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“You already know. We both do,” he says gently, turning and pulling me into his arms.
And he lets me break, just holding me silently, shielding me from my own pulverized heart.
Safe for a little while.
“I never meant to hurt you. Hell, I didn’t mean to wind up in any position where I could. You must know it,” he says, tucking my head under his chin.
He just holds me while I’m speechless for what feels like hours.
I don’t even know.
“You’re smart as a whip, eager to fix this world’s mistakes, and so young you haven’t lost your shine. That’s what I’ll always love about you, Destiny. I’m grateful you let me see it. One day, you’ll look back. You’ll see all this as a bump in the road, nothing but a nuisance against how incredible you’re bound to be.”
I’m beyond speechless.
His words are so dangerously close to anI love youmy whole being freezes.
The worst part is, there’s no room to bargain.
No counterargument.
No convincing.
He’s so painfully right it’s like being skinned alive, so I do the only thing I can.
I let him hold me until I’m too numb from the wind and his scent to think about wishing for more.
* * *
Later,we make our way inside to warm up.
The wind is picking up as we approach the islands, verging on uncomfortable.
We’re still so quiet, but it’s like we’ve found an understanding in the companionable silence with Molly snoozing on a rug at our feet.
I’m startled when she jumps up and looks out the window with her ears back.
When I spin around for a better look at what she’s seeing, I can’t believe my eyes.
“Destiny,” Shepherd says at the same time.
My throat goes tight when the first whale surfaces.
I’m all instinct as I lunge toward the glass, soaking up the sight of the sleek grey body cutting through the waves.
Water sprays through its blowhole, and as a second beast surfaces, I find my voice again.
“Holy shit. Did... did you see that?” I think I might be close to crying all over again.
“I’m right behind you,” he whispers.
And he means it literally as he wraps his hands around my waist, holding me up.
Just in time.
Looks like the emotional quicksand I’ve been drowning in hasn’t ruined my luck today.
We might never see another one of these gentle giants, but they’re here.
