Page 14 of Redemption Island

“I’m sorry.” The apology was so low, I wasn’t sure I heard him. The hand at my hip slipped to my lower belly. It was my turn to stiffen in response, but he ignored the rigidity and tugged me to him. My back hit his chest and his hand climbed upward between my breasts. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, a warm breath caressed my neck, tickling the hairs at the nape.

His hand continued its travels, coming to rest over my heart which raced fast enough I assumed he could feel it through the T-shirt I wore.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, the presence of his lips on my neck sent a shiver down my skin. His palm flattened. Starting at his elbow, shaking fingers of my own traced up his arm. The tips of my fingers tickled through the fine curly hair of his forearm and came to rest over the back of his hand. He spread his fingers and I slipped mine between his. Clutching our fingers together, he tugged me even tighter into the embrace. A tear slipped from my eye and crept down my nose. It itched, but I didn’t dare release his fingers, fisted with mine over my heart.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered once more.

14

Day 30 – Tack

I woke to the sound of a motor boat approaching. The engine had cut, and I propped up on an elbow. Looking down before me, I found Juliet still sleeping, clutching my hand in hers against her chest. Without thinking, I lowered to kiss her ear.

“Don’t move.”

Her breath hitched and her eyes popped open. She spun for me, and I moved quick enough so her face didn’t collide with my nose.

“Garvey and Colton are here.”

I released her hand and hopped over her body. She scrambled back at the same time, pressing herself against the tent corner.

“What is it?” I whispered, reaching for her. She pulled back her arm, shaking her head.

“Who are Garvey and Colton?”

“Garvey is my restoration coach. Colton is his son. They don’t know you’re here.” She nodded in understanding but the glazed look in her eyes proved she didn’t comprehend. “Look, let me get rid of them. Then I can explain everything. Just stay in the tent. Don’t let them see you.”

I fumbled as I stood, searching the floor of the tent for something to wear. I wasn’t allowed to sleep away the days, and I had no sense of timing other than it must be near noon at the end of a month. My two-week supply visit had arrived.

I’d pulled on a fresh T-shirt and stepped toward the flap before stopping and turning back to face her.

“You okay, Mouse?” My forehead wrinkled in concern as I saw her tucked into the corner, the sheet pulled up to her neck. Her eyes, wide and glassy, stared back at me. I wanted to stalk back to the bed and assure her she had nothing to fear but I also didn’t want to risk Garvey and Colton finding her here.

This was banishment, and the punishment included solitary confinement. I didn’t want them to find I’d broken the rules. While I tried to convince them two weeks ago she existed, it had now come to a point that I didn’t want to share her. I stepped through the tent entrance as Garvey and Colton each crossed the beach, a box in hand.

“You know, you could greet us and help carry your own supplies,” Colton chirped.

“Yeah, well, you can fuck off,” I muttered. From the moment I met Colton, he didn’t care for me, and there was nothing I liked about him. Cocky, self-assured, but small town and wise-ass, I didn’t appreciate the way he snubbed me. He clearly thought he was better than me although he had less to offer. I wanted to wipe the smirk off his face each time he looked at me as we sat in some stupid restorative circle, talking out the process of my consequences. A talking stick was passed, in the custom of the Native American culture, and at times, I wanted to shove that stick up his ass.

This day, I wanted him to leave as soon as possible. I relieved him of the box he carried and set it outside my tent. Quickly, I interceded Garvey and did the same. As with his prior visit, Garvey sat on a turned-up tree stump near the cooled fire pit.

“What have you done these last two weeks?” How could I tell them all I’d done? I’d fucked her, saved her, and cared for her. The last thought stopped me short. I’d taken care of her, I corrected. I didn’t care for her, did I? I still disliked what she’d done to sentence us here on the island. But when I thought about it, it seemed strange that I no longer wanted to beg Garvey to get me out of here. I didn’t want to speak of her. What I wanted was that hint of a smile I’d seen days ago. One moment she looked fierce and the next she looked frightened. I wanted to change that.

“I’ve read,” I lied. “And I’ve written a little.” Actually, I’d worked out quite a bit in between my interactions with Juliet. Colton eyed me in disbelief but Garvey nodded his head, the only hint he was pleased.

“Are you still angry?” Garvey asked and the question startled me.

“Of course, I’m still angry,” I snapped, realizing too late, the question intended to trap me. The truth was, I wasn’t as angry as I had been. I had done some soul searching, mainly about Rick and what kind of friend he had been. I couldn’t say I was in his shadow, as we equally craved the limelight, but I’d come to realize he was always one step ahead of me in pushing the envelope. And he went too far with Juliet. I shuddered when I thought of him with her, the gleam in his eyes as he took her, the loss in hers as she felt his violation. I can’t believe I watched, thinking it was something I wanted to do.

“You need to dance,” Garvey broke into my thoughts.

“What?” I snorted.

“You need to become one with nature. Pick an animal. Reenact its behavior and reflect on what you can learn from it.”

“I am not fucking dancing,” I said aloud this time, adding a humorless chuckle.

“Suit yourself,” Garvey said, slapping his thighs as he stood.