Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

15. Sophie

Chapter 15

Sophie

T here’s a feeling I get whenever I’m on this island. It’s a place not far from home, but it makes me feel like I’m somewhere else entirely. The air is salty but breezy, the sky appears brighter, and as I stand on the deck this morning after completing a yoga workout and look out at the blue-green water edged with white sand, I can’t help but wonder why it is that I’ve stayed away for so long.

Camille was right. I needed this.

It’s quiet, except for the slow rolling of the tide against the shore, the rustling of the seagrass as it sways back and forth over the dunes, and the cawing of the seagulls. Not many people have found their way out yet this morning, and I’ve immensely enjoyed the peacefulness and the serenity of my surroundings. During my residency days, I read a study that talked about different ways to lower blood pressure. Did you know that all it takes is one minute and forty seconds of looking at an open body of water for a person’s blood pressure to lower? Such a short amount of time has such a positive effect on the human body.

Gratitude sweeps over me that I’ve met such a generous soul. She didn’t even think twice about offering me her house, and it’s a house that I absolutely love. Then again, she has this unique decorating ability and could make a run-down shack or an igloo look appealing.

Grabbing my mat and rolling it, I walk back into the house and take in the details I’ve always loved. While the walls aren’t stark white, they aren’t fully cream either. They’re painted just so that the interior feels bright and warm. Large windows face the water with sheer white curtains, the furniture in the living room is a soft caramel leather, and there are pops of color and beach decor like a pale-blue-seafoam-and-white swirl area rug, blue fabric chairs at the island, navy-and-white-striped pillows, and fish accents. The lamp bases are fish, fish artwork adorns the walls, and there’s even a large glass fish on the dining room table filled with shells she’s found.

I should collect some shells while I’m here. When I end up moving back to Minnesota, they will be a nice reminder of my time and friends here.

Friends.

All along the hallway wall to the upstairs bedrooms are pictures of Reid, Camille, their families, and their friends. Of course there is a recent one with the guys from the team in it. I shouldn’t be surprised, but as I search for a smiling Jonah, my eyes lock on him when I find him.

I’ve always thought that Jonah Dallmann is the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen with his kind eyes, gentle smile, and spectacular body. But after seeing his vulnerability and love for Vivi last night, my attraction for him moved to a whole new level. There’s something about seeing a guy who is head over heels in love with their child—after all, that is what she is now—and who wouldn’t find that attractive?

I know what’s happened to them both has left some deep scars, but as his eyes shined bright while staring at Vivi’s every move, mine couldn’t help but do the same. All those people were there for her last night, but I hope he realizes they were there for him too.

Gently, I touch the photo, then make my way to the shower. I have three whole days to myself where I don’t have to think about work or what I want to do next with my life, assuming the Minneapolis dream doesn’t turn out. Should I be using this free time to do just that? Probably. But there’s sunshine, a brand-new book in my bag to read, and I just want to have food delivered while I sit back with my feet up.

Coming out of the bathroom, I round the corner as I head toward my room and run right into another person. A small person. It’s so jarring to me that I screamed because I didn’t expect someone else to be in the house.

Loudly.

And so does the little person. Or should I say little girl.

We are screaming at each other for a good couple of seconds even though our brains have recognized who we’re looking at.

The massive sound of thunder hits the stairs as Jonah heads our way, yelling for Vivi.

Like the train wreck that is about to happen, in slow motion, he rounds the corner with his features a mix between severe and terrified, snatches her up without even looking to see what the problem is, and his hand lands in the middle of my chest as he shoves me hard away from them. Hard enough that the wind is half knocked out of me, and I’m thrown backward. With a resounding thump, I ricochet off the floor twice.

“No!” Vivi yells at the same time I roll to my side, curl into a ball for self-preservation, and let out a noise that sounds like a whimper.

It’s not like I think he’s actually going to kick me, but what if he did? Fear does crazy things to people, and sometimes they can’t see straight.

“Ms. Sophie,” Vivi calls out, wholly distressed.

“Sophie?” Somewhere in the short span of me hearing her trying to get down out of Jonah’s arms and me with my eyes squeezed shut, the red haze he saw clears, and he breathes out, “Sophie. Oh my God, are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

Both of them are now squatting down next to me, and it’s then I realize that I’m lying on the floor and remember I’m only wearing a small towel. The one that was wrapped around my head has half fallen off, and for all I know, my butt and other bits are hanging out for both of them to see.

So humiliating.

“I didn’t expect for there to be anyone else here. What are you doing here?”

My eyes shoot to his, and I’m not sure what he sees, but he blanches.

“Please let me help you up,” he says, putting his large, warm hands on me and lifting me to a sitting position.

I’m clutching the towel to my chest, and my legs are pressed together so tightly, but even still, this is so embarrassing. The towel on my head slides and falls off.

“I’m here because Camille gave me the house for the weekend. I told you last night I was going out of town. What are you doing here?”

I move to stand so I can pull the towel down. Vivi’s eyes are so big as she stares at Jonah and me, while his expression is a mixture of confusion and awe. What he has to be awed over, I have no idea.

