Spin My Love (My Love #1)(50)
He laughs. “Yes, I have.”
“You can talk to me, you know, about anything. I want to be there for you, and I’m sorry that I haven’t been.”
He nods and smiles at me. “Okay. Now stop being stubborn and give me a kiss.”
I do just that.
“We lost Levi,” he says, “but you need to get up and out of this bed. Our son needs you. Justin needs you.”
“I know,” I tell him, tears filling my eyes. “It’s just not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” he agrees, voice breaking slightly.
He gives me his hand for me to stand up. I take it, squeezing his larger hand in mine.
I believe his words. I just hope that I’m right to trust my instincts on this one.
Trust.
Honesty.
Commitment.
I value these things, and I know Tane does too.
I trust him. And I will until he gives me a reason not to.
*****
Giselle
I answer the door wearing nothing but my ratty robe. When I see Bianca standing there, I do a double-take. “Ummm, hello.”
“Hello Giselle,” she says, smiling sweetly. “I brought you some cake, and I thought we could have a talk?”
I do like cake.
I open the door and let her in. I’m home alone and wasn’t really expecting any company, but not much I can do about it now.
“I’m sorry about Levi,” she starts, exhaling deeply as she sits down at my dining table. I nod and look down at the mention of him. “Gage isn’t taking it so well. I’m trying to be there for him as much as I can. I’m just happy he hasn’t completely shut me out.”
“I’m glad my brother has you to be there for him,” I manage to say.
“Well that’s the thing. I was kind of hoping you would let me be there for you as well,” she says.
I lift my head. “What do you mean?”
“I love your brother,” she says. “And you’re a big part of his life. I was hoping we could get to know each other. Be friends.”
I smile. “That sounds great, Bianca.”
“Maybe we could go out for dinner and drinks sometime next week?” she asks.
“Yeah, I could do that.”
“Great,” she replies, looking relieved.
“Now can I have some of that cake?”
She laughs. “So Gage was right then; bringing the cake was a good idea?”
I should have known my brother was behind this.
“Would you like some coffee?” I offer.
“I’d love some,” she replies.
I get up and make her some, and we spend the rest of the morning chatting. Turns out Gage’s taste in women isn’t so bad after all.
*****
Gage and I sit side by side in the sand, letting the small waves wash over our feet.
“How are you?” I ask him, squinting against the sunlight.
“As can be expected. He was my brother, you know?”
“I do know,” I whisper. It’s been a month. It doesn’t feel like it’s getting easier, but we’re trying to move forward.
“Do you know why Levi never entered any surfing comps? Why he didn’t want to go pro?”
“No,” I reply. I didn’t know why. Levi had always told me he wasn’t interested, that he loved surfing more than anything and he didn’t need to go pro to do it. He told me he was happy with how things were.
“He didn’t want to leave you and Parker,” he says quietly. “He said he was happy staying here, in Perth.”
I swallow hard, the pain in my chest tripling.
“Bianca has been amazing,” he says so quietly I almost don’t hear him.
“I know she has. You’re lucky to have her,” I say.
“Thank f*ck you like her.” He sighs.
I laugh. “I like anyone who makes you happy, Gage.”
He turns to me, sunglasses covering his eyes. “Thanks, Giselle.”
“You know, if you two have a kid I owe you a shitload of babysitting.”
He laughs. “Fuck yeah you do.”
“Thanks for always being there for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother,” I tell him, playing with the sand with my fingers.
He clears his throat. “You know I love you, baby sister.”
“I do.”
His actions always tell me so; he doesn’t need to say the words.
“I’m going to surf for a bit,” he says, going deeper into the water with Levi’s board in his hand.
I watch him surf and imagine Levi is right there next to him.
*****
Tane
“Hello, Leanne Davies speaking,” a female voice answers. I take a deep breath. This won’t be easy.
“Hey Leanne, it’s me, Tane.” I don’t have to wait long for the onslaught.
“Tane! What the hell is going on? You’re supposed to be in New York in ten hours.” She’s pissed, and she has a right to be. Unfortunately, she’s going to have to deal.
“Yeah, about that …” I begin. “I’m not going.”
“You’re not …” she says in confusion. “What the hell do you mean you’re not going?”