Connected by the tide, p.18
Connected by the Tide, page 18
part #3 of Hawaiian Crush Series
She smiled.
“I’ve never felt that way before. To be honest, I try to make it equal, but I don’t put in much effort. With you, it’s different. I want to make your legs shake, I want your neighbors to know my name, and I want to be the only one in your heart.”
“You are, Henry. Just like I’m the only one in yours.”
His eyes softened before he kissed her forehead. “You are, baby.”
She ran her fingers through his hair while she held him close. Her breasts were touching his chest, and her leg was wrapped around his. Henry hated cuddling, but he loved doing it with her. He was becoming so dependent that he couldn’t sleep without her. The smell of her hair soothed him to sleep, and the touch of her soft skin made him feel warm.
“You’re the best sex I’ve ever had,” he whispered.
“The feeling is mutual.”
“And we haven’t even started fucking yet.”
“I don’t want to.”
“What? Why?” she asked as her hand drifted down his back.
“I love making love to you. It’s definitely more satisfying.”
“It’s still lovemaking.”
“I want to feel connected to you at all times, to feel your soul within mine.”
“And you will. It’s even stronger. Trust and respect are always the foundation of amazing sex. I trust you, Henry. I know I mean everything to you.”
“You do.”
“More than everything.”
He smiled. “You got that right.”
She closed her eyes and sighed, falling asleep.
Henry was tired, but now he didn’t want to sleep. Instead, he stared at her thin lips and eyelashes, counting the number of hairs. She had a tiny freckle near her eye. He’d always thought she was beautiful and gorgeous, but now she was exemplary and magnificent. He could stare at her all day and never grow tired of her. His heart ached while he looked at her, knowing he was madly in love with the girl of his dreams.
He couldn’t believe the night he’d just had. For the past few months, he’d drowned in his own misery, wishing he had the girl he wanted since the moment he saw her, but now everything was different.
Renee was so much more than he’d ever expected. Not only was she beautiful with a perfect body, but she had an exceptional spirit and a playfulness about her. She wasn’t ordinary, but extraordinary in her personality and drive. After being treated like garbage, she’d finally realized just how amazing she was. Henry was glad he was the one to make her realize it. And she was the one who’d completed blindsided him with her unexpected appearance, making him forget about the girl he’d thought he could never get over. Now Renee was in his heart. Only Renee.
He was excited to begin this new relationship, a relationship built on a strong foundation of trust and friendship. There were a lot of things about himself that he hadn’t told her about, told anyone about, actually. Now that he was in love, he knew it was time to open up, reveal things he’d never even told Sydney.
His brother was a drug addict and an alcoholic. Henry was scared he would get that phone call that told him his brother had died. He’d never grieved for his father, unable to because he had to be strong for his family. He was still angry at his mom for having an affair, and he was never allowed to express that frustration. Now he had someone he could break down to. But would she still love him anyway? He hoped she would.
For the first time, he felt loved by someone who wasn’t a relative or a friend. Renee really loved him, madly and deeply. He was her muse, a man she was obsessed with. It was something he’d always wanted. Their love for each other was equal. He was thankful he’d gotten what he deserved in the end. Now it was his turn to be happy. He hoped it would stay that way.
27
Henry stood on the sidewalk as he looked into the parking lot. It was early in the morning, but the sun was shining down on him, warming his skin. The humidity of the air coated the dry cracks of his hands and knuckles. He looked at his watch and continued to wait.
Sydney’s Jeep pulled into the parking lot. A moment later, she and Coen got out and approached him on the sidewalk.
He stared at Sydney for a long time, seeing her tanned legs under her shorts and the tight-fitting top she wore. Her breasts were noticeable and curvy. Her long brown hair stretched past her shoulders, shining under the light of the sun. She met his gaze until she reached him.
He continued to stare at her, saying nothing. Her green eyes met his, sparkling in the light. He used to stare into those depths for hours, admiring her perfection and beauty. She made his heart beat like no one else, making it palpitate at a dangerous pace. The curve of her lips was still there, but they weren’t desirable or kissable. The feeling he’d had for her was gone. She was ordinary, plain. Her body wasn’t appetizing, and he didn’t want to glide his fingers through her hair. Now she blended into the crowd, no longer noticeable. While he loved her and cared for her, there was nothing there.
He smiled at her, feeling the relief wash through him. He grabbed her and hugged her, holding her against him. He said nothing, just enjoying the moment. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, but he didn’t notice. Her smooth skin didn’t elicit any desire within him.
Coen stood by and watched them, unsure what was happening.
Sydney held onto him. “Is everything okay?” she whispered.
He pulled away, smiling at her. “It’s more than okay.”
She stared at him, gauging his features.
“I don’t feel anything for you anymore.” It was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The guilt and stress he had were gone. Now he didn’t have to feel bad for loving someone else’s fiancé. He didn’t have to feel like an asshole for being in love with someone other than his girlfriend. Renee was the only one. “I don’t feel anything for you,” he repeated. “Nothing.”
