Life After: The Complete Series

by Julie Hall

  I was buttoning up my shirt when Talon appeared in the doorway. The soundtrack for the boarding clip was still playing on the TV behind him.

  “You sure this is what you want to do?”

  “There’s nothing I’m more sure of,” I answered without hesitation and with a lightness of heart that always came when I thought about my girl.

  Talon heaved a sigh and shook his head. “I mean, Audrey is hot and all, but . . .”

  He let his statement hang in the air.

  “She’s more than good-looking, and you know it.”

  Audrey was beautiful.

  That wasn’t a point up for dispute.

  When she walked into a room, heads would turn and eyes would sweep from her shiny brunette head all the way down to her brightly-painted toes. I didn’t always like it—the caveman inside me wanted to throw her over my shoulder and steal her away from prying eyes—but it couldn’t be helped. People were always going to notice her. The girl didn’t know how to do ugly.

  But she was so much more than just another pretty face. When I looked at Audrey, her soul shined back and warmed every dark corner inside me.

  After grabbing my wallet and shoving it in my back pocket, I pointed a finger at Talon.

  “And don’t disrespect my girl.” The warning was clear in my tone, and Talon put his hands up in surrender.

  “Hey, as long as this is what you really want, I’m behind you. I had to make sure. Bro-code and all.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder good-naturedly before loping back to the couch and plopping down.

  I’d bet money he was only going to move from that spot today to eat and use the bathroom.

  I laughed under my breath. I remembered those days. Talon had a rare day off from training, so if he wanted to waste it binging extreme sports and drinking a case of Red Bull, I wasn’t going to get on him for it.

  “See ya,” I called over my shoulder as I opened the front door. “I won’t be back ‘til late.”

  “You’d better not be!” he yelled as I left.

  Pulling the door shut, I closed my eyes and lifted my face, taking a moment to thank the Creator for the beautiful day as well as the ability to enjoy it. I wouldn’t soon forget where my blessings came from.

  Flipping the keys in my hand, I set off for my car. It was time to surprise my soulmate.

  Audrey

  The sun was bright and high in the sky, the music on fleek, and I was channeling my inner Kaitlin by turning my dorm room into a personal dance club.

  My suitemates—all six of them—were momentarily gone so I could turn the radio up as loud as I wanted without drawing a small crowd. There was just something about a solo dance party that could put me in a good mood.

  Singing at the top of my lungs and shaking my booty, I threw beach necessities into my bag.

  That was three things at once; I was so multitasking.

  I mentally patted myself on the back for being super efficient. That’s how I got things done these days. If I was going to crush this college thing in only three years—two-and-a-half if I really busted my butt—I had to do more than one thing at a time.

  Taking classes over the summer was definitely going to help me earn my degree faster, but I still had to overload the credits each semester to finish early.

  It was the worst.

  Opening the window, I let the warm ocean breeze in. A touch of brine tickled my nose, and the repetitive slap of waves against the water-soaked sand caressed my ears.

  I loved it. I had easily fallen in love with the Pacific coast. The ocean was a part of me now.

  Grabbing my lavender cover-up, I pulled it over my head. The silky material slid over my bikini-clad body and swished around my calves. After almost two full semesters at a school that sat right on the beach, I’d finally mastered the art of beach attire. Which was to say, I learned not to be at all concerned with what I wore for a day in the sun. There was only one person on this planet I was looking to impress, and he was halfway around the world right now.

  My lips curved into a light smile even as my heart pinched at the thought of how far away Logan was. Just then, a line of lyrics from the song playing caught my attention.

  You light me up inside, like the fourth of July, whenever you’re around, I always seem to smile, and people ask me how, well you’re the reason why, I’m dancing in the mirror and singing in the shower . . .

  Ah, how perfect. That was exactly how I felt about my surfer-boy.

  Throwing my hands up above my head, I belted the words while shimmying and shaking. Closing my eyes, I conjured an image of Logan in my mind.

