Sea Breeze 03 - While It Lasts

this. I had to share this with him. “We were going to grow old together. But he didn’t come home.” Cage released his hold on my hand and slipped his arm around my shoulder pulling me up against his side. I laid my head on his chest and let the last tears I knew I would cry over Josh Beasley fall.
    We didn’t talk. He didn’t ask me for more than I was willing to share. Instead, he just held me. His hand gently rubbed up and down my arm and he placed kisses o n my head from time to time. O ther than that, we just sat there in silence.

    ~*~

    After I’d left Cage at the lake I came back up to the house and went to my room. The guitar in the corner sat in its case reminding me daily that it was once a part of me too. I’d manage d to take off the ring. I’d conquered driving the Jeep. I wanted to play again. I closed my bedroom door and walked over to my bed directly across from the guitar case. The stickers that Josh had bought me over the years covered every square inch of the black case. I’d hated the black case when Daddy had brought it home. When I’d outgrown my first guitar he’d gone to buy me a new one. I’d wanted a cool case. The simple black case had been so boring. Josh had come over that night to see my new guitar and I’d told him how unhappy I was with the ugly case. The next day he’d shown up with a couple of funny bumper stickers and put them on the case. I’d laughed and told him it was perfect. Over the next couple of years he’d brought me stickers from places he went, or just random ones he’d come across and thought I’d like.
    This was going to be the hardest hurdle but I’d lost so much when Josh had died . I wanted to get some of it back. My music was something I missed. Reaching for the case , I picked it up and laid it down on the bed beside me. Opening the lid slowly my heart picked u p it s pace as I took in the sight of the smooth wood and familiar pick stuck in the strings. The notebook where all my songs were written was tucked safely under the neck. I wouldn’t play those songs. Not yet. Small steps.
    With reverence I took my old friend out of it s velvet lined case. Tonight I w ould just tune it. That would b e enough for now. Holding it in my arms , I closed my eyes at the familiar feeling. It was as if I’d come home. My eyes stung with unshed tears as the emotion that came with being a ble to hold it in my arms again sank in.
    I began tuning it as I strummed each string. The simple melody surrounded me. The world around me fell away. Just like before, it was just me and my music . Every emotion I’d held inside over the past year and a half began to bleed out into the music. I played through my sorrow, my anger, my bitterness, my forgiveness and finally the hope that was slowly taking root inside me.
    My out-of- practice fingers began to numb and I slowed to a stop. The wetness on my face surprised me. They weren’t sad tears. Not this time. This time they were happy tears. Maybe there would be a tomorrow after all.
    The sound of clapping startled me and I opened my eyes to see my daddy standing in the doorframe. His eyes were watery and a smile tilted up each corner of his mouth. “That’s my girl,” he said in a husky voice thick with emotion. “You don’t know how good it was to come inside and hear that sound.” He pressed his lips together tightly and inhaled deeply through his nose. “I look forward to hearing more of that.” He nodded once in approval and the n headed on down the hall to his room.

Chapter Thirteen

    Cage

    I pulled Eva’s badass little Jeep into the parking spot reserved for my apartment unit. Eva’s dad was gone for the weekend on a deep- sea fishing trip so I’d brought her home with me. The moment I’d finished work I’d washed up and changed and we’d headed out. I wanted her to go out with me tonight and meet my friends. I also wanted her in my bed. My nice big king size bed. Having her in my space suddenly seemed real damn important.
    “It’s right on the water?” Eva gasp ed as I reached behind her seat and grabbed her small suitcase.
    “Yep and I intend to get you out on that beach in your hot little bikini with me while we’re here.”
    She smirked at me then opened her door and got out.
    I walked arou nd the back of the Jeep so I could grab her hand. The idea of her being here made me ridiculously happy.
    “It’s almost nine. Will your friends still be out? Or will everything be closed?” she asked