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“So, what’s the ETA?” he asks after a few moments.
“Um…” I murmur, scrolling faster, as if that will somehow help me. My breathing grows shallow and my hands start to shake, the phone slipping from my sweaty palms.
“Oakley? Are you okay?” Kai asks, wrapping his hand around mine so I don’t drop the phone. He takes it from me, then slides an arm around my waist, keeping me close. I nod, looking away from him, but Kai isn’t having any of that. He tips my chin up, his brown eyes peering into mine. “Need your words,” he whispers.
“I’m fine,” I squeak out. “Sorry, I’m…” I blow out a breath, closing my eyes to try and recenter. This is Kai. He’s not going to think less of me, even if my mind is trying to convince me of that. “I’m dyslexic,” I whisper, chewing on my bottom lip.
“And you thought I’d be upset?” Kai asks softly, sliding his hand around to the back of my neck. His brow is furrowed, but his eyes are as kind as ever.
“No, I just… not many people know. Just Clara, really. And my parents, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they forgot.”
“Oakley…” Kai breathes out. I shrug, staring at my feet.
Kai squeezes my neck slightly, just enough to get my attention. He draws me closer, resting his forehead on mine. I can barely breathe, my poor heart hammering away in my chest.
“I had no idea, but I think you’re incredible no matter what. You know that, right?” He leans back, looking me in the eye. “Nothing could change how much I lo–” He coughs, cutting himself off. “How much I like you.”
My cheeks burn at his words, and for a second, I really thought he was going to say he loves me. Ridiculous. I’m just an emotional mess and hearing what I want to hear.
“Thanks,” I murmur, giving him a smile. Kai holds my gaze for a moment, then steps away, moving closer to the dock before sitting down.
Taking a few seconds to collect myself, I smile at the sweetest, most handsome and kind man I’ve ever met, joining him in the sand.
“Sorry for dragging you all the way out here,” he says. “I was rushing around this morning, trying to get everything done, but I should have checked my messages. I could have saved us the trip.”
“That’s okay. You saved me from another night with my parents,” I say, trying to make him feel better.
He leans back on his hands, and I do the same, letting the sun warm my skin.
“Maybe we could go see Clara while we’re in town,” I say, and Kai seems to tense.
“Yeah, I bet she’s still at the office,” he says, and I laugh.
“Of course, she is. It’s only… four thirty,” I say, checking my own phone.
We watch as the waves come in for a bit, and my stomach starts to growl. I pull my phone back out and frown when I see that it’s after five already.
“Do you think that the ferry got stuck?” I ask him.
“Maybe?”
We both stare nervously at the water. If I squint, I can just about see the boat cutting through the water and over to the other islands.
“Should we try to call someone?”
“Yeah,” Kai says but when we look at our phones, neither of us has any service.
“Kai,” I start slowly. “Are we trapped out here?”
I’m trying not to panic but as the sun starts to slowly set, I can’t seem to hold it back any longer.
I was worried about being alone with Kai for a few hours, scared that I would blurt out how I feel about him. Now I’m going to be trapped here with him overnight? I can’t do this. I mean, I’m trapped here with the man of my dreams, who is also completely off limits.
This is a nightmare.
“Maybe they’re coming back at the end of the night. That’s when the wedding would have been over,” he says, trying to remain calm.
“Okay, yeah, maybe that’s it.”
