Page 385 of Seasons of Love
I smelled the delicious coffee, took a sip, and waited.
Nothing.
Even after reading through the last few chapters, I couldn’t figure out how to write the final chapter.
“What’s wrong, honey? You look lost,” Elena said as she cleared the table next to mine.
I sighed. “I’m not sure. The words aren’t coming. I mean, I know how to end the book, but nothing I write feels right.”
Elena took a seat and rested her elbows on the table.
“Okay, let’s talk this through. You have the whole book, correct?”
I nodded.
“So…” she trailed. “You just need the happy ever after.”
“Thanks for telling me how books work,” I said, trying to sound sarcastic and failing.
“Griff, you’re living your own happy ever after. Honey, I’ve seen your husband. I bet you get a happy ever after every night,” she said with the biggest wink ever to be winked.
I bumped her shoulder, and she laughed.
“Amiright, though?”
I thought back to this morning when I woke up to Mal sucking my dick like a vacuum cleaner before declaring he needed me inside him. That was definitely a very happy ever after.
“Damn, Griff. Say no more. That face tells me everything I need to know. I should charge you double for your breakfast on account of you having awesome sex and me having none.”
I laughed.
“I think I’m going for a walk on the beach to clear my head. Can you wrap my bagel up for me?” I asked.
“Of course, sweetie.”
According to the locals, the tourist season hadn’t kicked in fully yet. There were people walking on the beach, but nothing like the numbers we could expect to see in a month.
It would be a shame to lose the peace and calm of the seaside, but I knew it would be good for all the local businesses, and especially Mal’s resort.
At his last job, Mal had an apartment on-site, so I got to know everyone he worked with and felt like I was a part of their big family.
At La Catarina, we had our own house outside of the resort. I liked it because I could be myself and make friends without being worried that anything I said or did could affect Mal’s work, but at the same time, I didn’t get the scoop on what was happening.
I removed my shoes and walked to the shore, where the waves were flowing gently over the fine silver sand.
As the cold water of the Pacific hit my toes, realization hit me. I knew why I was blocked.
It had been a few days since we’d seen Jake again, and at Mal’s boss’s house, of all places.
Mal had refused to talk about it, but I’d seen how affected he’d been by Jake’s presence. I’d felt it too, but unless he was willing to talk, I couldn’t push it. I knew pushing Mal would only result in him clamming up.
I walked home via the market, where I bought the ingredients to make the pasta recipe I’d found online that had piqued Mal’s interest.
By the time I turned the corner to our place, I felt a little more settled than I normally did after a walk.
I nearly jumped out of my skin and dropped the shopping bag when I was halfway up the path and saw Jake sitting on the grass by the rosebush.
“Sorry…I’m…um, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Jake said, getting up. “There was no one here, and I used to look after the roses…um, before.”
