by Ava Harrison
“Hey, Park. Can you talk?”
“Yeah, I’m just with Everest in our dorm. Hold one second while I step out of the room.” Of course, he was with Everest. Every time I called he was with him, getting into some sort of trouble. Off on some crazy stunt. I rarely got him on the phone without Everest interrupting to steal him away.
I heard, “Okay,” then a low mutter, “Dude. I’ll be right back.” Then I heard the words, “The girls are waiting,” from a voice I could only assume was Everest. My stomach knotted, and I wished I hadn’t heard that. I wished I could rewind time and never have called. Knowing Parker was going out with girls was too much for me to handle right now. I heard a rustling sound and then a door shut. Thank God, at least I didn’t have to ask my embarrassing question in front of his friend.
“What’s going on, baby girl? You okay?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s nothing like that. Umm, this is kind of embarrassing, actually.”
“Ari . . . seriously, I’ve seen you at your worst. Just spit it out.”
“Canyougotopromwithme?”
“Try saying it a tad bit slower and enunciate your words.”
“Argh! You’re being a dick. Forget it.” I went to hang up on him, but his voice through the earpiece made me stop
“Oh stop, Ari. I was just playing.”
“Fine, will you go to prom with me?”
“No one asked you?”
“You don’t have to rub it in.”
“Isn’t there anyone you like who you want to ask?” I died right then and there. Of course there was someone I liked who I wanted to ask . . . and I just had. But he didn’t see it. Because he was too busy meeting girls and partying with ‘Everest.’ What kind of stupid fucking name was that, anyway? Mortified, I pulled the phone away from my mouth so he wouldn’t hear my gasp. Calming myself, I let my voice dip to a low whisper.
“No, I don’t have anyone.”
“Well, you always have me, baby girl, and I would love to take you to your prom. Just give me the details, and I’ll book a flight.”
“Thanks, Park.”
“Anything for you.”
I breathe audibly.
No matter what, no matter how much his friend always tried to come between us, Parker put me first when it was important. I owe it to him to concentrate on myself now. To learn to be happy, to not be distracted by a guy, no matter how beautiful he is.
A few hours later, lights begin to twinkle in the distance. They grow brighter and more prominent the closer we get.
“You ready to see what you’re capable of?” Chase asks.
“What do you have in mind?” My stomach shifts uneasily and I wrap my arms around my stomach as I wait for his answer.
“While we’re in Ponza, we’re hiking to the top of that hill.” He points toward the horizon to a dark, shadowy shape. I look at him in complete wonder as his words really sink in, my face contorts into what must be an expression of shock.
“Hill? That’s a fucking mountain!” This man has got to be out of his mind.
“Princess. That ain’t no mountain. I should know. I climb mountains.” My head cocks to the side, and I look up at him. He snickers to himself and my reaction seems to amuse him.
“No way.”
“You afraid?” His pupils flare, and I groan loudly.
“Fine. Show me this hill.” I throw my hands up in defeat.
“Atta girl!”
As he steers the sailboat closer to the dock, I get ready to jump off and help pull us closer. Two men are already there, waiting for us to near.
“No worries. Luciano has this. I radioed ahead to get clearance to dock here overnight.”
“Oh, okay. Should I get my bag?”
“Why would you do that?”
“Umm, to sleep.” I stare at him. This is such an obvious notion. I don’t understand his confusion.
“Where do you think we’re sleeping, Princess?” he asks with what appears to be a smug look on his face.
“On the island, obviously.” Chase busts out laughing. “Wait, Chase. We’re sleeping on the island, right?”
“If by sleeping on the island, you mean sleeping in this boat . . . then yes, we’re sleeping on the island.”
“You cannot be serious!” He stops laughing and concentrates on docking the boat.
“Totally serious. Now pick your mouth up from off the floor and watch what Luciano does. That way, the next time we go sailing, we won’t need his ugly mug.” Luciano flips him off, and Chase erupts into another fit of laughter.
“Wait, but there are no beds. Are there beds?”
