That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

Is it still sitting there completely untouched, dust building up on everything, grass a mile high? Are they looking after it for us?

Or did they just go in and pack it all up, put it into storage, and walk away. Or maybe they would sell the house on us? I wish I knew.

I know they’re just possessions, but to me, they are years of memories you can’t replace.

Davina called me earlier today and ran through a few things about the plans leading up to my being moved from here. Not the logistics of it, because they never share that, but just an idea of when it will happen. Apparently, there is more media attention starting to happen around the impending trial. One of the men that was there the night it happened, died in jail under suspicious circumstances. Maybe he talked to the police, I don’t know. But it doesn’t help my nerves when I hear things like this. Although, he was a bad person, so it’s hard to feel too sorry for him.

Shaking the sad thoughts from my head, I go back to thinking about my life here now and how happy I am.

Like Kurt always says, live in the now.

The longer I sit here, the warmer it’s getting. The afternoon heat is still at its peak with not a cloud in the sky.

“What do you think, Coco, time to strip off a bit and cool down?” I slip my shirt off over my head and shake my head back and forth to let my hair fall down my back. It’s getting long now, longer than I’m used to it being. Before all this happened, it used to sit just below my shoulders, but now it’s down my back and almost at my waist. They wanted me to cut it all off and dye it, but I refused. They took my identity; I’m not letting them take my appearance too.

I think this is the first time since I’ve moved here that I’ve sat on the beach in a bikini. I never felt safe to do it before, and I might be a little self-conscious of my body. Yet Kurt has been using some very good persuasion techniques to reassure me that I can wear whatever I like and not worry about what people think. So, this is my first time testing out that theory.

Mind you, I still have my shorts on and I’m not about to take them off for anyone, not just yet anyway.

I feel safe here on the beach, knowing Kurt is watching while he’s surfing, and I know Scott is out there somewhere watching me too. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to live a life without someone watching me—besides Kurt, that is.

Looking up to the sun, eyes closed and letting the rays warm my face, I try to eradicate those thoughts. Kurt and I agreed, for the next three months, we aren’t thinking about anything except normality, here with his friends and family.

I should probably have sunscreen on, but I didn’t think the sun would still be this hot.

Coco’s bark brings me back out of my daydreams and the feeling of a shadow over me.

“Excuse me, can you tell me the time?” a deep voice I don’t recognize asks from next to me, making me jump.

Opening my eyes and sitting up quickly, I reach for my phone that is sitting beside me.

Coco wriggles backwards to make sure she is between me and the man who towers over the top of me.

“Umm…” Looking down at my phone, I say, “It’s ten to six.”

“Okay, thanks. Sorry to disturb you, I forgot my watch and was just wondering.” He smiles at me, with his very tanned and clean-shaven face, his shirt thrown over his shoulder, and patterned board shorts on.

“Are you new around here? I haven’t seen you down here before.”

I try not to laugh at his pathetic pick-up line. I mean, really, couldn’t he have thought of something more original? Plus, I’m on the beach twice a day walking Coco. If he didn’t recognize me, at least he would recognize Coco.

I don’t like new people around me, but I also know not to be rude and raise suspicion as to who I am.

“No, I’ve lived here for a while now,” I answer without really giving him anything.

“Oh, well, I’m surprised I haven’t run into you before now. Mind if I sit down for a minute and introduce myself?” My heart starts to race, not knowing how to get out of this. I feel very vulnerable with him standing over top of me, it puts me at a disadvantage. But surely, I’m in a public place and should be safe.

Before I even have time to answer, I feel droplets of water on my feet.

“Are you ready for that swim now, gorgeous?” Kurt’s voice has me turning my head with a smile plastered on my face at the look on his. Kurt looks like he is about to rip this guy apart over something as simple as asking the time and innocent flirting—well, I think that’s all it is.

I’ve seen a little of it before, but this is my boyfriend with his self-admitted overprotectiveness oozing out of him. He warned me from the beginning when I agreed to take this further that he will have a hard time keeping it locked down. And to be honest, I love it. I never wanted to be a kept woman, but having my own bodyguard makes me feel all sorts of tingles in my stomach.

“Kurt, and you are?” he asks, his hand outstretched to the man whose name I don’t even know.”

“Oh, David. I just stopped off to check on the time. Forgot my watch and didn’t want to be late for my dinner reservation. Nice day for a surf?” The guy doesn’t look fazed one bit by Kurt.

“Yeah, some good waves, but now it’s time for a swim with my girlfriend. Enjoy your dinner, buddy.” Standing his board up in