My cheeks are on fire as my eyes shoot to Othello. It seems as if he heard none of what my best friend has just uttered. And if he had, he isn’t letting on.
“Bye!” I hiss through clenched teeth.
“What happened to your ride?” Othello asks, already towering over me.
“They’re late. They won’t get here until 7:30.”
“Tell them not to come. I got you.”
I don’t even argue because who’s about to stand around for two hours waiting for a ride? Not me. And after ten hours trapped on a plane, I am beyond exhausted and worn to a frazzle.
Othello opens the passenger door for me, helps me in, then loads my luggage into the trunk of a shiny white Mustang.
A knight on his white horse, coming to rescue me.
I love the pun.
As I settle into the warm leather seat, I exhale, the realization sinking in: I’m finally on vacation.
“You ready?” Othello asks, sliding behind the wheel.
“So ready.”
8
shrimp tacos
OTHELLO
Once we pull awayfrom the airport, the city slips behind us like a montage. We enter a new world of lush greenery and endless shades of blue from the Pacific.
Damn. I’m really in paradise.
It’s beautiful here. Like,beyondbeautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Marley looks as if she’s in a trance, her eyes spellbound by the island. The fact that this woman is in a car with me right now is blowing my mind. I’ve thought about seeing her again so many times, and now she’s right here.
The comfortable silence we seem to share is effortless. There were plenty of moments like this on the flight. Just a natural, pleasant stillness between us. And the laughter… I hadn’t laughed like that with someone in a long time.
Her vibe and the energy we’ve shared the past several hours already feels like something intimate has formed between us. We’ve shared a meal together, watched a movie, and shared ourhistory. And yet, it isn’t enough for me. I’ve become addicted to her company. Craving more of her time.
We’re about thirty minutes into the drive when I gently tap Marley’s leg to wake her up. “You hungry?” I ask, my stomach answering for her with a sharp growl. “We’ve got another hour to go, but I’m starving.”
The airline’s meager offering of cookies, macadamia nuts, and that bland chicken and veggie lunch hadn’t come close to cutting it.
“Where would we even stop?” Marley wonders, glancing around at the scenery.
Lush banana trees stretch alongside us, and just beyond them, the ocean glimmers as the sun sinks into its depths, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The view feels like something out of a dream or a movie. A perfect, tranquil paradise.
The salt air drifts through the car, blending with Marley’s fragrance, which smells like a mixture of something rich and tropical, like vanilla, sweet bananas, and flowers.
The warm breeze tousles her hair, strands of her locs and loose curls dancing across her face. She’s completely captivated by the world around her. And I’m completely captivated by her.
She nods toward a tiki-style bar nestled in the distance. “Bet they’ve got some really good drinks.”
My stomach growls.And hopefully, some good food.
We’re both right.
