Page 26 of Suddenly Beck

‘I did it!’ He grins wildly.

‘Yeah, you did,’ I reply, and I’m dazed by that smile. It’s so infectious, and I can actually feel his happiness and exhilaration as if it were a tangible thing that I could wrap around myself.

He laughs again as the waves buffer into us, and he stumbles against me, grinning. I unconsciously grab his hips to steady him. The laughter dies on his lips as he realizes how close we are. Another wave smacks into us, the current swirling around our legs as he grabs onto my arms to keep his balance and feeling the sand shift and drain away beneath our feet.

My gaze drops to his full lips as I pull his lithe body closer, feeling the wiry strength and shape of his body against mine. For a second, it’s like time stops, and all I can hear is his breath and the rapid pounding of his heart against my chest.

‘Nat!’ a voice calls from the shore and the moment is lost.

We break apart, reaching for our boards as he turns to see Georgie waving one hand, the other holding up her phone as she takes a picture.

‘Hey, Nat!’ She grins. ‘How did it feel to catch your first wave?’

He whoops loudly as he half jogs, half wades through the water toward her.

‘Did you see?’ He grins like a kid at Christmas.

‘Hell, yeah, I did!’ she laughs, waving her phone. ‘Got it all on camera for you to watch back later.’

‘Oh my god.’ Nat shakes his hair spraying Georgie with water. ‘That was so epic!’

‘Oh, I know that look.’ Georgie smiles widely. ‘Got bitten by the bug didn’t ya?’

‘Shouldn’t that be bitten by the crustacean?’ He grins.

‘Crustaceans don’t bite.’ She shakes her head wryly. ‘You’re one of us now, brother!’

‘That was so incredible.’ Nat beams and it’s like being blinded by the sun. ‘I can’t wait to go back out.’

‘Well, I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait,’ Georgie tells him. ‘Aunt Mel called; she needs you up at Sully’s.’

‘How did she know I was here?’ Nat blinks in surprise.

‘Are you kidding?’ Georgie answers but her gaze is firmly fixed on me. ‘Nothing gets by that woman,’ she murmurs.

‘I better get going then.’ He smiles, turning those beautiful eyes on me. ‘Thanks, Beck, it’s been a really good day.’

‘Welcome.’ I nod as I watch him jog up the beach and prop his board up next to the shack.

‘Wanna tell me what’s going on?’ Georgie smirks knowingly.

‘What?’ I shrug innocently. ‘There’s nothing to tell, we’re friends that’s it.’

‘Sure, it is,’ she agrees sardonically as she lifts her phone and wiggles it. ‘I saw your face just now, Beck, and other than Jesse and Ryan, nobody knows you like I do; now shall we watch this back and you can tell me you’re ‘just’ friends.’ She raises her hands and makes little quoty fingers in the air.

‘It’s true,’ I object with a sigh. ‘Because that’s what we agreed.’

‘Why would you do that?’ Georgie frowns in confusion. ‘He’s a total hottie, and from where I’m standing, he’s just as into you as you are him.’

‘It’s not that simple.’ I shake my head as I get a firmer grip on my board and begin to make my way up the beach.

‘But why?’ She jogs to catch up with my long-legged stride.

‘You do know that you sound like a two-year-old right now.’

‘Stop deflecting,’ she tuts. ‘Insulting me is not going to get me to change the subject. I’m one of your closest friends, Beck, so you may as well tell me, or I’m just going to bug the shit out of you until you do.’

‘You already bug the shit out of me.’ I scowl.