Page 114 of The Time It Takes
“He said you were cool.” He huffs a breath as if he didn’t just warm something in my chest. “I told him if he was wrong, he’d have to arrest you.”
I bark a laugh. “I’m flattered.”
“What’s flat…turd?” He sounds out the word and I laugh again. I’m not even surprised it took a four-year-old to cheer me up.
“Is your dad with you?”
“Duh, he’s on the beach with Uncle Tay.”
“He lets you come out here by yourself?”
“You were out here so he said it was okay as long as I went straight to you.”
I narrow my eyes. “So, you knew I wasn’t a stranger.”
He shrugs shyly. “Well, now you aren’t.”
I nod at that. “Aren’t you like four?”
Finn’s brows furrow and he holds up four fingers. “I’ll be five in four months, Willow tree.”
“That’s not my na—you know what,”—I hold up my hands in defensive.—“Sure, yeah, fine you’re practically five then. My fault.” His sass is all Phoebe, and I can’t help my smile. “It’s pretty cool that he lets you come out this far,” I acknowledge.
He looks behind us. “He only lets me when there are no waves so I can get used to the water.” He tugs on the straps to his life jacket. “Mom makes me wear this stupid thing.”
“Moms suck sometimes,” I tell him.
He lets out a sigh. “Yeah.” Silence stretches between us, and I can practically hear the wheels turning in his little brain. “Are you a mom?”
I look over at him. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t think I’d be a very good one.” I don’t know why I’m being so honest with the kid. Something about his innocence makes him easy to talk to. When I was a kid, I wished people were more honest with me about a lot of things.
A whistle sounds from behind us on the beach. Taylor and Dean wave their hands in the air. Finn looks back at me, excitement blooming in his expression. “Hey, do you want to do my lessons with me? My dad said it’s been a long time since you surfed.”
I press my lips together. “I would love to, Dirk.”
I let Dean and Taylor run us through some drills. I pretend to fall off my board a few times on the ridiculously small waves that crash against the shoreline to hear Finnick laugh. Taylor finds it amusing that I’m participating in the lessons and starts shouting orders at me like a drill sergeant, but I don’t care because my stomach hurts from laughing so hard at Finnick’s contagious giggle.
I watch how Finn tilts his head to the side as he listens to his father talk. He looks up to him so much all ready. He watches his movements like a hawk and does his best to mimic them. As the two of them enter their little bubble, I dust the sand off my kneecaps and saunter over to where Taylor stands. Taylor’s eyes slide over to Ben’s board and an easy smile spreads on his lips.
“Been a while since I’ve seen this raggedy thing,” he retorts.
My eyes drag along the dents and nicks from rocks and shells. “Thought it could use some love. Plus, I broke mine." My eyes shift back over to Dean and Finn. “He’s a fast learner.”
Taylor steps up beside me, crossing his arms. He’s silent for a moment before saying, “I really thought you were leaving again.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” I say quietly.
He sighs. “You don’t have to, you know.”
“Meaning?” My eyebrows draw together as I look up at him.
He stares down at me with an unwavering expression. “It’s time to come home, Will.”
I look away, not able to stay strong under his gaze. I have responsibilities in New York. I can’t just up and leave without a plan. There are preparations I’d need to make first. The thought causes my heart to thunder with anxiety. With everything that has happened since being back, I haven’t thought much about what will happen when I leave again.
