Page 26 of Redemption Island

“Fine, I’ll come find you near evening.”

“No, let me come to you,” I said. “I don’t want you wandering in the dark.”

She tugged her hand from mine and crossed her arms. Her hip hitched and she scowled. She actually looked beautiful while her lip pouted.

“I’ve wandered a few times through the darkness,” she said, staking her claim in knowing the path to and from my door.

“Yes, you have, and it wasn’t really safe,” I replied, curling a piece of loose hair behind her ear. She didn’t flinch at my touch, and I took this as a good sign. I didn’t wish to test her any further, though, so I dropped my hand.

“Fine,” she muttered.

“Fine,” I teased.

+ +

“Have you danced?” Garvey asked. He sat on the same stump with a knife in his hand, whittling at a strip of wood. Colton sat in the sand next to his father. My leg jiggled as I sat across from them.

“No, I haven’t danced,” I scoffed. I wasn’t fucking dancing.

“Have you not learned anything?” Garvey asked, still concentrating on the stick in his hand.

“I’ve learned plenty of things,” I snapped.

“I see your anger is still intact,” Colton offered sarcastically. My eyes shifted over his head, ignoring him, and gazing at the trees that lead to Juliet.

“It is,” Garvey said, and I noticed his eyes followed mine. Turning back to me, he added, “But you do seem calmer. A little.”

“I am,” I said, but my leg continued to bounce up and down. I visibly clamped a hand at my thigh to stop the motion.

“You need to dance. Let out the energy.”

I sighed. “Let me ask again, what is the point in dancing?”

“Dance is an expression of emotion. You must pick an animal, one you’ve encountered on the island. Think about it. What can you learn from it? Dance the motions of the animal. Reflect.”

I shook my head. “I’ll think about it.”

“You’ll do it,” Garvey commanded, but his voice remained monotone. My eyes drifted back in the direction of Juliet’s tree house.

“You seem distracted,” Garvey said, interrupting my gaze and I noticed again his eyes were focused in the same area as mine. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I snapped.

“Maybe we should stay the night with you?”

“No!” The harshness of my tone startled even me and I swiped a hand through my hair. “I mean, no, I’m doing okay. You don’t need to stay.” I didn’t want them hanging out and ruining a chance to see Juliet.

“I see,” Garvey said, looking over his shoulder one last time before turning back to me. His face remained stoic, but the dark orbs of his eyes danced. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was laughing at me.

“Your hair looks different,” Colton observed, narrowing his eyes on my hand that continued to work through the smooth locks.

“Yeah, I figured out a few things so I could cut it better.”

Colton’s eyes remained pinched, staring at me like he could read my secrets. They didn’t ask about the girl this time, and I no longer wished to share her presence. The thought seemed to trigger Colton to speak.

“Still seeing that girl?” The wording caught me off guard. He asked so casually it was as if he wondered if I was dating Juliet. Reminding myself he didn’t believe she was on the island, I chose my answer carefully.

“I don’t care if you believe she’s here. I don’t need to prove anything to you. I only need to prove things to myself.”