Sydney smiled at him then jumped into his arms. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m so sorry about everything,” he said as he held her. “I know this has been awkward for you and Coen.”
“It’s fine, Henry.”
Coen clapped him on the back. “I’m happy for you.”
Henry pulled away. “Thanks for being so understanding. If the situation was reversed, I know I wouldn’t be so nice about it.”
Coen shrugged. “Sydney loves you. I really didn’t have a choice.”
“So you’re in love with her?” Sydney asked.
“More than in love,” Henry said, still smiling. He couldn’t stop.
“Does she know?”
“Yeah. I told her in more than words.”
Coen laughed. “I’ll bet you did.”
Sydney grabbed Henry’s hand. “I’m so happy for you. Now we can be best friends again.”
Henry shook his head. “No.”
Sydney released his hand, surprised by his response.
“Coen is your best friend now. Ren is mine. That’s how it should be.”
Sydney nodded. “I guess.”
“But we can still be friends,” Henry added. “You know I would still do anything for you. I know you would do the same for me.”
“Of course,” she said with a smile. “But you’re still my closest friend, Henry, besides Coen. I don’t want our relationship to change.”
“It will. But I think it’s better now.”
“Yeah,” she said.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. “Sydney, thank you so much.”
“For what?” she asked.
“For rejecting me. I’m so happy with Ren, happier than I ever would have been with you. Now I’m where I belong, in the right major with the right woman. I’m glad Coen came into our lives. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Everything worked out,” Sydney said.
Henry turned away. “I have to get my girl and get to class.”
“’Bye,” they both said.
Henry walked across campus until he reached the building where his first class was being held. When he walked into the lobby, Ren was standing near the hallway, but she wasn’t alone. She was talking to Dane.
Henry advanced to her, stepping in front of Dane, then grabbed her face, kissing her hard. He wasn’t jealous that she was talking to him, but he wanted to claim his territory. She responded to him, feeling his lips with her own. He continued the kiss for a long time before he broke their lips apart, looking into her eyes. “Good morning, baby.”
“Morning,” she said with a smile.
Henry wrapped his arm around her then looked at Dane. “Would you like to introduce me?”
She leaned into him. “This is the man I was talking about.”
Dane stared at him, saying nothing.
Henry met his gaze. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Dane nodded. “Likewise.”
“Let’s get to class,” Henry said as he took her hand and pulled her away.
Ren walked beside him, squeezing his hand. They said nothing for a long time. “Well, are you going to ask me why I was talking to him?”
“No. I trust you, Renee.”
She smiled. “You aren’t mad at me?”
“You’re free to talk to whoever you want. I know you only love me.”
“Well, I’ll tell you anyway. He apologized to me and said he wanted another chance.”
“Too late,” Henry said.
She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s way too late.”
Before they got to their classroom, Henry pushed her against the wall and kissed her hard, disregarding the students around them. He felt her breasts against his chest and imagined her topless. He was instantly hard. When he pulled away, he rubbed his nose against hers. “I’m so lucky.”
She said smiled at him but said nothing.
“Let’s get to class,” he said as he opened the door for her.
They took their seats in the back of the class. Henry kept glancing at her, seeing her hair cascade around her shoulders. He stared at her fingers for a long time, noticing the sharp edge of her nails. He imagined her scratching his back when they made love. Her presence continued to distract him. They got into small groups with the other students and dissected a play.
Amy, a girl who sat in the next row, joined their group. “Are you a transfer student?” she asked Henry.
“No.”
“I’ve never seen you before. I thought you were new.”
“I just changed my major to English,” Henry said.
“Oh,” Amy said. “What was it before?”
“Zoology.”
“Cool. Now, that makes sense. I definitely wouldn’t have forgotten you if I had seen you before.”
Henry wasn’t sure what that comment met. He opened the play and turned to the page he’d highlighted. “I think the author is manipulating the reader’s emotions to root for the character even though they shouldn’t. It’s the use of words and language that makes this effective, not dialogue or character development.”
Amy nodded. “I write for the school newspaper. You should apply to be one of our editors.”
“Uh, thanks for the offer.”
“I’m the lead editor, so I decide who we hire.” She leaned closer to Henry. “We can get coffee and talk about it after class.”
Now he felt really uncomfortable. He thought his classmates knew he and Ren were together. They didn’t share affection in class, but they were still together around campus. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m too busy to work on the paper.”
“What else do you do?” she asked with interest.
“He and I work on Penumbra together,” Ren said.
“Oh, that’s cool,” Amy said in a bored voice. She turned back to Henry. “But you’d actually get paid for this. It’s good money.”
That got his attention. Now that he’d switched majors, there really was no reason for him to work as a janitor at the aquarium. And if he made more money, he could move of out of his apartment. He hated living there. “What are the qualifications?”
“Let’s talk about it over coffee,” Amy said with a smile.
