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Chapter Twenty-One

Brady's P.O.V

Sometimes when you've known a person long enough, or when you know a person well enough, you develop something like a sixth sense with them.

You can tell when they're not feeling well, just by looking at their facial expression, or just from the tone in their voice over the phone. You can tell something's bothering them just by the way they phrase their text messages.

And sometimes, you can even feel when something's wrong when they're not with you, when they're not speaking to you. Sometimes, you'll simply be sitting at home alone when thoughts of them will cross your mind, followed by a hunch that something's not right.

That's exactly what happened tonight. By 7pm tonight, when I tried Mack's phone again, I'd tried countless times by now. Sometimes she'd deny my call after the first ring, sometimes she'd let it go to voicemail, but either way she was still ignoring me.

Which is why it shouldn't have meant anything that she didn't pick up this time. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, but for some reason, after I put the phone down, I couldn't shake the feeling that she'd gotten herself into some situation she shouldn't be in again.

The possibilities swarmed through my mind, and continued to return no matter how much I tried to push them away. They built up and expanded each time I dialled her number only to listen to her voicemail yet again.

Was she is Wet Side Story, or still in California? What if she was drunk again, or trying to mend her broken heart by hooking up with some random guy who was surely trouble? Was she hurt, or just upset? What if she was somewhere on her own, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears?

It was Mack herself that had taught me to trust my instincts and to go with what my gut was saying, but it wasn't like I could turn up on her doorstep. She'd asked for me to leave her alone, and I couldn't explain why I'd shown up to her grandfather. I wasn't sure if she'd told him about what had gone down between us this morning, but if she had, he'd surely become suspicious of what was going on between us if I claimed I'd come 'just to check up on her'. But how else could I phrase it?

My mother was off work tonight, so I was free to leave when I wanted too, but I still debated what I was going to do while I helped her get the kids to bed.

I tried anything and everything to get my mind off this awful feeling Mack needed my help. An hour ticked by before I decided I couldn't take it anymore.

"Mum!" I cried out, jogging into the garage to collect my surfboard and then heading out into the night air through the open roller door. "I'm going for a night surf! Be back in half an hour!"

I was down the driveway before she could protest and I began the jog to Mack's house. Four times I stopped and reminded myself what an absolutely terrible idea this was, then proceeded to try and convince myself to go back home, but each time I continued on.

When I arrived on Mack's doorstep, I hovered in front of the door for a long time, trying to work up the courage to knock.

As it turns out, that wasn't necessary, because I ended up hovering for so long Mack's Grandpa noticed me and came to the front door anyway.

His facial expression represented a mixture of confusion and disapproval as he coldly asked "Brady, what are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard and tried not to show how nervous I was, even though I was sure it clearly readable all over my face.

"I… uh…I was just….Is Mack home?" I finally managed to spit out.

Her Grandpa narrowed his eyes at me.

"Why do you ask?"

I racked my brain for a decent excuse, but when nothing came up, I found the truth falling off my tongue.

"She's not answering her phone." I relayed honestly. In a pretty pathetic attempt to lighten the mood, I half-laughed as I added "it's probably just because I'm her least favourite person right now, but I just had a hunch something was wrong. I just wanted to make sure she's okay."

Mack's grandfather stewed over my words for what felt like hours, but it reality was probably just a few minutes. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for his response.

And I couldn't help but feel just a little taken back when he looked at me and said sharply "do you still love my granddaughter?"

My mouth went dry. Of course I still loved Mack, but could I admit that to her stern-faced grandfather who more than likely hated my guts? Was that what he wanted to hear?

He gave something that could be described as a small smile, and continued.

"You see, I don't know anyone else who would come over here just to make sure she's okay, on nothing but a hunch something's wrong. Brady, you know Mack still cares about you. A lot. She wouldn't be this torn apart if she didn't. Now frankly, I don't think you deserve a second chance. What you did was wrong, and you should be well aware of that. But you used to make Mack really happy. And if I know anything about you at all Brady, it's that you don't give up easily."

I stared blankly back at him, trying to comprehend what exactly his point was.

"I do love Mack, sir." I admitted. "I really do. And you don't know how much I regret hurting her the way I do. But I'm sorry… I'm not sure I know exactly what it is you're saying…"

"I'm saying, that if you really want her back, go fight for her, Brady. I'm not saying it'll be easy – she's a stubborn one. But regardless of how much you hurt her, she loves you. She just needs you to prove that you still love her, and that you're willing to do what it takes."

"I am." I said without hesitation.

Mack's grandpa took on a stern look again.

"But, you ever hurt her like that again, I will make you very, very sorry." He warned.

I nodded.

"I believe you, sir. Trust me, I do."

He bought back that half-smile.

"Then what are you still standing on my porch for? Go get her! She's not here, she went out with some friends. I don't know exactly who but-"

"I know where she'd be." I assured him, already turning away. I began to dash back towards the beach, before stopping and turning back around.

"Thankyou." I called to Mack's grandpa, who nodded, then disappeared back inside.

I hurried down to the beach and dived into the waves, letting the salty ocean water sweep me into Wet Side Story.