Page 400 of Seasons of Love
“Okay, I’ll see you when you’re back then. Have a good trip.”
Mal went quiet on the other side, but I didn’t know what to say. Normally it was my job to reassure him, let him know I had his back, but my words were stuck in my throat and didn’t want to come out. I looked out to the couple who had taken a break from their photo shoot and were sitting on the sand chatting to the photographer.
“I love you so much, Griff. See you when I’m back, okay?”
“Love you too, baby,” I said before we ended the call.
This was a good thing. Mal and Jake taking a trip together. Wasn’t it?
I knew nothing would happen between them. Mal was too stubborn to give in to what he wanted if he felt it was the wrong thing to want.
There was a small part of me that wished they would get closer, however selfish that was. And an even bigger part of me that wished I was there with them.
But I wasn’t invited, which in itself was unusual. Unless…Mal didn’t invite me because my presence there would bring back the memories of that day and the temptation to repeat.
I got up and walked to the water’s edge, cursing myself for not bringing swim trunks, even though I’d known I was going to the beach.
The water was inviting, so I removed my shoes and socks, rolled my jeans up to my knees, and went in.
As soon as the water touched my toes, I instinctively jumped back because I wasn’t expecting it to be so cold. That earned me some laughs from my neighbors on the warm sand.
“You try it out,” I said. “It’s deceivingly cold.”
“I love the cold water. As soon as this little guy or girl comes out, I’ll be counting the days until I can surf again,” the woman said. “I’m Stacey, by the way. This is Carlos, my husband, and Sam, my brother and the photographer.”
I waved. “Hi, I’m Griff. Do you have long to go?”
Carlos’s face panicked a little. “The baby is overdue, actually, but since it’s our first, the doctors said even when we go into labor, it could take hours until the baby is out. We’ve been told to make the best of it.”
I laughed. “You looked like you were having fun earlier. Sorry to be a creepy voyeur, but you looked great. I bet those photos will come out perfect.”
“Thank you. Do you want to join us? We’re waiting for the sun to go down a little to finish the photo shoot,” Stacey said.
“Sure.”
Listening to Stacey and Carlos talk about their preparations for the arrival of their baby was the best thing to put my own thoughts to the back of my mind. I never intended on staying on the beach until the sun was setting, but now that I knew I’d go home to an empty house, I was glad I’d stayed.
Sam was packing up his camera when we heard a loud rumble. It sounded a lot like thunder, but then the ground moved. It didn’t last long, but it was definitely unsettling to feel the ground shaking beneath.
“Fuck, was that an earthquake?” Sam said.
“I think it was,” Carlos said, and then he picked up his phone. “I just got an alert. There could be more on the way. We need to get out of here.”
Sam quickly grabbed all the belongings on the sand and stuffed them into his backpack. I looked at where my bag with my notepad and phone were. It was probably a risk going there to get them, but I couldn’t leave them behind.
“Guys,” Stacey said with a surprisingly calm voice. “My water broke.”
“Are you in pain?” I asked. Fuck, I had no clue what happened when someone went into labor.
She shook her head but looked at Carlos with an apologetic look.
“You had contractions today?” he asked.
Carlos looked like he was about to have a baby, and Stacey would probably end up having the baby if we didn’t hurry.
“Come on,” I said. “Let me help get you to the top.”
The sun was low in the sky, but there was still plenty of light. Enough to help Stacey to a safe place and then run back down for my stuff.
