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“Hey Bel Bel,” she said, picking up the small flotation device. “Wanna come boarding?”

Belle looked up and tilted her head, her tail wagging furiously.

“Come on then, in the van.” Now those words she understood. She raced to the front door and whined, her entire butt wriggling at the impatience of it all.

“Okay, I’m coming Belle,” Taylor said, laughing. “I haven’t even had time to get changed yet.”

Belle was a natural on the board, just as she hoped she would be, sitting at the front like an absolute champ. She may not like getting her paws wetinthe water, but it seemed like beingonthe water was the way to go.

Taylor hadn’t been paddleboarding in what felt like months. She missed this feeling of being absolutely free out on the water. Now she thought about it, the last time was just before Liz had broken up with her.Had it really been that long?

It was the perfect day for it too. No afternoon sea breeze or waves to contend with, the sun slowly setting along the horizon. Absolute stillness.

She also realised how long it had been since she’d let herself be this alone with her thoughts. No music to spur on the anger or block out the sadness. Just the water lapping under the board, the distant sound of kids on the shore, seagulls arguing above like a raucous Italian family.

Belle came up and lay between her legs now that they’d stopped paddling around. Taylor then lay back against the length of the board, the oar at her side as they floated along together.

Her thoughts drifted to the last time she’d got back from the beach. Liz had seemed annoyed and short with her after she’dgot back early. The wind had picked up and had become too much out on the water, so she’d packed up and come home. Walking inside the door had felt like an interrogation. Her shoulders bristled at the memory.

“What are you doing back?”Liz had questioned, like she’d done something wrong just for getting back early. She’d then muttered something about needing to pick up some groceries she’d forgotten, almost shooting out of the house like it was on fire.

Lies. They rolled off the tongue so easily for her.

Why hadn’t she picked up on the signs earlier? She felt so stupid. Instead Taylor would usually chalk up one of Liz’s moods to a bad day at work or something else equally likely.

She also wondered just how long Liz had been seeing Emily. Ugh, even thinking her name was hard enough. She’d been too afraid to ask then and doubted she had the guts even now.

Tears sprung to her eyes at the thought. She squeezed them shut, pressing at her eyelids and letting out a slow breath. What did she do wrong? What made Liz choose Emily over her?

No. Nope. She wasn’t going to go down this spiral again. Not now. Opening her eyes, she looked back out at the sunset, her thoughts flicking instead to bright blue eyes and a smile that lit up the room. She was looking forward to next week, and that was a welcome change.

Chapter Eight

Sam pushed through the door, a rush of sound enveloping her as she stepped inside The Wharf. The old hotel was a short drive at the other end of Karkalla Beach, sitting on the corner of their local main street overlooking the ocean. It had been a pub, a captain’s quarters, an orphanage, then back into a hotel again; the history preserved in its bluestone walls, now balanced by the warm wooden trims and modern furnishings.

Groups of people sat around at tables, laughter and conversation competing for airtime in the crowded space. She looked around for Alex, spotting her on her phone, hunched over in their favourite corner booth. She zig zagged her way through the crowd.

“Champagne for the lady in green?” Sam asked with a smirk.

Alex looked up, the phone clattering to the table as she jumped up to give her a hug.

“Hey stranger,” Alex replied, giving an extra squeeze, her curly black hair tickling Sam’s nose.

“Hey yourself.” Sam smiled then let go. “It’s so good to see you.” She realised just how true that statement was. Even though they messaged a lot on the phone, it was always so much better when they were chatting face-to-face.

“You too,” said Alex, smiling back at her.

“Now, please, let me grab us some bubbles.”

“I’m not gonna say no to that!”

Sam popped over to the bar to grab a couple of happy hour specials. Cheap house bubbly was always their drink of choice.

“That was quick!” Alex exclaimed as Sam slid a glass in front of her.

“Derek was on,” Sam replied in explanation.

“Ah.”