Breaking Through the Waves Read Online Free Page B

the back seat. “Let’s walk on the beach.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest as she walked beside him.
    He wrapped his arm around her waist. “Come on, Syd. Don’t be mad.”
    “I’m a feminist. I believe in an equal partnership. I want to carry my own weight.”
    “You do. You make love to me. That’s worth more than cash.”
    “You make love to me too. We’re even in that department. This is a give and take relationship. Get used to it. I won’t change my mind.”
    He sighed. “Look, I understand what you’re saying and I respect it. When we get married, we can split bills and all that junk, but when we go out, I would like to treat you.”
    “When we get married?”
    “I don’t mean right now, but someday.”
    “You want to get married someday?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “I told you I loved you, didn’t I? I only date women that I’m serious about, women that I can actually see myself marrying. If I didn’t feel that way, I would just sleep with you then take off.”
    “So you wanted to marry Audrey?”
    “In the beginning of the relationship, I could see it. But after that, definitely not. I was trying to end the relationship more than I was trying to keep it together. When she cheated on me, I knew she didn’t love me. She just liked fucking me.” He looked at her. “But I do want to marry you. There’s no doubt about that. I know I’m not going to change my mind.”
    She said nothing for a long time. “I feel the same way.”
    He smiled. “Good. I know I said that I loved Audrey at one point, but when I think about my feelings for you, I realize I never did. And if I did, it pales in comparison to my love for you.”
    “I feel the same way about Aaron.”
    He grabbed her hand and th ey continued to walk on the beach, kicking up sand with their toes. “So, is that okay?”
    “What?”
    “That I pay for everything?”
    “I still don’t like it. I don’t pay rent and my tuition is free. All the money I make at the aquarium goes into my savings account. I have money too.”
    He sighed. “I’ll feel more comfortable if I take care of you. I want to take care of you. Please let me do that.”
    “But I don’t need someone to take care of me.”
    “Then humor me.”
    “Fine.”
    He smiled. “Thank you.”
    They looked at the water as it shined under the moon. Her dress flapped in the wind, showing her legs under the dress.
    “You really don’t need someone to take care of you?” he asked sadly. “Because I need you to take care of me.”
    She looked at him. “I meant in terms of financial stability. Coen, I do need you to take care of me in other ways, in ways that money can never buy. I’ve never called anyone, sobbing, and asked them to come to me. I’ve never been that weak before.”
    “It’s not weak, Syd.”
    “It feels like it.”
    “As soon as I find myself on hard times, you’ll be the first person I run to. You are a safe haven to me.”
    She smiled. “You’re my safe haven too.”
    “When Brutus died, I cried for days. I’m not ashamed to admit it. If people think it makes me look weak, I really don’t care. I loved someone with my whole heart and then I lost him. When you called me, it was brave to open yourself up like that, exposing yourself to vulnerability. I knew he would die one day. I still loved him anyway.”
    She watched him as he walked next to her, his eyes on a distant memory.
    “And when the dreams that haunt you come and frighten you, it’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to reach for me. I’m not going to judge you for it. I just wish you would tell me what frightens you so much. I know you don’t believe me, but I can help you get through it and move on. I suspect you won’t tell me because you chose to push it to the back of your mind, hoping it would go away on its own. I can tell you right now that it won’t.” She averted her gaze. “I’ve had clients that were beaten and assaulted in the streets. When they finally came to