Page 75 of Under the Waves

“What do I have to do for you?”

“Start taking down some of those walls you hide behind, because Poppy…”

My brows crossed. “Yeah?”

“Isee you. The real you, and you’re beautiful and so fucking talented it makes me jealous every time you surf. That rivalry we had? It meanteverythingto me—it made me a better surfer, so let me repay you for all those years of shit I gave you. Let me help you. Let meseeyou.”

I see you.

The real you.

You’re beautiful and so fucking talented.

Let me help you. Let me see you.

His words filled my head and I stilled against him. I wasn’t even sure if I was breathing. I didn’t deserve him at all, yet…I found myself wanting to.

I wanted to be worthy of him. I wanted to show everyone that I could be more.

That Iwasmore.

Don’t believe his lies.

Don’t believe them.

Don’t believe, Poppy Wells.

Don’t.

He wanted tohelp me…Jasper Ridge wanted to help me and every bone in my body wanted to let him. My heart thundered to the sound of his voice, each prayer that fell from his lips. Itwasn’tlove. I didn’t think I was capable of such nonsense. Andif my home life was any indication of what love had the potential to become, then I wanted no fucking part of it.

I wouldn’t let Jasper fall into my world.

I wouldn’t let him become another statistic on my shelf.

Broken home.

Broken life.

Broken mind.

Justbroken.

Look how badly love ended for my family!

I couldn’t do that to him because he was so muchmore.

So much more than I would ever deserve.

Start taking down some of those walls you hide behind.

Could I do that?

Could I really allow myself to be that vulnerable?

I nodded,barely. It felt like all the right words were out of my reach. His head tucked in by the crook of my shoulder and I knew he understood my answer. I knew he understoodme.

Jasper Ridge was my other broken half, and together, we made something imperfectly beautiful.