When she drew near to the pier, she was surprised at how busy it was. Several people sat along the railings, their lines cast into the waters below, while others enjoyed their coffee and friendly company. Her eyes danced across the moving bodies, searching for the one that she'd come to see. A burst of rich laughter, smooth as honey, rose above the other noises around her, and her steps came to a halt. She would have recognized that laugh anywhere. Guided by its sound, she moved towards it, her body floating across the pavement. The laughter faded, and she came to a stop. Standing on the tips of her toes, she craned her neck, her eyes falling on a group of men gathered in the middle. She was sure that she saw a net at their feet. That had to be them. Several of the men laughed again, Derek included. The sound wrapped itself around her like a warm hug, and she couldn't help the smile it inspired from her. In the middle of the gathering, Ashlyn spotted him, and her heart skipped a be

He knows everything now."I don't think I understand what the problem is. Isn't him knowing everything a good thing? Otherwise, what would your friendship stand on?" Kass asked, rubbing her forehead.Ashlyn turned and leaned against the back wall of Salt. She was doing a terrible job of explaining the mess that consumed her brain.Because why would he be interested now that he knows what a trainwreck I am? I'm a complication, a puzzle that no one can solve. His time and energy are better spent elsewhere, she answered, realizing how ridiculous her excuse sounded when she voiced it. She hated being seen as a hindrance or as anything but ordinary. Yet, here she was labeling herself as such to justify her actions."You're self-sabotaging."I'm not, I'm just... she started to defend herself, but she couldn't come up with a good argument. She was self-sabotaging. Kass was right. She'd seen an opportunity to withdraw and protect herself before things could become too serious, and so she

But, the guy on the pier? She asked with confusion."He mentioned that something happened and that you didn't go near it anymore. I connected some dots." He shrugged. "I don't blame you for being hesitant around it, or even the ocean after what happened, Ash. We all have fears, and sometimes they take a little more time to overcome."I don't think I can overcome this one, she sighed, looking away. He placed a hand on her knee."You can." He spoke with certainty. Her smile was awkward in response, not quite sure she was ready for that conversation just yet. With some time, maybe she'd be ready.So, what exactly do you know? She asked, changing the subject."You lost your Father, who you loved dearly, and you haven't stopped grieving." Though he spoke with a sadness in his voice and did well to hide his judgments, his words still filled her with a sense of guilt, like she should've been over this by now. Perhaps he was right, but he didn't understand how it felt to lose someone lik

The breeze that tousled her hair was refreshing, and with each push of her legs, she inched higher and higher until she was swinging higher than Derek's perch on the wall.Checkmate, she thought towards him, throwing him a playful wink when he glanced her way. He leaped down and jogged towards the swing that was now empty beside her."You should know, where I come from, I am a three-time swinging champion," Derek grinned, walking the swing back as far as he could, then launching himself forward like a slingshot.He pushed himself hard and fast, gaining height quickly."Surrender, Ashlyn, while you still can," he laughed menacingly.Ashlyn threw her head back with silent laughter, forgetting about the hat she wore on her head. When the swing moved forward, the wind it generated caught her by surprise and carried the hat from her head.She looked at Derek, her eyes round, and her mouth forming a little o. She then turned to look over her shoulder, the swing going off course as her

Guilt danced seductively at the corners of his eyes, reminding Ashlyn that she still didn't know what had happened to Liam, and why Derek carried it like such a heavy weighted burden. It was true what they said; Grief, whether it came all at once or slowly, piece by piece, indeed was the price one paid for love."Our greatest adventure was during our final year of college when he convinced me to cut into my savings and live for a day. It was the week before our finals and the both of us were cramming as much study as we could into our last days when suddenly one afternoon Liam stood up, and he threw his textbooks in the bin, then looked to me as though he expected me to do the same." Derek chuckled."'Let's do something crazy,' he'd said to me. There was this energy, this desire to chase the thrill in his eyes, and I knew that there was no way I could have said no. I wished I would have the next day, though, when we pulled up to a skydiving field." He rubbed the back of his neck."