Chapter 34

Mason

Just a few hours ago, I was buried inside sweet Kenna with no worries or fears. But as I stared at her message, the stakes suddenly felt impossibly high.

Kenna: Come over after work?

Me:I'm cooking out on Sullivan's Island tonight. I can after.

Kenna: Can we meet up before? I'll be on Isle of Palms around 4.

Me: Okay. Breach Inlet, Sullivan's side. 4:15?

Kenna: See you then.

My stomach clenched. A chat could mean so many things. I didn't want to overthink it, but it was hard not to worry.

When I left her earlier that morning, the sun shone overhead. But in just a few short hours, it felt like everything had changed. I could sense the dark clouds rolling in, casting shadows upon us.

I didn't know if we would be able to weather the storm.

I parked my car at Breach Inlet and hopped out, eager to join Kenna on the beach. To my delight, the tide was low, revealing a vast expanse of beach I rarely saw.

Kenna was already there, perched on a blanket, lost in her thoughts as she stared at the endless ocean.

"Hey, you," I said.

As I stood before her, my heart raced with conflicting emotions. I couldn't decide whether to embrace and kiss her passionately or maintain a safe distance. Ultimately, my instincts took over, and I sank to my knees, pulling her in for a hug. My lips found hers, and we kissed fiercely, temporarily dissolving my worries.

"Hey," she finally squeaked out as she pulled away from me.

She didn't get very far.

I pulled her towards me, wedging her between my legs, her back pressed against my front.

"How's your day been?" I whispered into her neck.

A small, frustrated huff escaped her lips. She turned towards me, and her emerald eyes hinted exhaustion. Something was weighing heavily on her mind, and she needed to release it.

"Talk to me," I said.

She looked out to the ocean, "I heard from Brett today."

What the fuck did numbnuts want?

"How did that go?" I asked.

"He sent me your mugshot," she admitted. She sounded ashamed, though I couldn't tell if it was because of Brett's actions or my own.

I dragged my hand down my face. "Okay," I said. "I'm sure you have questions."

"Were you selling weed?" Kenna asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes," I confessed. "I was only buying enough to smoke and to sell to my friends, though. But I was hanging with the wrong crowd at the time, and they were involved with heavier shit..."

She nodded, but she didn't take her eyes off the ocean in front of her.

"Kind of ironic that you called me a drug dealer, don't you think?" I chuckled.

Kenna's eyes finally met mine. "Don't joke about it, Mason," she said. "This is serious."

Humor was my go-to coping mechanism, but I knew Kenna deserved more.

"I understand why you're disappointed in me," I said.

"I wish you had been the one to tell me. I wouldn't have held it against you."

"Do you hold it against me now?" I asked.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I don't think the charge is a big deal. I mean, weed is legal in half of the United States. I just hate how I had to find out."

"Brett is a fucking prick," I mumbled.

"It's not his fault," she said, and she might as well have slapped me.

"My record was cleared," I told her. "He snooped for that information. He wanted to hurt you, to hurt us."

When Kenna's eyebrows shot upward in surprise, I could tell she was carefully mulling over my words.

"I promise you," I said. "I was going to tell you."

"You don't owe me anything," she said as she stood and brushed the sand from her dress. "It was just a one-night stand."

Hearing her words, I jumped to my feet.

"We both know it wasn't just a one-night stand," I said.

"I have to go," she said. "I'm meeting a client for coffee, and I'm sure you need to start prepping."

With a gentle pull, I drew her close to my chest. She came to me with no resistance. She melted into me, and the tension in her muscles slowly dissipated as my arms encircled her frame.

With a sudden, jolting movement, Kenna pulled away from me. Her body recoiled as if she had just placed her hand on a hot stovetop.

It pained me to see her so torn.

"Can I see you later?" I asked.

She looked at her feet, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Okay," I replied.

I wasn't going to force it. I'd give her time if that's what she needed.

The silence only added to the weight of our unspoken emotions as we walked to our cars. I gently opened her car's driver's side door, the cool metal handle chilling my hand. She slid inside, and I reluctantly closed the door behind her, resisting the urge to press a kiss to her forehead.

I offered Kenna one last wave before I steered down the road towards my next destination.

∞∞∞

As fate would have it, I found myself cooking for a couple's milestone thirtieth wedding anniversary celebration.

The happy couple nestled into each other on their porch, basking in the warmth of companionship. As they laughed and whispered, I busied myself in their kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for them to share.

When I looked at the two of them, my thoughts wandered to the unknown.

What would it be like to have a lifetime partner? To share every milestone and mundane moment with someone who would undoubtedly be your closest confidant and most trusted companion? The weight of such a bond was both frightening and alluring.

A wave of clarity washed over me.

Marriage had never even crossed my mind as a possibility. That is, not until I met Kenna.

I was suddenly captivated by the idea of spending a lifetime with someone. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wanted to be the one to bear witness to Kenna's life. Its significant and insignificant moments.

It was as if an invisible veil had been lifted, and I could finally see for the first time.

And I knew exactly what needed to be done.

It was time to show Kenna the parts of myself I was not proud of, the messy pieces I'd rather hide.

I was ready to bare my soul: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Not because I wanted to, but because she was worth it.