“Of course there are beds. It’s time I take you to see the boat.”
“Yeah, I would have to agree with you.” As he steers the boat, Luciano rushes past me to grab the rope and toss it ashore. The men who work at the marina make quick work of lashing it to a cleat and pulling us taut. Chase stands up and stretches his arms into the air. His shirt rises ever so slightly, giving me a view of his perfect V. As the drool collects in my mouth, he catches me gawking and smirks. He turns to walk away, then turns back again, still smiling. “You coming?”
“Uhh,” is all I get out before I curl my tongue back in my mouth and run to catch up to him.
“So, this is an Oyster 475. She’s actually the best in her class for size and stability,” he says as he softly caresses the stainless steel handle on the door leading down into the cabin.
“Well, that’s comforting. But it doesn’t mean I want to sleep down there.”
“Oh, come on, Aria, Where’s your sense of adventure?” he turns the handle and opens the door leading to the steps.
“I’m adventurous. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Would you have come if you knew you were sleeping on a boat?”
“Well, no.” I shrug as if the answer to such a silly question is obvious.
“And why is that?”
“I barely know you, Chase Porter. How can you expect me to sleep on a boat with you and some guy named Luciano?”
“Princess . . .” he taunts me.
“Don’t ‘Princess’ me right now. I’m not sleeping in the same room as you.”
“First off . . . cabin.”
“Oh, God—” I grumble.
“Secondly, there are multiple ‘cabins’ down there. Follow me. I should have done this before we set off. Let me show you what this baby has to offer.”
We stride down the stairs leading into the bow of the ship. Each step downward is tentative. I try to balance my footing as the boat sways with the rolling of the sea beneath us.
“So, this way is the pilot’s cabin, and over here is the forward double.”
We walk through a large area with walls finished in white and sky blue furniture with maple accents.
“This is the salon. There are books on the bookshelf over there if you need something to read and board games, as well.” Across the salon, I notice a glass armoire. Squinting my eyes, I notice it carries multiple bottles with every hue of amber liquid in them. My mom would be a kid in a candy store. With a shake of my head, I catch up to Chase, who’s now a few steps ahead. As we continue our tour, we enter a narrow corridor.
“This is the galley, and in the back . . . that’s the owner’s cabin.”
“Is that where you’ll sleep?” I whisper, biting my lip.
“Well, normally yes, I do sleep there, but since you are the guest. I figured I would let you have that cabin.”
“Really?” I exhale loudly, relief flooding me. His smile broadens at my reaction.
“You will be the most comfortable there as Luciano tends to favor staying in the double forward.”
“Thanks for being so considerate, Chase. I really appreciate it.”
After he shows me to my cabin, where he’d already placed my bag, we walk through the galley once more, and he pops open the fridge. My lips turn in a smile up as he pulls out a tray of charcuterie and a bottle of Rosé.
“How did you have tim
e to get that?”
“Whenever I charter a boat from Luciano, he stocks it with all my favorites. While we were in the Côtes de Provence a few years back we stumbled upon the Château Saint-Maur Rosé. It wasn’t expensive, and we found it to be the perfect pairing for so many—”
“Cut the shit.” My eyes boldly met his, daring him to lie.
“Okay, okay. A girl I once dated liked it, so we now stock the boat with it.”
“You never cease to amaze me, Chase Porter. Was this bottle here for the model you were expecting? Am I about to drink some other girl’s wine?” He looks rather amused by me.
“Don’t be silly.” He grins.
“Well, am I?” His mouth widens considerably as he seems to consider what to say next. His eye looks up to the right as if he’s trying to come up with a plausible lie to tell me.
“Technically yes, but it’s not what you think.” Wow! But at least he decided to not lie.
“I don’t think anything. All I think is I need a change, and you’re giving me one. I’m not reading more into it than that.”
“Well, in that case.” He smiles and grabs my hand, and my hand being the traitor it is, is happy to be in his.
“Just stop talking, Chase, and let’s go have that wine already.”
“A girl after my own heart.”
