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“Nah, I bet he likes the drama of all of this, sole use of the van and to be the boss for a few days. That’s what he loves. How long are you here, anyway?”
He laughed at my assessment. “You may be right. I'm here until we get that damn comic.”
It was growing dark, and I couldn’t walk and talk in the darkness with background noise. We agreed to head back to the hotel and order room to service. We would form our plan for the following day. He'd left his luggage at the reception because they wouldn't tell him which room I was in. Scottie's app couldn't pinpoint where I slept with that much accuracy. He collected his small bag and followed me up to the room. Callum ordered room service and then went for a shower. As I lounged on the bed, I still couldn't believe he'd come all this way.
“I think you're wrong about Scottie,” Callum said as he emerged from the bathroom in just a small towel. He hadn't dried off. The water droplets clung to his skin causing all kinds of heat to inflame my body. It was like sitting on the beach all over again.
“Why, why am I wrong?” I couldn't concentrate on his words and look at him. Hazardous, in my circumstances. I went to the drawer and took out a t-shirt and threw it at him. He laughed as he caught it, dropping his towel deliberately. Now I was completely distracted.
“Like what you see?” He said. His cheeky, sexy smile melted my heart.
“You need to put clothes on, I can't talk with you naked,” I said and shielded my eyes.
He put boxers and a t-shirt on, then clambered onto the bed. My room was a budget one and had no desk, table or chairs. I wasn't expecting any company or to get my comic.
“Scottie was worried that you wouldn't be able to lip read Chinese, or Mandarin, depending on who you spoke with. He reckons that if you had to go to the back streets to ask questions, they wouldn't speak English.”
I raised my eyes at Scottie's assessment. Scottie’s conclusion was spot on. He also knew far too much about my movements.
“He was right. I need to delete the app from his phone,” I said.
“Already done,” Callum said and held up a phone. “I had to take his phone to find you. My app wouldn't let me track you. This crappy device that had your every move, cost me the price of a new phone. Scottie claimed he couldn't survive three days without his phone.”
I laughed, I didn't know any eighteen-year-old that would let their phone out of their site. I also bet that Scottie took full advantage and got a top of the range phone.
“It was worth it, just to be able to find you. Even if the app didn’t work, I still would have searched until I found you.” He said and kissed me.
His solemn promise was interrupted by room service. The waiter placed the tray on the bed and scurried away with a tip. We ate and chatted for a few more hours and then Callum crashed out.
Adaline
After a long lie in and breakfast, we ventured out to get the ferry boat to the mainland. I hadn't explored the boats. The harbour was particularly choppywith the boats tilting left and right. I suggested that we take the train instead, but Callum insisted that this was all part of the adventure. He assured me we wouldn't drown and die a horrible death. I wasn't convinced. I was pulled onto the ferry like a reluctant dog going to the vet.
“How’s Buster?” I asked.
“He’s missing you. The charity has him until we get back.” Callum said.
I felt bad we’d abandoned Buster so soon. Callum assured me that in the early weeks, Buster spent as much time at the centre as he did in his new home. After my delaying tactics had run dry, he picked me up, depositing me on the nearest seat and clamped my hand in his. The boat pitched and rolled as the ropes held it firm to the dock.
“If you’re going to throw up, give me some warning,” Callum said, nudging my side.
I couldn’t speak, the horizon was disappearing and reappearing out of the window. The journey took ten minutes once the tethers were pulled on board. I could last that long, I’d just shut my eyes and hum a tune. Callum prized my fingers off his and flexed his hand, bringing the blood flow back. He thought it hilarious about my lack of sea legs, but I hated the water.
“I’m not going to throw up, far too embarrassing. That family over there are already pointing and laughing at me. I must look a fright.”
“You look a bit green,” he said. “Why don’t we go outside, the breeze will help,” he offered, pulling me up.
I came out on deck and held onto the railing staring at the mainland coming into view.
“I hate the water,” I said. “If we capsize, you need to put me on your back when you swim to shore,” I said.
“You can swim next to me, it’s not that far.”
“I can’t swim,” I looked away once the words had escaped.
“What?” He pulled my chin around to his face, alarm covered his face, then he broke into a smile. “You can’t swim? Makes sense why you wouldn’t come into the sea with me. Don’t worry,” he said cuddling me close, hugging me tightly. “I’ll save you.”
We stayed hugging, with my face buried in his chest until we docked. I was first to disembark, much to the disgust of a few Chinese families, I pushed in front of, but nothing would stop me getting off that boat. We would go back by taxi.
