“The truth is, I didn't believe it back then. You told me you were done, fuck the legacy, fuck him, all of it. Then, a month later, you were sitting at your daddy’s Christmas table like none of it ever happened, because he played you into thinking he’d back off. I didn’t trust you, Ducane. I couldn’t.”
He rested his forehead on mine. The water moved around us. His hands stayed anchored at my waist, like letting go wasn’t an option he was willing to consider.
“I should have fought harder. I knew what I was leaving, and I left anyway. That’s on me. But you pushed too, Skye. You made it easy for me to go. Airalynn wouldn’t even let me see you.”
I looked at the water between us.
“I thought I was doing the right thing. I was twenty-two, and I loved you. I didn’t want to be the reason your hard work and passion went nowhere. Love shouldn’t make you miserable, and you would’ve been.”
He didn’t say anything. He had always known I was right. We both had.
“Your dad was wrong and right, Ducane. I wasn’t serious about life. I didn’t know how to set the table or host a dinner party. I wasn’t right for you.”
“I never cared about that.” He pulled me toward him slowly, both arms around me. I let him pull me all the way in and held on just as hard. I pressed my face into his neck.
“I’m sorry, Skye. He may have been right about us, but he was wrong about you. You were passionate, a lover, so smart and kind. You advocated for everyone who needed it. I was lucky to have you, and I let my father convince me I could live without that.”
“Don’t apologize. It was what I needed to hear. I stopped running from my purpose, and here we are.”
“If it ain’t a blessing, it’s a lesson.”
“Which is still a blessing.”
I laughed from the belly. He wiped my face with his thumb, soothing seven years of longing with one gesture.
“Mrs. Juniper, the walking Bible quote.”
I couldn’t believe he remembered that. We created so many aliases back when we used to plan our great escape.
“See, this is the type of goofy shit your dad wanted to shield you from.”
“I missed you, Skye.”
“I missed you too. Truly. Madly. Deeply.”
An hour later, we were out of the water and in each other’s arms, eating sautéed shrimp and vegetables while soft music played on the boat. I was amazed at how one conversation had just flipped my world upside down. I just hoped I wasn’t dreaming.
day three, june 26th
We’d slept on the boat. I woke to the water still moving under us, Skye already up and leaning over me.
“Sugar Cane, get up,” she whispered, pressing a light kiss to my mouth. Before she could pull back, I caught the back of her neck and brought her down again. I pressed my lips to hers, slow, and when she sighed into it, I took more. Tongue, teeth, my hand gripping her neck right where she liked it. She arched into me.
“Hmm.” She pulled back. “No, we gotta get up.”
“Mm. Why would I do that when I got you back in my arms?”
She showed me her phone. The app had pulled up the day’s first pick. Four-wheelers in the mud. I looked at her, and she looked back, already bright and ready for whatever it threw at us.
“The week is about me, correct?” She drew hearts on my arm without looking up.
“It’s always about you, Spot. Let me feed you first.”
We ate breakfast on the boat before we docked, the island glowing across the water in the early light. I held up a piece of mango, and she leaned in and took it without breaking her sentence. Skye Campbell didn’t let anybody take care of her. She’d always let me.
“You’re too good to me. Come on. I need some excitement.”
We docked and walked back through the marina hand in hand. Shit had changed since the boat. I was happy as fuck about it.
