“You say it like you’re complaining,” she traces her thumb over my cheek, “but you’re smiling.”
“He’s like a brother. Even when he’s annoying me, I love him.”
“Aww.”
“Boone had a few Marine buddies who were Lost Kings. They had a charter close to the bar. So they’d stop in all the time.”
“Ah, the story of how a king was born is becoming clearer.”
I chuckle because she’s not far off the mark. “After Boone passed, he left almost everything to me. I wasn’t old enough to run the bar yet but his biker friends helped me out.” It could sound like they tried to fleece a kid who had no idea what the fuck he was doing, but the guys who stepped in were good men who genuinely wanted to help their friend’s nephew muddle through.
“What about Jiggy?”
“My aunt left him some money. He…took care of unresolved issues with his family.” That’s a nice way to put it, anyway. “When he returned, he helped me run things. We hung around with the Lost Kings more and more. Because I owned their favorite bar, we didn’t get as much bitch work as your usual prospect.”
“Oh, you had a secret way in.” She nudges me with her shoulder.
That gave the wrong impression. “I still worked my ass off and had to prove myself, don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t trying to imply you’re a slacker,” she says.
“I know you weren’t.” I tip my head back and search the sky. We’ve been here for an awful long time. “Ready to get back on the road?”
“I am if you are.” The smile slides off her face. “You all right?”
Normally, I’d hate my girl asking that question. But I understand where it’s coming from. “I am. Like I said, I wanted to tell you…I was waiting for the right time.”
“I get it.”
“Think you’re hungry now?”
She rubs her stomach. “Actually, yeah.”
“We’ll stop and buy food. Grill it up when we get to the campgrounds. We can do some hiking, see some Redwoods.”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to see them up close,” she squeals and fuck if it’s not the best damn sound in the world after reliving all that misery.
“Well, you’ll see lots of ‘em.” I groan as I pull myself up and stand.
The tide’s come in and water swirls between the rocks. Not enough to be concerned about but Shelby stares down with wide eyes and a trembling bottom lip.
How could I forget she can’t swim?
“Wait here.” I jump down to a lower rock and back up to where she’s waiting. “Get on my shoulders.”
“What? No. You can’t carry me. You’ll fall on all these slippery rocks.”
“Shelby, you know when you say stuff like that you’re just daring me to flip you over my shoulder and haul you off the beach with your ass pointed to the sky.”
“Oh, all right,” she grumbles. She places her palm on the top of my head then her other hand on my shoulder. Finally she drapes a leg over my other shoulder. “Shoot! Oh my gosh!” She digs her nails into my hair.
“I got you.” It’s more awkward than I anticipated but, after a few wobbly moments, she’s situated. I navigate the rocks easily but breathe easier once we’re on the sand, away from the reach of the tide.
“Ready for me to set you down?” I ask.
“Yup.”
I squat low enough for her to slide off but somehow she ends up hooking her arms around my neck and sliding down my front. “Hey, stranger,” she rasps, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Any time.” I lift her up and down a few times. “Got my workout in for the day.”
Peals of laughter spill out of her as I raise her in the air again. I might actually be addicted to the sound of her happiness.
“I volunteer to help you with your workouts whenever you need,” she says when I finally set her down.
“I’m going to remember that and hold you to it.”
She slips her hand into mine. “I don’t care about driving through redwoods or anything but a nice, peaceful night at the camp with you so I can center myself for tomorrow’s show.”
After everything she so patiently sat and listened to, I owe her that much. “Done.” I take her hand and head toward the parking lot.
“Wait.” Shelby pulls free and hurries closer to the water’s edge.
“What’re you doing?”
She squats down, digging her fingers into the sand and flinging it to the side.
“You building a sandcastle?”
She pops up in front of me. “Nope. Don’t make fun, either.”
“I’d have to know what you’re doing to make fun of it.”
She cups her hands together around my head, face, and chest. Like she’s capturing butterflies or lightning bugs. “Uh…whatcha doing, chickadee?”
“This.” She holds her cupped hands in front of her. “All this darkness and bad energy. Stays here. Let the ocean purify it.”
She’s totally serious and straight-faced as she drops down and presses her hands into the sandy hole, releasing whatever she captured.
When she seems satisfied, she quickly fills the spot in, packing the sand down hard.
I’m not sure if I believe in whatever she’s doing but I appreciate the intent behind her short ritual. Too bad I have to ruin it with my big mouth. “You can’t bury the past, Shelby. I’ve tried. Look where it got me.”
“I’m not trying to bury your past. Good and bad, it’s made you who you are. But the hurt and dark feelings? Leave them here.” She rests her palm against my chest. “The past isn’t your home. Your home is with me right here in the present and the future we’re going to create together.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rooster
The first rays of sunlight slide along the edges of the RV’s blinds the next morning. Maybe there was something to Shelby’s energy cleansing ritual yesterday. No nightmares followed me home from the beach.
Then again, I always sleep well next to Shelby. I glance at her soft, sleeping form. No regret about sharing my past with her clings to me. My painful secrets are safe with her.
This time, I made the right choice. She’s the right person.
Careful not to wake her, I slide out of bed and throw on some clothes.
It’s cool and slightly damp outside. Feels good, though. I inhale deeply and catch the outline of someone sitting on top of one of the picnic benches by the water.
I crunch over the pebbles, not bothering to be quiet about my approach. He’ll sense me coming either way.
“I told her all of it.” My voice breaks the stillness.
Jigsaw slowly turns his head, his dark gaze roaming over me for a few seconds. “And?”
“Well, she’s still here. She didn’t run away screaming.”
His gaze narrows. “I hate to be a dick so early in the morning and say ‘I told you so’ but…”
“Yeah, God forbid you ever act like a dick.”