Giving In (The Sandy Cove Series Book 1) by M.R. Joseph

just lower it a bit more,
like you’re getting into a bath. She does what I suggest, and
struggles, but does it.
    “See, not so bad, now try the other one.”
    Harlow pulls her foot from under her and
painstakingly dips the toes of her foot in, like the other. I have
to encourage her, bit by bit. She tenses up again, and I don’t feel
bad. She has to try to conquer this fear a little at a time. Her
foot eases into the water. Her eyes, tightly shut, but she does it.
Her body is stiff as a board, but she does it.
    She leans back a bit, still with her eyes shut.
Once her foot is all the way in, she peeks one eye open, looks to
me, and I give her an encouraging smile.
    “You did it,” I whisper.
    She grins back at me, and she’s pleased with
herself.
    “Now move your feet around. Just a little to get
a feel of the water.”
    Slowly, she does it, just an inch or two, and I
can tell it’s still hard for her.
    Her eyes aren’t focused on the water, there’s
still fear there. However, she looks to me when she sways her feet
back and forth, letting the water surround them.
    “Thanks,” she says quietly and without glancing
my way.
    Ok, tender moment over. Back to being me.
    I stand up, and she does the same,
carefully.
    “Well, I’m outta here. Gotta go surf the
internet for porn.”
    She groans, and it’s glorious.
    “Ugh, just when I think you’re actually
attempting to be a human being, you go and screw it up with your
mouth. You. Are. Gross.”
    I have to laugh, ‘cause she still doesn’t get
me. I wonder if she can hear me banging my random muff when I bring
one home?
    I should ask her.
    Nevermind. I’m trying to be a grown up.
    “So why do you say I’m gross? You didn’t think I
was gross about a year ago. I just so happen to have a large sexual
appetite, and if I just so happen to bring home a little company to
help satisfy it, then so be it. I’m twenty four, not forty
four.”
    “Do you have to remind me that I fed into that
sexual appetite? I would rather you not.”
    Aw, that makes me sad. I gave it to her good if
I remember correctly. It was certainly memorable to me. May I
remind you how many times Morty stood at attention and found his
happy place with that memory?
    I place my hand over my heart and act like it’s
breaking. I turn my mouth into a frown.
    “You hurt my feelings, Turnip. I thought it was
something you’d never forget.”
    Cue eye roll…
    There it is!
    “Don’t flatter yourself, you incorrigible
ass.”
    I shake my finger at her.
    “Tsk, tsk, Miss Hannum. Using big words again.
What’s a guy going to think when he tries to pick you up and you go
all smart on him. He may not understand what you’re saying.”
    She starts to walk away from me. I see the hard
line her mouth was in before she turned. I yell out to her as I
watch her stomp up the dock to the house. I laugh. She hates
me.
    “Where ya going?”
    She doesn’t turn around fully, but she yells to
me over her shoulder.
    “You are impossible.”
    Oh, my how I love to get this chick all riled
up. It gives me great satisfaction. But I only try to kid with her.
She needs a sense of humor.
    Poor girl.
    Her stomping away is like an open invitation to
apologize.
    This grown up things sucks the life right out of
my balls.
     

     
    So, after I apologize for the umpteenth time,
she forgave me, and now we are all at the beach, soaking up the
rays, and playing a mean game of volleyball. I hate to admit this,
because I am in no way, shape or form a fucking pussy, but the
girls are actually good. We finish the last game (we won, by the
way), and I’m in need of some sort of refreshment in the style of
one with hops and barley. I motion for Porter to hand me a beer
from the cooler he’s sitting on, but he is involved in some sort of
deep conversation with Thea. Maybe he’s trying to dazzle her with
his vast knowledge of draft beers. Who knows? Don’t care.
    “Porter, man, get your ass off the cooler and
grab me a beer,