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“What? Wait, when did this happen? I mean, I’m happy for you, and if you want, I’ll ask the aquatics director for an instructor they might recommend?—"
“No!” She blurted. I scrunched my nose. She was acting suspicious.
“Okay,” I drawled slowly. “Okay, I won’t talk to him. So, what? This is just… maybe something you’re contemplating right now?”
“Yeah. I mean… what do you think?”
“Lessons might be good just to help get you comfortable around water again and?—"
“No.” She pressed her lips together. “I mean, yeah, lessons might be something I’ll want to look into, but I got it. I can handle it.”
“Okay…” I walked over to her and reached for her hand. “Anything you need, I’m here.”
“I know. I love you.”
“Love you, too. So, you might want to get a pool done? Really?”
“Yes.” Abby’s wide eyes almost smiled. “I think I’m ready.”
This was good.
Really good.
Anything to help her. I knew personally how hard the last six months had been for her. The nightmares she’d had that first month afterwards and how she slept in my bed for two.
“Okay, how about we do this? I’m good with anything you wanna do back there. You’re in charge.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I just want an egg chair, and I’ll be good.” I didn’t need much.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. Just don’t push yourself too much. Take whatever you need to do at your own pace.”
“I won’t. I promise.” She smiled in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time. Abby let go of my hand and hugged me. “I’ll call Mom and Dad.” She pulled away, and I grinned.
“Sounds good.” I winked. She left the living room and headed into her side of the duplex. I grabbed my bowl and headed toward my side.
I walked into my bedroom and straight to the balcony, up the stairs that led to the roof. When we had moved in, I had called dibs on the roof. My practical sister hadn’t blinked an eye and said I could do anything I wanted up there.
And I had.
It had taken a little convincing, but I had managed to talk my brother and his best friend into helping me carry patio furniture and an oversized chair up here, but it had been worth it.
Other than the beach, it was easily one of my favorite places in the world. The three-sixty view was incredible. The air was still warm and slightly humid, but it was something you got used to living at the beach. I got comfortable and breathed in. I was tired but not enough to call it a night yet.
From where I sat, I could look out at the beach. The waves rolled in and out in the most calming way. Part of me wanted to go back out there just to sit and let the waves touch my bare feet while I looked out at the horizon.
I loved the beach, but there was something so mysterious, almost magical about it at night. It felt different today. The way the moonlight hit the water and made it glimmer. But it was late. Poppy Beach was a small coastal town most tourists drove right past without knowing it.
It was safe, but there was no reason to go looking for trouble.
My eyes rose to the sky. It was dark and endless, but the stars tonight were sparkling brighter than ever. My lips tipped upward as I thought about the shooting star I’d seen fly across the sky. It had been beautiful. Realistically, I knew wishing on them didn’t mean much, but I couldn’t help myself.
I wished to find something more.
I hadn’t lied to Abby. I was happy with what I was doing. I loved it. But I was missing something. Something more than my nine-to-five or family or friends. I had never been the type of girl who needed a boyfriend. I was comfortable with my own company, always had been.
