That Day - Karen Deen (large ebook reader .TXT) 📗

should I say Kurt? Looks like you missed me,” he says, standing back from me. “Well, are you going to ask me in?”

Still in shock, I’m not sure what is going on. “Shit, yeah, sorry. Come in, come in. How the hell did you track me down? Actually, that’s a dumb question. That was always one of your top skills. Man, it’s so good to see you.” Walking into the living area, I offer him a seat at the counter. “Can I get you a beer?”

“Love one. It’s been a long drive. And yeah, to answer your question, when your work partner leaves and says, if you need a place to crash come find me, my real name’s Kurt Dolan, then yeah, it’s pretty easy.” Oscar takes the beer out of my hand and clinks it against mine.

“Well, it’s not like I need to stay hidden now. Not like you. Are you on leave or something?” I ask, sitting down on the stool next to him.

“Pfft, leave, what the hell is that? Nah, man, I’ve just resigned. Things just haven’t been the same since you left. Never know who I can trust to have my back. So, I decided to get out. Seems to have been a good decision for you.” His eyes trail around my house and out to the view. “Pretty cool digs you have here.”

“I love it. I knew I’d always come home when I was done. This is where I belong. The salt water is in my veins.” Taking a deep breath, I inhale that smell that always manages to calm me.

“Must have set you back a pretty penny, though?”

“I got a good price and then fixed it up. It’s not like we have a life when we’re undercover. My money accumulated nicely since I couldn’t spend a dime. You’d be the same.” I take a swig of my beer and then look at him a little inquisitively.

“Yeah, of course. I know what you mean.” His face turns away from me, and his eyes trail along the shoreline, checking out the row of houses, before finally settling on Asha’s house at the end of the row.

“So, what are your plans now that you’re out?” I ask. “Such a huge step, but the lifting of the pressure and stress is so worth it. You probably aren’t there yet, but let me tell you, buddy, it’s fucking awesome. Best thing I ever did.” An awful feeling runs through me all of a sudden. “Shit, I didn’t ask. Why did you get out? Nothing bad happened, did it? Not like my last job. I mean, that’s if you want to talk about it. I know it’s hard.”

“Stop tripping over your words like a girl. I’m fine. No fuckups. I just knew it was time. Needed a change.” Swallowing down a mouthful of beer, he looks up at the ceiling. I’m not convinced, but me of all people know not to push it. If Oscar wants to talk, he’ll come to me when he’s ready.

“To be honest, I only got out a couple of weeks ago,” he finally says. “I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself, or where I want to settle. Thought I might do a bit of traveling first, you know, see the country, but not from the shadows this time. See where appeals to me. You are the first port of call, working out if the ocean is the place for me. Then I have a brother up in Illinois so I’ll try that next.” He runs his hand up and down his thigh over his jeans. His brown hair is short, just like I remember it. He has a few more wrinkles around the eyes that make him look tired, but hey, don’t we all?

“I don’t remember you having a brother,” I say.

“Oh yeah, we only recently reconnected. He’s a half-brother from my dad’s first marriage. We never really had anything to do with each other until a year or so ago.” Getting up, he heads towards the back door to check out the deck. “You surf every chance you can get, I bet.”

“Absolutely. It’s my therapist. Beats talking to a real one. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, just not for me. I needed to work through it on my own.”

He leans forward along the railing on his forearms. “Spectacular view you have here.”

“Not too bad most days. Beats some of the grungy places we’ve spent time together.”

“Yeah, remember that farmhouse in the middle of buttfuck nowhere that had no electricity or water? It was like camping but under a solid roof. “

“All I remember is you complaining the whole time. Too cold, too hot, how the floor was too hard and how hungry you were.”

“Bullshit. You have lost your mind. It wasn’t like that at all,” he says, trying to defend himself.

“Okay then, let’s just pretend it wasn’t you, shall we.” I slap him on the back.

“Jerk!“ He grins.

“See, you missed me, didn’t you?” I can’t help but laugh.

“Like someone misses artichokes.”

“Random, but okay.” I look at my watch, knowing I’m supposed to be at my parents’ place in an hour’s time. “Do you have anywhere to stay?” I would prefer him not with me, but I can’t turn him away. I have a feeling he needs me, and we’ve been through so much together that I would never turn my back on him.

“Not yet, I sort of started the road trip on a bit of a whim. Recommend any hotels around here that I should try? I’m only planning on staying a few days.”

“Stay with me. If you’re only here for a couple of days, then we can catch up and you can get an idea of life by the sea before heading off on your big adventure,” I offer, knowing that Asha would probably appreciate a few days to catch up on her writing. I’m sure part of the reason she is behind her race to