  Attacking his rehabilitation with the passion of a rookie demon hunter, Logan had made leaps and bounds in his recovery during the last year. I was so proud of how far he’d come. His limp was barely noticeable these days, and his muscled form had filled back out.

  Could I just say, ‘yum’?

  When we were together, I was constantly stealing glances at myself in mirrored surfaces. If Logan knew how often I did that, he’d probably think I was vain, but in reality, I was just making sure there wasn’t a string of drool hanging from my mouth.

  My guy was extremely hard not to ogle.

  With the strengthening of his body, he was back doing his favorite activity in the world—surfing. Of course, it was only recreationally, but he’d found a way to keep the sport he loved in his life. And in more than just one way.

  Three months ago he’d been picked up as a commentator for the World Surfing League. He traveled to commentate at surfing competitions all around the globe. When he wasn’t working an event, he was helping to produce extreme videos of athletes for their sponsors.

  He loved what he did, and I couldn’t be happier for him—but we both hated the distance. FaceTiming was all well and good, but it wasn’t the same as seeing him in the flesh. Technology would never replace having him hold me in his arms, replicate his smell, or duplicate the feel of his fingers combing through my hair.

  It was just another reason to finish up my degree as quickly as possible. Wherever Logan was, the only place I wanted to be was at his side.

  And when the times get rough, there ain’t no given up, ‘cause it just feels so right . . .

  Singing the peppy lyrics caused a melancholy to drape over my spirit. I tried to shake it off, but my heart wasn’t feeling it anymore.

  With a sigh, I stopped dancing and refocused on finishing my packing. Ashlynn was expecting to meet me out front in a few minutes for our girls-only beach day.

  “Please, don’t stop on my behalf.”

  The smooth voice penetrated my head-fog and caused my heart to skip a beat.

  Twisting around, I spotted a large body slouched against the doorframe. A zap of electricity shot from my feet all the way to my throat, and I dropped the bottle of sunscreen in my hand.

  “Wha . . . huh? Logan? You’re supposed to be in Australia!”

  Logan shoved off the door jam and prowled toward me. Within no time, I was folded in his arms.

  Leaning forward, Logan placed a soft kiss on my neck before nuzzling the spot with his nose. Saying it was distracting was too mild of a description. The world fell away whenever he was close.

  I loved it.

  “I miss the colors,” he murmured into my hair.

  “Hmm?” Why were words coming out of his mouth? This wasn’t talking-time, this was snuggle-time.

  Logan’s chest shook as he released a deep chuckle, jostling me. After squeezing me tight, he put several inches of space between us. He held me back by my arms when my body swayed toward him. When he was sure I wouldn’t suction myself back against him like an octopus, he brought a hand up and twisted a lock of my hair around his index finger.

  “This always told me when I’d successfully unsettled you.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I batted his hand away.

  “That was the worst superpower in the history of ever . . . or the afterlife.”

  “Oh, I beg to differ.”
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  “Yeah, you would.”

  Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, Logan laid his hand on my cheek. I closed my eyes and pressed into his touch.

  “Mmmmm,” I murmured.

  “Does this mean you’re happy to see me?”

  I lazily blinked my eyes open, an easy smile blossomed across my face.

  “I’m always happy to see you. I’m just a tad confused about how I’m seeing you right now. You’re supposed to be halfway across the world.” I lifted my eyebrows expectantly.

  Stepping back, Logan brought a hand to his head to run through his hair. It was shorter on the sides than it used to be and a bit longer on top. That, paired with the scruff he sported, made him look a bit like a Viking.

  The look worked for him. It worked really well for him.

  I discretely ran the back of my hand over my mouth.

  Phew. No drool.

  “Well, that was a bit of a lie. The competition isn’t until next week. I wanted to surprise you. To take you on a special date today.”

  The twinkle in his eyes drew me in, and I momentarily forgot what we were talking about again.

