An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Riding the Waves

STEF POV

"Where did you learn to surf like that, Stef? I mean you're damn good." RJ asks me as we carry our boards back to the blanket we had set up not to far from the water as it turned out to be a really nice morning and to my surprise, I actually enjoyed surfing and riding the waves with her.

Honestly, it was what I needed in some sense and I had almost forgotten how relaxing surfing used to be for me as I had done it all spring. It damn sure did release a good amount of stress and tension that my body liked to store, and after a lonely ass week without the kids, well it was kinda nice I guess despite the fact that I felt awkward as hell with RJ.

Glancing over at RJ now she puts her surf board on the sand and pulls her long dreads down that go down her ass. I try hard not to stare as I take a seat on the blanket resting my board beside me.

"I lived out here for a bit in my 20's and when I was a kid. Surfing was always something I loved to do. Just haven't done much," I reply as I pull out my towel and run it over my soaking wet hair.

"No shit? You were born in Cali?" She grins as she unzips the back of her wet suit and looks at me.

"Oh no, I'm an army brat. I was born everywhere and lived everywhere." I smile at her as she grabs her clothes from her beach bag.

"Hold that thought. I wanna change and get some sun rays!"

"Sure." I say as she runs off and I nervously run my fingers through my wet hair.

This right here was all so damn new to me considering I had no friends outside our friend circle, so in a sense I never found the need to expand.  I guess the same could be said for work considering Mike was my partner and everyone else was just an acquaintance. But, I was trying no matter how hard I wanted to run outta here especially since RJ liked to flirt with me. Why, I had no idea, for I didn't find myself to be so attractive or sexy as she liked to call me.

Glancing out onto the ocean I am brought back to the time when Lena and I first went to the beach together in Oakland when we were young army wives. I was barely 23 and she was just 19 when we met and I was probably more nervous than I am now. She was so damn beautiful to the point my stomach was filled with butterflies and I didn't understand my feelings. She was so sweet, and just talked away. But I loved hearing her talk, I loved seeing her draw and sketch and talk about home, back when it just seemed our conversations were effortless. They weren't filled with hate, anger, jealously or rage. They were filled with youth, innocence and love.

Ignoring my memories I start to put some of the food out both RJ and I brought and turn her little radio on as I hear one of my favorite songs playing. Singing to myself I take some of the drinks out but leave the beers inside her basket and the bag of weed that I choose to ignore. I knew she was a rather wild woman who was barely 35, and hell, I had dabbled in weed back in my 20's well before I became a cop.

"Nice lungs!!" I hear as I look up embarrassed and see her in a bikini as her body is covered in tattoos. I had no idea. I mean I knew her arms and neck were, but I didn't know it was almost every inch of her as I try hard not to stare and she plops down beside me and grabs a beer opening it.

"Oh, I just like the song," I say as I take a bite of a carrot and look at her. "I've always liked Chicago."

"Yeah, they make some good music. I know a few spots that play covers if you ever wanna go." She winks at me as I feel myself blushing as I look away.

"Yeah, sure. Sounds fun." I clear my throat as I feel her move closer to me and I bite into another carrot just feeling like an idiot who can't talk. The phone was much easier for me if I was honest.