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“Ah, yeah,” I muttered under my breath. “I think you told me that story once.”
She laughed a good-natured laugh that brightened up her whole face. “I’m sure more than once, right?”
Pulling my lips into a forced grin, I tried to reply in my best even tone, “Many times.”
“Ah. . .” her sigh was wistful, the kind you’d make when you were remembering your most cherished memories. “So,” she went on. “You said you are a ship captain?”
I started to agree but stopped. What would she’d say if I told her the truth about myself? How I was a nobody. How I had grown up alone—many times going days without food—and became a professional thief. How everyone feared me, and no one had ever loved me.
It seemed ironic now. I spent my life devoid of love, wondering what it would be like and here I was, by accident, with this insane woman who had been so easily convinced she was totally in love with me. So much so that the way she looked at me made my insides twist in turmoil. I knew whole heartedly she believed we were together. As much as I hated this act, I didn’t hate the way she looked at me. But she wouldn’t look at me like that if I told her the truth. “I am, yes, a captain.”
She slid her arm around my back, cold prickly goosebumps dotted my arms, and she giggled when she leaned even closer. “Do you always feel so rigid when we cuddle?”
Clearing my throat, I did my best to relax. Hating myself for lying, I yelled in my head this was the only way to get through the night because she wouldn’t believe me if I did tell her the truth. “I’m apprehensive about what we are going to do next.”
“Oh—” Her mouth made a perfect round circle when she tacked on, “a rescue boat will come for us sometime tomorrow.”
My lips slid into an amused grin, and a small chuckle slipped out. As much as I wanted to tell her she was ridiculous, there was something weird about this island. I wanted to believe her, so I kept my lips sealed.
“I’m telling you, babe.” She butted her chin to rest on my arm, nestling her face into me. “It’s all going to work out. It always does.” The sensation of having her so affectionate toward me caused my breath to hitch in my throat. I don’t think I could have spoken if I had wanted to, I didn’t even try. I glanced down at her at the exact moment she lifted her face to mine. We were so close I could feel her soft breath on my cheek. Then in a soft voice, barely above a whisper, she said, “I bet you are the goat of husbands.”
Snorting, I bit back more waves of laughter. That was not what I had been expecting her to say. As hilarious as it was, the word husband seemed to burn deep in my chest. Her eyes were cemented on mine like she was expecting a response. I couldn’t lie with her being so close to me. I came up with the most honest answer that would fit, “I never expected I would ever be anyone’s husband.”
“Really?” She looked honestly shocked; maybe even hurt. “You didn’t want to marry me?”
“Oh, no,” I rushed to defend how that came out all wrong, and from instincts I didn’t even know I had, I pulled her even closer. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant I never expected to be so lucky to find someone like you.”
“Right.” Her eyes refilled with the sparkles they had held before. “Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Like when you meet your person, you know it’s different.”
I ground my teeth hard into my bottom lip. This whole conversation was tripping me out. She was a stranger I had met only a couple of hours ago. Now her eyes pierced mine like I was her whole world. I kept playing along, and whispered, “I think so.”
If I hadn’t known better, I swore disappointment flooded her eyes. Instead of asking a follow up question like I had been sure she would, she lowered her gaze and got quiet.
Her jaw clenched, almost as though she was holding her breath. When it seemed she couldn’t hold it anymore, her cheek twitched, and her breath flowed out of her chest. Obviously deep in thought, she seemed to be working through her own memories. I didn’t want to interrupt her, but I wasn’t shy about letting her catch me looking at her. Oddly, I wanted her to know I was here.
When I was finally convinced her words had fallen away forever, her eyes slid over to mine, and before I had a chance to offer her a reassuring smile, she asked, “So, where were we going tonight, before our boat crash?”
I didn’t see how I could keep playing along with this story because I couldn’t just make up memories for her. However, I’d be a complete jerk to go back on my word now, and say we weren’t married. Swiping my brow, hoping to relieve some of the budding pressure I felt. Just get through this one night and then you can ditch her.
Tomorrow I’d have time to figure out how to get off this island. It wasn’t far from the bay, and if anything, there had to be boats all around the place I’d be able to flag down once it was daylight. I could help her get in touch with her family who could explain there was no time lapse, and they could help her understand she wasn’t married. It could all be laughed-off, but in the meantime what do I tell her about what we were doing on a boat in a storm?
I couldn’t tell her I was running away from thugs, but I pondered if maybe I could tell her about the map . . . I mean, we had made it to the island without even trying, and I was going to hunt for the treasure tomorrow. She would be full of questions about it. It might be nice to have some help, but then she’d want to split it with me, and she already had tons of money and that didn’t seem fair. Reaching to my side, I patted my satchel, making sure it was still there. “We were um, trying to get away to have some time together.”
“I love that,” she cooed, leaning her head back on my shoulder again. “I love that even after marriage we still put each other first.”
Maybe it’s how lies taste, but a sour coating had crept into my mouth. I found myself rolling my tongue on the roof, trying to rid myself of its flavor. I was a thief and proud of it, but something I had never been was a liar, and I didn’t like the taste it left in my mouth. Not wanting to add any more lies to keep track of, I was done talking for the night. “What do you think?” I casually looked over at her but made sure to lean away, careful not to imply anything as I stretched out on the ground. “I’m shot. Shall we try to sleep? It’s going to be a big day tomorrow.”
Her eyes traced my face, and if I’d I ever wanted to be able to read someone’s mind, it would have been now. There was a shyness that took over her gaze. “Sure.” She followed my lead, spreading out next to me, our bodies lined up parallel. Perhaps she’d been expecting us to cuddle, and it would have made sense with the whole camping situation and all, if we had actually been married. Something about sleeping next to her felt like it was going too far. Before she made any suggestions, I rolled over on my side and pretended to instantly fall asleep.
Afterall, I had boundaries! I may be pretending to be married but there would be no spooning with a stranger!
Chapter Four
Evie
I’ve never been one to dream, but I was sleeping when I heard a faint bustling next to me. Pulling one eye open into a slit, I wasn’t afraid when I searched for the noise. The fire had waned into nothing more than glowing embers and smoky haze, but it was enough to make out the shadow of Jasper sitting up. Holding a tattered piece of paper out in front of him, he tilted it toward the light, hunching over it, deep in thought.
Just as I had suspected. He had that stolen treasure map!