  Gah!

  With a shake of my head, I snapped back into reality. The cheese factor on that brief moony-eyed moment was even a little high for me.

  “I would love to spend the day with you. I’m always game for a little—Oh, no!” I snapped my front teeth together and grimaced. “I planned a day with my roommate. I’d be a horrible person if I canceled.”

  I placed a hand on my forehead and rubbed. I so badly wanted to spend time with Logan, but Ashlynn and I had actually set this day apart for some bonding over a month ago. I couldn’t be that girl.

  Logan’s easy smile caught me off guard.

  “Ashlynn was actually my accomplice today. She helped me make sure that your day was free and clear.”

  “Ohhhh, sneaky! But I’ll take it!”

  “This is not the same beach . . . is it?”

  After an hour drive down the coast, Logan had pulled his car over in a municipal parking lot in a small beach-town. The familiarity of the location rubbed at me, but it wasn’t until this moment—while we were standing with our boards tucked under our arms—that it clicked.

  Logan’s blue eyes danced with merriment. He shot me a wink before taking off for the surf. I took a moment to watch him slice through the water atop his board before following his lead. Once I caught up to him, we paddled past the break so we could bob along the smooth surface.

  “You brought me to the place you taught me to surf!” The smile on my face couldn’t have been larger.

  “I did.” His eyes scanned the horizon before settling back on me. “Remember me telling you I used to come here when I was growing up? We haven’t come back since we . . . reunited. I wanted us to experience this place together, on this side of the veil.” A smile quirked his lips, and he tilted his head. “Now, let’s see if your form has improved at all since our last lesson.”

  With a splash aimed at his face I took off paddling.

  “Prepare to be amazed.”

  Several hours later, we were lounging on the sand. Me in a low-rise beach chair and Logan lounging across a towel. An umbrella pierced the sand behind us, shielding the remnants of the late-lunch picnic we’d just wolfed down. I sipped chilled lemonade and glanced over at Logan as he finished off the remains of an energy drink from a blue and silver can. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as the liquid slid down his throat. Turning toward me a moment later, he caught me staring.

  Clearing my throat, I adjusted the brim of my large floppy hat and felt the heat rise to my already-warm cheeks.

  It was silly. I had nothing to be ashamed of. I’d caught Logan staring at me at least a dozen times today, but I could still get embarrassed when I got caught checking him out.

  Time to get my mind out of the gutter.

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but a solid workout feels good.” I reached my arms high above my head, enjoying the stretch. “The ache in my muscles reminds me I’m alive.”

  Logan jack-knifed to a sitting position and draped his arms over his bent knees.

  “I did not just hear you say that.” His jaw comically unhinged.

  “Oh, come on. It’s not that out of character.”

  “Woman, I spent weeks pushing, prodding, and cajoling you to do physical activity and all I received for my trouble were complaints.”

  I discreetly pinched my side to keep from laughing.

  “Did you seriously just call me ‘woman’?”

  The smile in Logan’s eyes told me he was having fun with this.

  “You know there’s only one punishment fit for this crime.”

  “Crime? Admitting I don’t mind a tiny bit of exercise at a time? That’s hardly a crime, Babe.”

  Standing in one fluid motion, his arms shot out and he hauled me from my chair.

  “Wait, Logan. Don’t even think it!” I squealed as he threw me over his shoulder, fireman style.

  “It has to be done,” he said as he jogged toward the water; his broad shoulder was nice to look at, but cut into my middle.

  “You promised me there would never be another dunking incident!” My screeching and squirming were doing nothing to crumble Logan’s resolve. Maybe because I couldn’t stop giggling?

  “Desperate times, My Love.”

  Logan bounded into the surf, with my forehead bouncing off his back.

