made it,” Mrs. Harkle says as I take a seat beside her. “I was wondering if you’d show or not. I haven’t seen our Thea at your boat all week. I figured you two were on the rocks.”
I grunt, and Mrs. Harkle titters.
“Well, well. I guess I’m not too far off in my assumption.” She frowns. “A pity, too. I thought you two made a lovely couple.”
“Really? I figured you’d want Thea out of the picture so you could have me for yourself, Mrs. Harkle.” I wink at her. “Don’t think I don’t see you watching me work on my boat. Your deck is plenty clean—no need to sweep it four times a night.”
She momentarily looks affronted, but then she shrugs. “An old woman can dream, Sullivan.”
I grin, settling into my seat and shifting my attention to the front as a hushed murmur falls over the crowd when the pastor—who I know to be Frankie’s father—takes his place.
“Gosh. I just love weddings. Always so magical,” Mrs. Harkle whispers. “And dramatic.”
I laugh quietly as Jonas takes his place and the music begins to play.
The wedding party is small, just the one witness for each of them, so I know when Jonas beams, it’s because Thea’s starting her walk toward the front.
My heart hammers in my chest as I turn to watch her. Her arm is entwined with that of a guy I’ve never met as they slowly make their way down the aisle. A light green dress hugs all her curves in just the right way, and my fingers twitch with the desire to touch her again. It’s been too damn long.
When she takes her place next to her brother and turns toward the back, awaiting the entrance of the bride, I forget how to breathe.
Thea’s always been gorgeous, has always made my heart race.
But tonight?
She’s fucking stunning.
As if she can feel my eyes devouring her, she finds me in the crowd, her lips parting on a soft surprised gasp.
Jonas hears her and looks out toward me.
He grins, then leans over and whispers something. I can’t read his lips from here, but I don’t miss the small smile that plays at Thea’s lips.
She pulls her eyes from me, but I don’t pull mine from her.
Love her enough for both of you until she’s not scared anymore. Then love her some more.
Winston’s words echo in my head as I watch her the entire time, because even if I wanted to, there’s no way I could take my eyes off her.
I want to talk to her, to tell her I’m not giving up, but she doesn’t give me a chance.
As soon as the short ceremony is over, she’s gone.
I search and search but finally give up and head for the reception.
It’s another half an hour before I spot her again, mixed into the crowd talking to Randy and Blythe, the older couple who frequents Slice maybe more than Simon does.
She smiles and laughs, and to everyone else, it appears as if nothing’s amiss in her life.
But I can see the cracks. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and her laugh is missing its warmth.
She’s cracking. Hurting.
And I want to fix it all.
“Hey, man.” Winston settles next to me. We’re standing inside the massive tent for the cocktail hour, waiting for the reception to begin. “You look like shit.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Thanks. Glad to hear it.”
“I brought you shots to cheer you up. I know you’re not much of a drinker, but it’s a wedding and you have to celebrate properly.”
I stare down at the liquid, my nose wrinkled. “Is that tequila?”
“Since I am fully aware of your alcohol-tossing tendencies despite you thinking you’re so sneaky about it, no. It’s whiskey.”
“Thank fuck.” I grab a glass and tip it back.
“I guess booze was the right choice.”
Winston slides the other shot my way, and I shake my head.
“Nah, I’m good. Just needed a little something to take the edge off.”
“I get it. We’ve all been there, tortured by waiting for the one we love to love us back.”
“That obvious?” I ask.
“Only to me.” He downs the shot. “If it makes you feel any better, Thea’s looked over here no less than ten times throughout this whole thing.” He points toward our group of friends, who are keeping their distance because they all know I don’t feel like company. “Those idiots have been counting.”
“Oh, those idiots have, huh?”
“Fine.” He grins, not even trying to hide his guilt. “I might have joined in.” He takes a deep breath.
I look over to find her eyes on me.
Her gaze is searing, her eyes wide, and even from here I can see the way her chest begins to rise and fall.
Thea might be scared, but she still wants me.
