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Miri
I’m up with the sun the next morning, only the barest hint of a hangover. When I got back to my B&B the night before, I brewed up a tonic to stave off the headache and general shittiness that comes with a night of drinking. Thank you, Dani. She taught me a lot about mixing up potions and working with things from her garden to make all kinds of products. It was her passion about it that initially got me interested in botany. When it turned out I had a real knack for mixing and creating things from the ingredients pulled from the earth, I decided to make a career out of it.
When I finally got in bed last night, I couldn’t fall asleep, even though my body was heavy with exhaustion. All the day’s events kept running through my head. I have a house, the house that once belonged to my family. It’s surreal that I get to call it mine. I met some new people. I don’t want to get all eager, like some clingy asshole, but I think I could have some genuine friendships here.
Then there’s Davis.
I’ve never really stopped thinking about him since the night he drove me away from my mom. He’s been the central character of more than one of my dreams over the years and it’s disconcerting to see the man he’s become. Yeah, he’s still broody as hell, but he’s also grown up, with those dark eyes, face in need of a shave, and the muscled physique that comes from working hard. Seeing him at Paul’s, how he stared at me like I was a ghost back from the dead, had been a shock. He wasn’t pleased.
When I found him in the hallway waiting for me, my heart nearly combusted. The way he leaned into me, his scent like the air before its rains, crisp and sharp with a hint of the ocean, had left me reeling. His presence wrapped around my senses and seeped into my skin until he was the only thing that felt real in the world.
He’d boxed me in between his arms, his mouth so close to mine I thought he might actually kiss me, and I might have died a little. But then he ignored me the rest of the time he was there. Not that he stayed long. He looked so uncomfortable it was painful to be near him. It wasn’t longer than ten minutes before he left with a grunt and some grumbled words I couldn’t interpret.
Despite the sexy black cloud also known as Davis Radford—I also learned his last name the night before—the evening was full of way more surprises than I could have expected. A minor part of me, just the smallest bit, thinks that I might have made some friends. It’s probably dumb to be so giddy about it, but I’ve always had a hard time connecting with people. Maybe it’s because I’ve moved so much, and nothing ever felt permanent. Because of that, I never allowed myself to be open with other people. I never wanted to have friends I’d have to leave behind. Here on Wild Haven Island, I finally have a home, a place that I want to make my forever.
Archer is the golden boy everyone drools over in high school, just the grown-up version. I get the sense he’s not some good boy who follows all the rules, though. There’s an undercurrent of something intense just beneath his surface that I wonder if anyone really ever sees. If I had to guess, I bet Lena sees it.
Rhys and Lena are both quick-witted and easy to talk to. I laughed more last night with them then I have in years. They’d both insisted on walking me back to my rental because they wanted to make sure I didn’t pass out on the sidewalk, only to wake up in a dumpster. Rhys had finally coughed up the story, and I’d laughed so hard I’d shed tears.
I have a room at one of the Airbnb’s on the island, but I’m hoping that by the end of the day I’ll get my house in good enough condition to just stay there. I already had all the utilities turned on and I just need to get a bedroom and a bathroom in good enough shape that I don’t catch a weird disease from going pee.
After a quick shower to wash away the effects of any remaining booze in my system, I throw on a pair of yoga pants, an old shirt, and a sweatshirt. I pull on a pair of mittens and head out. My first stop is the local cafe to grab the biggest cup of coffee they sell before walking toward my new house. The cafe is called the Sidhe’s Cup. I know from copious rereadings of the Fever series that Sidhe is pronounced like She, making me feel like I’m in on a private joke when a tourist butchers the name walking inside.
I don’t have a bike yet, but after hiking through the outskirts of town while the winter air nips at my skin, I put it in the essential column. Or maybe I could get a scooter. What would the likelihood of me crashing it be? Probably high. I use the walk to call Dani, not having had a chance to with how busy everyone’s been keeping me.
“About damn time, kid.” I grin at Dani’s hello. Despite our weird as hell introduction to one another, Dani’s become a genuine friend over the years. She never tried to step in and be a mom to me. In the beginning she’d been so patient, waiting me out while I raged about the unfairness of my mom, shipping me off with no explanation except the letter, which had very little to say except for how much she loved me. There were a few other lines in there that never made much sense, including her wanting me to come to Wild Haven someday when the time was right.
“Sorry. It’s been one thing after another since I got here. I’m officially a homeowner and I met up with a few locals to celebrate.”
“Already making friends?” Dani sounds pleased, and I know it’s because she’s aware of my tendency to keep most people at arm’s length.
“Surprisingly, I just might be.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I can sense the but that’s dangling unsaid at the end of her sentence.
“But?”
“No but, I am glad. I just…” Here it is. “Just be careful, Miri. I know how much you wanted to move to the island and reconnect with your history, but there’s a lot shadier shit going on in that floating city than appearances let on.”
Dani used to live here, which is how my mom got connected with her in the first place. Like me, she’s had a lot of loss and she doesn’t like to talk much about it, but I know she’s worried I’ll get into trouble here. She never tried to talk me out of coming here, claiming my mom always knew I’d come here someday. She did however, remind me often to watch my back, but said she wasn’t able to say more than that. I often wondered if she wouldn’t tell me because she couldn’t.
“Dani, have you ever known me to put up with anyone’s bullshit?” I grip my coffee too tightly and just about pop the lid off.
“I’d know something was seriously wrong if you did.” She chuckles through the phone and it’s good to hear.
“I’m almost at the house. I’m sure I’ve got a crap ton of cleaning to do, so I’ll call you in a few days. Let you know how it’s going.”
“Sounds good.” There’s a hesitation before she goes on. “I’m really proud of you for following your heart, Miri. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
It’s my turn to chuckle. I’m not sure what she’s worried about, but I already feel like a townie. I can feel myself growing roots in this place. “I will. Promise.”
Dani ends the call, making me swear I’ll call in a few days, and I hang up, sliding my phone into my bag. It’s a fairly warm day for January. The sun is shining, and it makes the frosty air tolerable. By the time I make it down the lane to my house, I’m only a little cold.
Knowing that the island is so contained, I shipped cleaning products and supplies up to the house before I arrived. I saw them sitting in a neat stack on the front porch the day before when I was here with Archer, and I’m oddly excited to put them to use.
Approaching the house, I inhale deeply, almost giddy with excitement. Seeing it yesterday hasn’t lessened the thrill and I can’t wait to explore. If I didn’t have such a good vibe about the place, I’d probably think it was creepy, with its daunting arches and climbing-vine covered exterior, but I love it.
Exhilarated anticipation thrums under my skin like little snaps of electricity, urging me to move forward, to go explore. Almost giddy, I hurry up the steps and pull out a large iron key. It looks like something a housekeeper would have had back when they ran the house. The metal is heavy and black and leaves a distinctly metallic smell that’s not all that pleasant on my fingers. I might work on getting new locks, although there is something aesthetically appealing about the idea of this key. We’ll see which of my sides wins out; the romantic or the practical.