  “Ack!” The cold water smacked me in the face and splashed on my thighs. “Alright, you’ve had your fun. Care to—”

  I didn’t have a chance to spit out any more words before Logan plunged me into the chilly ocean. An oncoming wave twisted my body underwater, but arms reached behind my back and knees and lifted me to the surface before I had a chance to panic.

  My long hair flopped over my face in a soggy sheet. I’m sure I looked like a drowned rat. Crossing my arms across my chest, I huffed out a breath of air.

  “Am I so pretty right now?” I sarcastically asked.

  Keeping one arm looped around my waist, Logan folded my mop of hair back and off my face. It sat funny on my head, but I forgot all about the mess when he repositioned me. Sliding the hand around my back to my waist, he pressed me closer and wrapped his other hand around the back of my neck.

  “I’m sorry, Audrey.” Leaning forward, he pressed a wet kiss to my nose. “You looked entirely too comfortable in that chair.”

  “Oh, is that the reason you broke your promise to me and tossed me in the water again?” I asked on a whisper, bringing my face close to Logan’s and my lips a hair’s breadth away. “Because I looked too comfortable?”

  My lips barely brushed his on the last sentence. I tasted the salt water as I brought my hand to his shoulder.

  “Umm, something like that,” Logan distractedly answered, his focus less on talking and more on the body part we used to form words.

  “Well, in that case . . .” I only just brought my mouth in contact with his before using my strength to shove away from him. Kicking my feet up, I splashed water right in his face as I darted away.

  I heard Logan hacking as I used my swimming skills to get as far away from him as possible. I knew Logan well, and he wouldn’t let an attack like that go unchallenged. I could practically feel his body gaining on mine. A spurt of adrenaline pushed me to swim faster.

  “If that’s how you want to play it,” he yelled from behind me. “Game on!”

  “Logan, this is just how I remember it.”

  I’d thought about this boardwalk many times since the day we raced down it, searching for a refuge from the demon chasing us. That day had been charged with many emotions—not all of them bad.

  “It’s just how you remember it?” Logan asked. His hand squeezed mine as he tilted his head to the side. The upward tilt of his lips morphed into a full smile, one that was filled with contentment. I loved that look on him.

  “Perhaps not just how I remember. I’m definitely
taking in more of the sights this time.”

  A small Ferris wheel circled to our right. The heavy-bellied sun sat on the water’s horizon behind it, shooting evening rays of orange, pink, and purple light in our direction. Vendors selling funnel cakes, hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy dotted the perimeter of the planked pathway. The spiced scent of roasted almonds wafted around us in a hazy fog.

  As we walked by the smattering of kiddie rides, squeals of delight filled our ears. Further down the path, booths lined the left side of the boardwalk. I laughed as a family of five took turns throwing darts at a board filled with multicolored balloons. They jeered at each other and took fake bets on who would pop the most.

  Logan tugged on my hand. When I glanced at him, the setting sun only illuminated half his face. The side it lit was bathed in warm light and set his blue eye ablaze, reminding me of the azure sea we played in earlier.

  “Come on,” he tugged gently again, coaxing me to move forward. “There’s something I want you to see.”

  I people-watched as we meandered. The evening was filled with an assortment of different characters. Along with families, couples of all ages ambled up and down the boardwalk, teenagers moved in herds, and we even spotted the occasional solo patron.

  Sucking in a large breath of fresh ocean air, I took a moment to just enjoy being alive. To cherish the feel of Logan’s hand in mine. To experience the cooling of the air as night approached. To soak in the blessing of life itself.

  Everything about today was just so perfect . . . that was until I was jerked sharply to the left.

  “Yikes!” Tripping on my own feet, I fell hard against Logan’s chest. “Logan, what are you—”

  My words cut off when Logan firmly pressed me back against the wood wall of one of the rickety booths and covered my mouth with a soul-searing kiss.

  His warm lips moved over mine like only his could, completely claiming me as his own.

  I didn’t hesitate to bury my hand in his silky hair. The short strands tickled my palm and felt like velvet.