Caught in the Undertow (Hawaiian Crush #6) (11 page)

Coen walked down the hall and went into his bedroom.

Sydney sat down on the couch. “Let’s talk for a moment.”

Casey sat down, looking tense. “Coen and I never did anything.”

Sydney chuckled. “I know. That isn’t what I wanted to talk about.”

Casey eyed her. “You don’t feel threatened by me?”

“Why would I? Coen is the greatest guy I know. He isn’t a liar or a cheat. No one threatens me.”

“I hope I find a relationship like that someday.”

“You will,” Sydney said. “Coen didn’t tell me what happened to you, but since he’s a personal trainer, I can connect the dots. I was abused by my stepfather and Coen made me tell him everything that happened. That’s how we fell in love.”

Casey nodded.

“So I understand exactly what you’re going through. Coen and I will help in any way we can.”

“Wow. You guys are so…amazing.”

“We’ve both suffered. We like to help others when they need it.”

Casey stared at her.

“Tell me what happened.”

She shifted her weight. “I—I don’t like to talk about it. I only told Coen because he’s my trainer.”

Sydney nodded. “I understand. I suggest you find a new place to live and move on. You can call Coen if you ever need anything.”

“He’s saved me so many times. I’ve never seen anyone kick so
much ass.”

Sydney laughed. “He’s very good at what he does. He trained me.”

“Did you…defeat your tormentor?”

“I know I’ll never see him again, so yes, I did.”

“I’m so glad I met him.”

“Coen is a pretty great guy.”

Casey placed her hands in her lap. “Thank you for letting me stay here. I have nowhere else.”

“You’re always welcome here, Casey.”

“Thank you. I’ll look for a new place tomorrow.”

Sydney patted her hand. “Good
night.”

“Good
night.”

Sydney walked into their bedroom and saw Coen lying in bed. She coughed a few times before
she lay down.

Coen pulled her to his chest. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“You’re the one who’s saving her.”

“But most other wives would assume the worst.”

“But I trust you, Coen.”

He kissed her neck. “That makes me happier than you’ll ever know.”

“I’ll talk to Henry tomorrow, calm him down.”

Coen shook his head. “Leave him be. He behaved the same way any other person would. I don’t blame him for what he did. Your opinion is the only one that matters.”

She cuddled next to him. “She said she’ll find a new place tomorrow.”

“Good,” he said. “We’ll get rid of her and I can get a full night of rest again.”

Sydney chuckled. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known.”

He smiled at her. “I like what I’m hearing.”

“You are.”

“Go on…”

“And I’m honored that I’m spending the rest of my life with you.”

“Even better.”

She kissed his cheek then rested her head on his chest. “She reminds me of your sister.”

Coen nodded. “I thought the same thing.”

“So I understand how important this is to you. It’s very close to the heart.”

“I’m glad you understand me so well.”

Sydney sighed then closed her eyes, falling asleep in his arms.

The next morning, Sydney and Casey looked up apartments for rent. Coen got ready for school then poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Any luck?” he asked.

“There are
a few good places,” Sydney said.

Coen turned to Casey. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “It’s nice being able to sleep without worrying about someone choking you.”

Sydney gave her a sympathetic look.

Coen kissed Sydney on the forehead. “I’ll see you later, baby.”

She smiled. “Hurry home.”

“I will.” He turned to Casey. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye,” she said.

After Coen gathered all of Sydney’s assignments and completed his classes, he went to the cafeteria for lunch. All of his friends were quiet when he sat down. The tension was in the air. Henry stared at him.

Coen ate his sandwich and ignored them. He didn’t care what anyone else thought besides Sydney.

Henry cleared his throat. “I apologize for how I acted yesterday.”

Coen looked at him. “There’s no need for apology. You did the right thing. I would have done the same thing if I saw you with some other girl, not where you said you would be.”

Henry nodded. “I just didn’t want you to take it personally.”

“I don’t,” he said. “She’s your best friend. I understand why you protect her.”

“So, is everything okay between you two?” Derek asked.

“It’s more than okay,” Coen said. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

“So, what’s the story with this girl?” Henry asked.

Coen sighed. “I can’t say.”

“Did she stay with you guys last night?” Henry asked.

“Yes.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Is she homeless?”

Coen shook his head. “She—has special needs. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone
her secret and I keep my word. I didn’t even tell Sydney, but she figured it out on her own, for the most part.”

“I’m sorry I accused you of cheating,” Henry said.

“Let’s just forgot about it,” Coen said.

“Okay.”

After lunch, Coen went home. When he saw Sydney, he gave her a big kiss, not caring that she was sick. Knowing she trusted him as much as she did made him even more in love with her. Even if it was his word against the whole world, she would still be on his side. It was the greatest feeling.

“How was your day?” Sydney asked.

“Shitty without you.”

“Did you talk to Henry?”

“He apologized.”

“I figured he would,” Sydney said.

“Did you find a place?” Coen asked.

“We did,” Sydney said with a smile. “Now we need you to move everything.”