Henry looked at Ren. Her face was stoic, but he knew she was angry. He didn’t blame her. “Sure. It can be the three of us.”
“Three?” Amy asked, confused.
“Yes, my girlfriend and I already had plans for coffee. You can join us.”
Amy raised an eyebrow, looking disappointed. “Oh. Who’s your girlfriend?”
Henry reached across the table and grabbed Ren’s hand. “This beautiful lady right here.”
Amy blushed then averted her gaze. “Yeah, sure.”
“Cool,” Henry said. He released her hand then flipped through the pages of the book. When he glanced at Ren, she was smiling at him, approving of the way he’d handled the situation. When their class was over, they picked a time to meet Amy before they went to their next class. When the period was over, they walked toward the cafeteria.
“Renee, are you okay with this?”
She shrugged. “I’m a little uncomfortable.”
“Then I won’t do it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“But do you want this job?”
He said nothing for a long time. “I really don’t want to work at the aquarium anymore.”
“Then do it.”
“I care more about you than a job, Renee.”
“I trust you, Henry. I don’t care if that stupid bitch wants you.”
He smiled. “A little angry, huh?”
“I knew women would come onto you, but I never expected it to happen right in front of me.”
“In her defense, she didn’t know. And she backed off right away.”
Ren sighed. “You’re right.”
He kept his arm around her as they entered the building. They met Amy at a table. Henry pulled out Ren’s seat then sat beside her. Amy didn’t look comfortable being so close to Ren. She kept her gaze averted, only looking at Henry.
“As a writer, you can write an article about anything you want, as long as it’s appropriate, school-related, and another writer isn’t doing the same piece.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Henry said with a nod.
“Each article pays two hundred dollars, and our newspaper is released once a week.”
“Can I only write one article?”
“You can write as many as you want, but that doesn’t guarantee it’ll be accepted.”
“That makes sense.”
“We meet in the English building in Dr. Peterson’s office. She has a computer lab, a printer, and the software. She’s also the faculty in charge of the production.”
“Great. I’ll check in often.”
Amy nodded. “I look forward to working with you.”
Henry noticed how professional she was being since Ren was sitting beside him. He was glad it had worked out that way. Now he didn’t have to worry about making Ren jealous or upset. Amy clearly understood that he wasn’t interested. “Me, too.”
Amy grabbed her bag and stood up. “I’ll see you later.” She turned and left the building.
Henry smiled at Ren. “It’ll be fine.”
“Just as long as it stays that way.”
“You got nothing to worry about, babe.” He grabbed her bag then helped her out of the chair. They walked to the table where his friends were sitting. Sydney had a big smile on her face, happy that Henry was finally over her.
Henry helped Ren into a seat. “What would you like, baby?”
“You don’t have to get my lunch every day, Henry.”
He kissed her on the forehead then walked away. “I’ll pick something out, then.”
She sighed as she watched him go.
Henry piled his tray with food then returned to the table, sitting beside her.
“You wouldn’t need a job if you didn’t have to feed me all the time,” Ren said.
“I like feeding you,” he said as he put the tray in front of her. He started to eat his sandwich with one hand while he draped his arm over her chair.
“You guys are cute,” Nancy said with a smile.
Henry knew Sydney had told her everything. It was obvious in the way Nancy was smiling. “Yep. She’s the apple of my eye, the spring in my step, the joy in my smile.” He leaned toward her and rubbed his nose against hers.
Derek cringed. “Now you are just annoying.”
Henry ignored him.
Ren ate her salad and nibbled on her sandwich. She didn’t eat much, but Henry didn’t push her. Some people just didn’t have an appetite.
Sydney had her textbook out, and she was flipping through the pages.
“Shouldn’t you be looking at a wedding magazine?” Nancy asked. “Your wedding is coming up.”
She shrugged. “We have everything planned.”
“What about the guest list? The cake?”
“Uh, I was going to get to that,” Sydney said hesitantly.
“You’re so obsessed with being diligent with your studies, but you aren’t even preparing for your wedding day.”
Sydney sighed. “I know. I’m just busy.”
“We need to get your cake.”
“I know. When do you want to go?”
“This weekend?”
“That works.” Sydney looked at Henry. “Can you come?”
“You want me to?” he asked in surprise.
“I need a man’s opinion.”
Coen rolled his eyes. “Baby, it’s just cake.”
She ignored him. “I still want you to come—if you want.”
“Yeah, of course,” he said
Sydney looked at Ren. “You’re coming, too, right?”
Ren stopped eating, staring at her in surprise. “You want me to?”
“Of course,” Sydney said. “You’re a part of this family, too. I would love it if you came.”
Ren looked at Henry, a smile on her face.
He nodded to her, reassuring her.
“I would love to,” she said.
Sydney clapped her hands. “Great!”
“We’ll have champagne and get fat together. Then we’ll tell Sydney she’s the most beautiful bride ever,” Nancy said.
“You’d better,” Sydney said with a smile.
“You don’t get tired of me saying it all the time?” Coen asked.
