Western Waves (Compass 3)

Damian held my hand as we allowed the water to wash over our toes. In my mind, I thanked Kevin for bringing Damian into my life. Quietly, I told Mama how good it felt to be happy for maybe the first time in a long time.

I didn’t even have to wonder anymore if Damian felt the same way about me because every time he touched me, I knew.

We made love on Christmas morning and made love in the sand on Christmas night.

26

Stella

* * *

A few days after Christmas, I was still on a high from the holiday. Milo and Damian were inseparable, and every time I saw them together, my heart would soar. I spent the morning getting everything organized for my studio. I sat at my computer, making lists of things I’d need and deciding how I’d set up the space. There were so many possibilities for how the studio could be used, and I was more than excited to explore them all.

As I was sitting at my computer, I gasped when an email popped up. Followed by another. And another.

A flood of commissions began to hit my inbox, and I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement. “Oh my goodness,” I muttered. I rushed from the living room to see Damian, and without any lead-up, I shouted, “Five!”

He raised an eyebrow from his own work. “Five?”

“Sorry. Excited. I mean, firstly, before I explode, hi, how are you? How was your day?” I asked, trying to control my excitement.

He snickered a little. “Good and good. Now, tell me your news before you explode.”

“I got five commission pieces to do!” I did a little jig and clapped my heels together as I jumped.

His eyes widened in shock as he stood from his desk. “Holy shit, that’s amazing!”

“I know. I mean, I just put up my website, and I hardly promote it on social media. So I’m just blown away that it’s even happening.”

“You’re amazing. It’s not shocking that people are taking note of it.”

I felt my cheeks heat a little as they always did whenever Damian paid me a compliment. “I know it’s not a lot. I mean, people probably get a lot more projects than that and—”

“No.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, no?”

“I mean, no, we aren’t going to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Diminish your excitement about how big of an accomplishment this is.” He walked around his desk, then he sat on the edge of it and crossed his arms as he looked at me. “We should celebrate tonight. Let me take you out to dinner.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not that big of a deal. Plus, I heard you talking on the phone about how much work you must complete. Sorry, I shouldn’t have even crashed into your office, knowing your work schedule has been crazy.”

“Yes, it has. And yes, I’m busy, but never too busy for you. And yes, I’m taking you out to dinner tonight.”

I smiled. “You really don’t have to, Damian. Sorry. My excitement got the best of me.”

He eyed me up and down, and a tiny smile found his lips before he looked down at his wooden floors and then walked over to me. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “Be ready at eight. I’ll make reservations.”

“Damian—”

“I’m so fucking proud of you.”

Six words.

Six heart skips.

Six seconds before my eyes filled with tears.

I couldn’t remember the last time a man said he was proud of me, outside of Kevin.

“Thank you,” I choked out.

“Always,” he replied.

I turned to let him get back to his work, but he called after me. “Stella, wait.”

“Yes?”

He brushed his thumb against his nose and leaned back in his chair. His lips curved up into the smile I was falling in love with, and he said, “Hi there.”

Butterflies. So many butterflies as I bashfully replied, “Hello.”

27

Damian

* * *

December was the month of discovering happiness, and January was the month of lovemaking.

That was it.

That was the month’s recap.

In the living room, on the kitchen countertop, on the beach, in the shower. Every inch of that house had Stella’s body pressed against mine. Each time I made love to her, I swore it felt as if she was promising me forever.

I hope she felt the promises I was silently making, too.

I never had forever, but now all I wanted was it with her.

She began working at her studio in the evenings, and I couldn’t have been happier for her. Some days, I’d take my laptop to the studio to work on my projects because I loved being able to watch her in her element. We hardly talked on those nights, but just being around her made the visits worth it.

Milo was beyond the perfect companion for me. When I looked at him each day, it blew my mind that anyone could’ve hurt the sweet guy or even thought about ending his life because he was a bit difficult to train.