Coen smiled. “Look how that worked out…”

Casey came into the living room.
“Hey, Coen. Did Syd tell you the good news?”

“You found a place,” Coen said with a nod. “Let’s get moving.”

“It’s going to take forever with just the two of us,” Casey said.

“There will be a lot more,” Coen said. “Trust me.”

Coen called up all their friends and asked for their assistance. Naturally, they were all there immediately.

“Wow,” Casey said. “You have a lot of friends.”

Sydney smiled. “They are family.”

“This is Casey,” Coen said to everyone. “She needs help moving into a new apartment.”

Everyone introduced themselves and made her feel welcomed.

After they drove to her house, they started packing and placing everything into the cars and trucks.

Casey came to Coen. “All your friends are really hot.”

He laughed. “And they are all taken.”

She sighed. “Why is that always the case?”

He shrugged. “You
gotta snatch them while you can.”

“Where’s Sydney?” she asked.

“She’s too sick to help. I made her stay home.”

“Your wife is beautiful.”

He smiled. “I know she is.”

“And really nice.
I’ve never met people who were so compassionate toward others.”

“Well, she makes me that way,” he said. “I’m always trying to be a better man for her.”

“You guys are too cute,” Casey said.

“We try.”

They packed everything then moved the furniture into the new apartment. It was a two bedroom place with just enough space. They helped her put her bedroom furniture together and stacked her kitchen supplies. By the time everyone was done, they were exhausted.

“Thank you so much,” Casey said. “That was so nice of you.”

“Well, when you deal with one of us, you deal with all of us,” Derek said.

Casey smiled. “I really appreciate it. I don’t have anyone to help me.” Her smile faded and her eyes grew empty.

Coen clapped her on the shoulder. “You always have us as friends.”

“Really?” she asked quietly.

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone left except for Coen. He stayed behind so he could have a private chat with Casey.

“Call me if he tracks you down.”

“I will,” she said.

“And when my wife feels better, she’ll beat the shit out of him too.”

Casey laughed. “She’s too cute to hurt anyone.”

Coen shook his head vigorously. “She could kick my ass any day.”

“Wow. That’s a kinda friend I would want to stick around.”

“I know Sydney would love to spend time with you when she’s feeling better. She’s been on
bedrest for a while and she’s getting pretty aggravated.”

“I can imagine,” Casey said.

“And she keeps saying she’s gaining weight when she isn’t.”

“Maybe she’s pregnant.”

“Everyone keeps saying that,” Coen said. “She’s not. We checked.”

“How long have you guys been married?”

“A few months.”

“Oh,” she said. “So you guys aren’t ready for kids.”

“No,” he said with a laugh. “We can barely feed ourselves as it is.”

Casey smiled at him. “Let me know if there’s anything I can ever do for either of you. I’d be happy to help.”

“You’ve already helped me more than you’ll ever know.” He walked out the door and shut it behind him.

11

“I want to go swimming today then we’ll go hiking tomorrow. On Wednesday, let’s go surfing with Thatcher. And I want to sail. Let’s go sailing!” Sydney kept talking about all the activities she wanted to do that week. Now that she felt better, she was extremely hyper.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time,” he said.

“Let’s make love in the shower.”

His eyes widened. “I’m not going to say no to that, but you shouldn’t do too much, too
quick. You remember what happened last time.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re such party-pooper.”

“I’m just a concerned husband.”

She sat at the kitchen table and drank her coffee.

Coen sat beside her and watched her eat her breakfast. After getting sick, Sydney took her nutritional diet very seriously. She ate more than she used to, which was a relief to Coen. He was one step away from force feeding her.

“How’s Casey doing?”

“Well,” he said. “She likes her new place.”

“Has Jeremy bothered her?”

“No. She changed her number so he hasn’t contact her.”

“That’s good,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“I know Theresa would be proud of you,” she said quietly.

“I’m just glad I could spare someone since I couldn’t spare her.”

Sydney eyed him. “Don’t hold yourself responsible, Coen. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’ll always feel this way. I try not to but it happens anyway.”

Sydney g
rabbed his hand. “You’re such a wonderful man.”

He smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”

“I’m sure Casey does too.”

“I do feel better knowing I helped her.”

“And you should,” Sydney said.

“I hate to imagine what would have happened if I wasn’t around.”

She drank from her coffee then set it down. “What if you opened up your own self-defense studio, specifically for women? You could be a trainer and a motivational speaker.”

“That costs money,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m sure we find some investors.”

“You mean Nancy?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure she would help. She has more money than she knows what to do with.”

Coen shook his head. “That’s a hard business. We would have to build up clients before we made a profit. And I would have to hire instructors.”

“You have me,” she said.

“But you have your own passions.”

“I can do both.”

He glared at her. “So you can
work 24/7 like you’ve been this semester? No thanks.”

“We would figure something out.”

“No,” he said.

She dropped the argument and finished her coffee. “I need to leave for school.”

“Take it easy,” Coen said firmly.

She sat on his lap and rubbed her nose against his. “I dropped the Ecology class. You’re right. I don’t need the minor.”