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Six
Malakai
It takesme an hour to find someone to sail me out to my boat,Princess, and another couple hours to get her safely docked into the harbour. Despite Ma Silva’s advice, I chose to rescue her first rather than face Lola. That’s one whirlwind I’m happy to avoid for the time being, chicken-shit that I am.
Besides, I need to find my centre again. Being on this island has brought back memories I’ve long since tried to forget, not to mention Connie…
NO!
I force my thoughts back to the present moment. To the here and now, refusing to think of the woman who reminds me of a girl I once loved and is all kinds of off-limits. Jesus, she’s barely an adult. Eighteen. Not to mention she’s the daughter of my best friend and the girl I loved more than life itself. She’s so off-limits it’s not even funny. I need to put a whole ocean between me and Connie Silva, and I need to do it soon.
If it hadn’t been for Ma Silva distracting me the whole time I sat with them both in her kitchen I would’ve had trouble taking my eyes off Connie. Though, I felt her hot gaze on me well enough. I’d never felt so scrutinised before and I don’t know if that’s because I’ve been alone for so long that I’m not used to it, or if she was blatantly checking me out. I’d forced myself to ignore her as much as possible, not willing to look into the face of such alluring beauty. But those eyes… that silky, wild mane of hair… those long, long legs… her freckled covered skin and bee-stung lips.
Fuck.
“Don’t even think about it, arsehole,” I mutter to myself, taking my anger out on the rope that I’m currently securing to the dock so that Princess doesn’t float away and get damaged further.
Two nights ago I hit a sudden squall that had me battling the elements and left me with a damaged mast that’s in need of repair. Experience tells me it’s going to take a few days, maybe a week to get it fixed, but I can’t afford to stick around for that long. I need to get the hell off this island as soon as possible. I’ve never been comfortable on land. The wide expanse of the ocean has always been my home, my haven, my saving grace. Aside from the occasional modern-day pirates, and the sudden turn in weather that can catch you off guard, living at sea is relatively trouble free. That’s the way I like it.
Being on land causes way too many problems. Problems that are twenty years too young for me and have danger written over every inch of tantalising, sun-kissed, freckled skin.
Shaking my head and gritting my jaw, I climb aboard and down the hatch to my cabin, quickly changing into clothes that actually fit. Pulling on a pair of linen shorts, a faded t-shirt that’s more grey than black, and flip-flops, I head back outside to find Rob and thank him for helping me get Princess safely moored.
“No problem, Malakai. Glad to be of service,” he responds. I find him sitting on the deck of his trawler, drinking a cup of coffee from his flask. He has his face raised skyward, catching the last rays of the afternoon sun. It’s already well past six pm and took longer than I’d anticipated to get Princess back. Still, at least she’s safe now.
“I appreciate it, Rob. How’s the family?” I ask, trying and failing to remember if he was married or not and had any children. The fact of the matter is, I was a kid of sixteen when I was last on this island and rarely paid any attention to anyone other than Anna and Blake. Though, I vaguely remember him as a young man in his early twenties dating a girl who I think was called Rosemary. Still, it’s a pretty generic question and hopefully one he doesn’t take offense to.
“My wife passed away three years ago. Cancer. We didn’t have any children, so it’s just me, this boat and my crew. All the family I need these days,” he responds, matter-of-factly and without an ounce of regret, only a soft smile on his lips.
“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too, but that’s life, isn’t it? Not much any of us can do about tragedy but live through it.” He shrugs, before turning his gaze away and out across the harbour towards a figure striding towards us. He frowns. “Oh dear, looks like Lola’s on the warpath… I’m sure I paid my bill earlier.”
“Lola?”Shit.
“So you do know her then?” Rob asks, as he digs around in his wallet for a receipt, presumably. “I was wondering why you asked so many questions about her…”
During the past couple hours he filled me in on Lola’s little business that she set up here on the island. It doesn’t surprise me that she owns a café. She was always great at cooking, a talented chef with all these weird and wonderful ideas.
“Yes, I know her…” I begin, but my explanation as to how well is cut off when her voice rings loud and angry in the air. The woman could rival a goddamn banshee.
“Malakai Azaiah Dunbar, you bloody arsehole!” she shouts.
Rob chuckles. “That sounds like a woman scorned if ever I heard one.” He gets up and ducks inside the cabin of his boat, giving us some privacy. Honestly, I wished he’d stayed put. This is gonna get ugly. Lola has quite a temper when she gets going.
“Hello, Lola,” I say as she stomps towards me in a pair of cut off dungarees and white t-shirt combination, a pair of scruffy trainers on her feet. She’s still as attractive as she ever was.
“Don’t you‘hello, Lola’me! It’s been over a year since I last saw you, Malakai! A whole damn year with no word. Not even a goddamn postcard. Then you ring me out of the blue like no time has passed! What are you playing at?”
She stops before me, the light breeze picking up strands of her dark hair, her grey eyes stormy and brimming with unshed tears.
“How am I here? How areyouhere? Imagine my surprise that when I call you, I find out you’re living on the island I grew up on!” I retort, ever the arsehole when I should be apologising for leaving without word, and then not contacting her like a big fucking coward.
“Don’t you turn this around on me! I came here looking foryou,” she snaps, slamming the flat of her hand against my chest.
I chuckle. “Still hit like a girl, I see.”
“Oh, shut up, dipshit! I could murder you.” Her angry tears spill over onto her cheeks and I immediately feel guilty. I should never have left her the way I did. She was my friend and I abandoned her. Just like I abandon everyone I get close to. My smile falters, and I sigh heavily.
