Jamie did this. He took care of something that meant everything to me. Didn’t have to. Wasn’t asked. He just did it. He was always taking care of things.

That was the kind of man he was.

“Baby girl, I missed that. I’m sorry. What did you say?” Mom asked. “Oh, and also, would you like to share how you know this McCade boy? I don’t remember you ever mentioning him.”

“Claim me, babe.” Jamie’s voice whispered in my ear and over my heart. I started breathing heavier.

“I need to go,” I said instead of answering my mom or repeating. “Um, can I just …” I held the phone between my ear and shoulder and started the car while reaching for my seat belt. “Can I call you guys later? I’m really glad you got checked out, Daddy.”

“Still something you could’ve warned me about,” he grumbled. “Almost shot the man.”

“Oh, for God’s sakes, John, you were not even carrying,” Mom reminded him.

“Okay, great!” I called out, realizing if I didn’t hang up, they’d just keep at it with each other and leave me on the line as an afterthought. “Glad you didn’t shoot him. Let me know how your tests go. Love you both.”

I hit End and dropped my phone on the seat before backing out of my driveway.

A fifteen-minute drive was managed in ten. And this was with traffic.

I was in a bit of a hurry. I also may have run a stop sign.

I parked my car behind Jamie’s Jeep and dropped my keys twice on my sprint up the driveway and onto the porch, finally succeeding in tucking them in my back jean-short pocket before I started knocking.

My hands were shaking and my heart was so happy to be here, it was leading a parade inside my chest.

I patted my thighs restlessly and stood on my toes to peer through the small rectangular window next to the door. I rang the bell and knocked again, this time using the side of my fist instead of my knuckles.

Nothing.

Hmm.

Holding on to one of the accent beams, I leaned off the porch to make sure I saw both of Jamie’s vehicles in the driveway, his bike and his Jeep, confirmed that, then knocked and rang again.

Nothing.

“Okayyy.”

I wasn’t typically the type of person to let myself into a house where I didn’t live, past or present, but I was desperate and anxious and here to claim a boy I sort of already belonged to.

Manners were being shoved aside right now.

I twisted the handle, and the door opened freely.

“Hello?” I called out, stepping inside and peering around the entryway.

The house was quiet. My voice echoed off the tall ceiling and most of the lights were off. As I leaned to the side, I caught sight of a warm glow flickering in the room behind the stairway.

“Jamie?”

I moved down the hallway and stepped inside the large living room/kitchen space.

The fireplace was on. That was the light I was seeing. Orange and yellow flames danced behind a panel of glass.

He was home. Somewhere …

He wouldn’t leave the fire going.

After checking the upstairs and every room on the first floor, I pushed the slider open and stepped out onto the deck. I moved to the railing and curled my fingers around the wood, looking out at the ocean.

Jamie.

My fingers tensed on the rail. My stomach clenched. And my heart, Lord, my heart was going crazy. Jumping up and down and pointing with frantic fingers, yelling, There he is! Go get him! Go!

Jamie was on his board, riding a wave just under where it curled.

I knew it was him even though he had to be at least two hundred feet away, partially obstructed by the wave he was riding, and harder to see thanks to the setting sun.

But I knew it was him.

He looked like he was controlling the water. Every drop of it. Something so powerful moving with his will. He made it look effortless.

Only my Jamie could do that.

I crossed the deck and descended the stairs, keeping my eyes on the water and on Jamie as he paddled out again. When I hit sand, I kicked my flip-flops off so they wouldn’t slow me down and took off running down the pathway that led to the beach.

Jamie was riding another wave when the sand beneath my feet became damp. I stopped and stood there, watching, so close to him now if I closed my eyes, it wouldn’t be the ocean I was smelling, but him.

He whipped his board left and rode in toward the shore, and when his head came up and our eyes locked, I lifted my hand to my stomach and waved.

I waved …

Honestly, I didn’t know what else to do. I mean, I was pretty certain my heart had decorated signs at this point and was holding them up for Jamie to read as if it was standing front row at his rock concert.

Come hold us, boy! We love the sound your heart makes!

With all that happening, I felt good about a wave.

When Jamie stuck his board under his arm and started walking in, I moved closer, staring at him and studying his expression. Eyes serious and those thick brows shadowing them. Jaw tight. No smile. Not even a hint of one as he shook the water out of his hair.

He didn’t look angry. He looked tortured and frustrated and uncertain of my motives. He was gauging me as he moved, as I moved.

And I swore if his heart could speak like mine, it would be telling me to run to him.

Water squished beneath my feet and crashed against my ankles as the breeze off the ocean blew underneath my top. I tucked my hair behind my ear and stopped walking when I was an arm’s length away.

Jamie kept moving and cut that distance in half.