I step toward her, but as soon as I make the move, she darts away, disappearing into the crowd again.
“Damn,” Winston says. “Feels like I’m watching the Discovery Channel or some shit.”
“Why? Because she just ran away like a scared gazelle?”
“No, like I was pretty sure you two were about to do it like they do on the Discovery Channel. That was some intense eye-fucking.” He laughs, giving me a shove. “Go get her, you idiot.”
“It’s not really the appropriate place…”
“Come on, man. Weddings are supposed to be for romance and all that other sappy shit. Just go get her. Talk to her. Tell her you’re not backing down. You have nothing to lose.”
“I…”
All arguments I might make fade away because Winston is right. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Fuck it. I’m going after her.
I take off in hot pursuit, heading the way I last saw her go, and then the lights dim.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the DJ says over the speaker system. “Please join me in welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Schwartz!”
Whistles and cheers go up from the crowd as Jonas and Frankie make their grand entrance.
Great, now I’m stuck here.
Jonas grabs for the mic.
“Hey, everyone. Frankie and I wanted to thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate with us. We appreciate you tolerating our last-minute nuptials, and for that: open bar!” Everyone cheers. “We’re going to do things a little less traditionally. We want you guys to enjoy your night and free booze to the max, so we’ll be skipping first dances and speeches and all that boring stuff. You guys know us, so there’s no point in filling you in on all the juicy details. Let’s face it, this is a small town with a strong love for gossip, so we all already know them anyway. Let’s just party and have fun, because holy shit, we’re married!”
Jonas sweeps Frankie into his arms, kissing her hard. Everyone hollers and applauds again.
“Thank fuck. Weddings are so boring, man,” Winston says.
“Dude, you did all that traditional shit at your wedding.”
“Yeah, and I’d have saved a fuck-ton of money if I’d have just gone to the courthouse like I wanted.”
“But you did it for Drew,” I remind him.
“Yeah, and she was worth it.” He gives me a lovesick grin. “Want another shot? Because my ass fully intends to take advantage of that
open bar.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“Suit yourself.” He claps me on the back. “By the way, man?”
“Yeah?”
“I found Thea.”
He gestures toward the dance floor, and the air leaves my lungs when I see her standing there in the middle of the room with a microphone in hand.
Everyone else seems to notice too because the room goes quiet, all eyes on her.
“Well, shit. You guys really know how to make a girl feel noticed, don’t you?” A light chuckle ripples through the space. “I know Jonas said there wouldn’t be any speeches tonight, but I’ve never been one to follow the rules.”
She exhales.
“I’ve always looked up to my younger brother. No, really—he’s like way taller than me. But it’s been more than that. The kid has never been afraid to take risks. Play football when he has asthma? Sure, why not. Shoot for the sky and try to get into the NFL? Yeah, he did that too. Then he did something really whacky—he fell in love. He put his heart on the line and he took the plunge. I’m so, so proud of him, and I’ve always wanted to be just like him when I grow up. Not playing in the NFL or anything because coordination is not my thing, but I want to be brave like him. I want to fall hopelessly in love like him. I want someone to look at me like Frankie looks at him when he says something about her ankles—whatever that means.”
Another long exhalation. “Last month, I did something whacky too. I know some of you are probably sitting there with this look on your face like, Thea, we’ve known you since you were a baby. This isn’t a surprise.” The crowd laughs again. “You’d be right. I do crazy stuff all the time, like decide to be a mechanic when all the cards are stacked against me, or spend my non-working hours at a pizzeria even though I hate pizza.” She looks off to the side. “I don’t want to hear it, Simon.” He rolls his eyes but grins at her. She continues, “But that’s nothing compared to my latest foolish act. You see, last month I enlisted the help of a kind stranger. I asked him to pretend to be my boyfriend, and he agreed. We made a list of rules and set boundaries. But, because fate works in ways none of us anticipate, we broke the rules. He fell in love with me.”
Cheesy on the Eyes: Fake Dating Romcom (Slice Book 5) Page 19