After our Bible study this morning, I’m feeling a whole lot better than I have since we started this trip. Sawyer’s been upstairs for the last half of the day, guiding the boat along the coastline as we make our way up to Maine. According to him, we have a handful of days left to go.
Something that has me both excited and a little bummed.
Excited, because solid ground and food that Sawyer and I didn’t have to make.
But bummed because, being out here with Sawyer, having it just be the two of us, has given us a lot of time to really get to know each other. Something I wouldn’t have thought we needed since we’ve been friends for so long.
It’s well past nightfall, and Sawyer dropped the anchor about half an hour ago. Right now, he’s getting everything shut down for the night, while I prepare a quick dinner. Tonight, it’s frozen pizzas cooked in the tiny kitchen’s toaster oven.
Man, what I wouldn’t give to get my hands into some actual dough right now.
The door to the cabin opens, and Sawyer peeks his head in. “Hey, come here really quick.”
“What is it?”
“Can you just accept the surprise?” he asks with a grin.
My heart leaps, and I smile, leaving the pizzas to cool on the counter. Right before I reach the door, though, Sawyer steps in front of me. “Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then close your eyes,” he says. “I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”
Excitement thrums in my veins as I do as he asked and close my eyes. Sawyer takes my hand and slowly guides me outside. The salty sea air fills my lungs, and a soft breeze toys with my hair. It’s a little chilly, so I’m glad that I slipped into a sweater earlier.
“You’re not going to make me walk the plank, right?”
He laughs. “Absolutely not. Okay, stop.” Sawyer releases my hand and steps up behind me, his hard body at my back, his strong, capable hands on my shoulders. “Open your eyes,” he whispers, his breath tickling the side of my neck.
Heat spreads through me, attraction and desire that I’ve been fighting to keep in check ever since we decided to just be friends. For now.
I open my eyes and lose my breath when I take in the scene before me. Small, twinkling fairy lights have been strung up along the railing of the boat, the tiny, golden lights just bright enough to cast a romantic glow, but not so bright they take away from the shocking display of stars above.
“Sawyer,” I whisper, my eyes filling.
“Hang on, that’s not all.” He walks forward and turns the knob on the stereo so soft music plays from the boat’s speaker. A swoony song I’ll never forget because it’s the same one we danced to around the firepit what feels like lifetimes ago.
“What did you do all this for?” I ask as he shoves both hands into his pockets.
“I know being out here wasn’t what you wanted, and I am so sorry that everything is up in the air.” He moves toward me. “I just wanted to give you a little slice of happy amidst the chaos.”
A tear slips down my cheek, and I cover my mouth with both hands.
“Is that a good tear?” he asks with an uncomfortable laugh.
“It’s perfect, Sawyer.”
His grin is brighter than any of the lights on this boat. Removing his hands from his pockets, he reaches for me, and I go to him, all of my problems slipping away as he pulls me into his strong arms.
“Can I have this dance?”
“Absolutely.” I rest my head on his chest as he takes my hand in his and wraps one arm around my waist. That night around the fire pit was the first time I’d let myself get lost in a dance. But it was nothing compared to this.
As we sway gently to the music, the sea breeze wrapping around us, I’m able to completely forget reality. For now, it’s just him and me out here on this boat together.
No crazed man chased us away from home.
No walls stand between us.