“Reid told us to take the house this week since they weren’t coming this year, and it was available. Vivi loves the beach.”

If I wasn’t so mortified, I might actually stop and take the time to think about this, but I am, and I need him to stop looking at me.

Both of them.

“Do you mind?” I ask while picking up the extra towel off the floor, clutching it to me, and trying to shrink into myself so they both don’t see anything I don’t want them to see. Not that Jonah hasn’t seen it before, but it’s been a long time.

His cheeks flush red, and being more agile than a man his size should be, he jumps back and grabs Vivi.

“Right. We’ll just be downstairs in the living room.” At that, he spins and walks off with her tucked under his arm. Vivi looks back at me and grins.

Racing to my room, I pick up my phone and fire off a text to Camille.

Did you know that Vivi and Jonah were going to be at the beach house too?

I wait for a response, but nothing comes. No three dots, no call, no nothing. Silence.

I drop the phone on the bed and then myself, facedown, groaning into the comforter.

What are the odds that both of us end up here at the same time? Knowing all of our friends, I’m guessing pretty high.

Peeling myself off the bed, I get dressed, throwing on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I brush my hair, stop to look at myself once in the mirror, and then head back downstairs. Jonah is hauling Molly’s crate inside, and next to the base of the stairs are their bags and a cooler.

“So,” he says, dropping the crate and moving to the living room. His gaze follows me as he sits on the couch, and I sit in a chair opposite him. Vivi has Molly, who is running around and sniffing, checking things out.

“So,” I answer, not really sure what I should be saying or really doing. Am I expected to leave now? I really don’t want to, and the longer we stare at each other, the more my nerves kick into high gear.

He makes me nervous, and I don’t know why. I wasn’t nervous the night we were together, but maybe it’s because so much time has passed, and I’ve thought about him a lot over the years. The reality of him vanished, but the memory became almost dreamlike. And now here he is, staring at me like he’s happy to see me.

Vivi breaks the silence as she wiggles her way in front of me. “Do you want to go to the beach with us? Uncle Jonah promised to help me build a sandcastle but hates looking for shells. We could look for shells.”

I glance at him to try to gauge if he’s on board with this or if he wants me to leave. Do I want him to leave? No. Suddenly, with her invitation and his open expression, I think this weekend will turn into something completely different altogether.

“If it’s okay with your uncle, I’d love to go,” I tell her, and she smiles while squeezing the dog.

Jonah clears his throat and relaxes further into the couch with one arm thrown across the back. “I hope you’ll stay the weekend too. The house is big enough, and Vivi would love the extra company,” Jonah says.

“Just Vivi?” I tease, and as soon as the words are out of my mouth, my eyes widen in panic.

Why did I just say that? This is not how people talk in front of children, and she’s sitting right there, looking back and forth between the two of us. Jonah’s eyes widen too as he takes in my reaction, and then his lips press together in a suppressed grin. “I’d like to stay,” I tell him.

His smile grows, and he lets out a deep exhale. “Good.”

“Yay! I’m going to go change,” Vivi tells us as she sets Molly down and runs off while Jonah and I continue to stare at each other.

His gaze slowly travels over me, and it feels like he’s dragging a feather across my skin. My stomach tightens under his perusal, and then he frowns. His eyes linger on my shirt, turning heavy with remorse and guilt. “I really am sorry I shoved you. I heard her screaming, and I just reacted. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I’d forgotten about that, and my hand involuntarily moves to the center of my chest. It’s not sore, and neither is my tailbone, but my pride might be—after all, this is Jonah Dallmann.

“I’m good. No worries, no damage done, and I completely understand,” I reassure him while standing. “But I’d better go put on a suit. I’d hate to keep her waiting.”

A smile tips one corner of his mouth as he stands too. “I’d better go do the same. Oh, and, Sophie . . .”

“Yeah?”

“Not just Vivi,” he says, his voice low and deep.

Heat flashes through my system.

Oh my.

That’s how I ended up on the beach, under an easy shade that Jonah put up, sitting in a low-to-the-ground chair and watching them build a sandcastle with different-sized plastic buckets.

The view is so good, and I’m not talking about the water.

Jonah is shirtless with a hat and sunglasses on, and he’s wearing a pink swimsuit that isn’t long and baggie but medium length and the perfect size for his thighs. It should be a sin to look as good as he does. His arms are long and layered with muscles, and his abs look like they’ve been sculpted they are so perfect. I would say I’m envious of how fit he is, but I’m aware of how much work he puts into his body to get it to look that way, and well, no, thank you.

My eyes also find a tattoo that he didn’t have before. It’s not super large, but it’s placed on his left rib cage, just under his heart. From what I can tell, it looks like stars, maybe a constellation permanently inked into his skin.

From my bag, my phone beeps, and I see it’s Camille.

Oh, I might have heard that somewhere. I hope it’s not a problem.

Remember what I said about her having a sweet soul? I take it back. She totally planned this.