“Where are the glasses?”
“Top right cubby. It’s a bit tricky, as it’s locked shut so everything won’t bounce and break if we hit a big wave. Here, let me.” Placing the bottle and food down on the counter, he leans across me to reach into the cabinet above me. He’s close enough for me to feel the warmth that’s emanating from his body. My whole body shivers at his proximity. It’s unnerving how my body reacts to him. The boat rolls to the left, and his warm hand surrounds my waist, keeping me steady, while his other reaches to grab the glasses. He removes his hand and moves it to entwine our fingers.
I’m a live wire.
Electricity courses through my body.
His steel eyes find mine as he dips his head dangerously close to mine. His breath is so close I can almost taste him. For a moment I think he might kiss me. I think I might let him, but then I would hate myself, and I can’t do that. I can’t cross that line. Not now, not ever. I jerk my head away, move toward the bottle, and grab it.
“Here, you take the food. I’ll get the drinks.”
By the time we make it back on deck, the sun has fully set over the pastel houses and rolling hills in the distance. In our position on the dock, we’re surrounded by dozens of tiny fishing boats. The lights twinkling off the water cast a glow. To the starboard side of the boat all I see is the vast ocean expanding into the horizon, cloaking the distance in darkness.
He pours the wine in the glasses, and I take a sip. It tastes like a pretty bouquet. White peach and apricots. It’s light and refreshing. Plus, it’s doing a remarkable job of soothing the tension that has been growing inside me over my conflicting feelings for Chase. It couldn’t come at a better time as I’m still imagining how his lips would have felt if he kissed me. The only thing I can come up with is . . .
Divine.
“So, what exactly is all this stuff?” I point to the tray of food in front of me.
“Just a little something I whipped up,” he says casually.
“When you say whipped up you mean took out of the fridge, right?”
“Yes, obviously. You saw me at the cooking class. You don’t want me preparing your food.”
“What did you pull out for me?”
Chase bursts out laughing, and all I can do is giggle in return and shake my head.
“Not real mature, are we?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He leans toward the plate and starts pointing.
“This here is Serrano ham, and here is a Prosciutto, and to be honest I have no idea what these are, so we’ll just call them . . . other hams.”
“Everything looks delicious. And the wine, even if it was for another girl is fabulous.” I smile at him and wink. Then I grab my glass and take another sip.
Hours have passed. I blink my eyes, and I catch myself trying to hold back a large yawn. We have finished the bottle and polished off the “hams,” but the best part of the evening is that we have done nothing more than sit and talk. Chase tells me story after story and I listen. He speaks of numerous adventures and with each tale he tells, I grow to like him more and more. I love how he gets animated when he’s excited. How his eyes light up as he remembers each story. The small dimple that appears when he laughs. He’s stunning.
And I’m scared of my feelings for him.
The moon illuminates the water, casting shadows across the distance. In this moment, I feel the ghosts I harbor deep within me begin to recede.
In this moment, I feel alive.
Thirty-four days since I spoke to Parker
Six days since I met Chase
“WAKE UP. IT’S TIME to go.” What time is it? It’s got to be way too early in the morning for him to be this chipper. Can he just go away?
“Go where? Are you kidding me? It’s eight in the morning,” I groan from under my pillow.
“Yep, and we have places to go.”
“Where could we possibly need to go at eight in the morning?” I snap. I don’t even attempt to hold in my anger at being woken at this ungodly hour.
“Damn, Princess, you’re cranky when you wake up.” I might have to beat this man if he doesn’t shut up.
“Less talking, more coffee. If you want me to talk to you, I need coffee, and I need it stat. Actually, I needed it five minutes ago.”
“Well, then, you are going to love me. Open your eyes,” he says as I sigh dramatically. Pulling his arm out from behind him, he presents a steaming cup of coffee. The robust aroma infiltrates my senses. His smile is huge and playful.
“See, now you like me.” I grab it from him, not giving him time to change his mind. The rich taste floods my mouth, and my body warms.
“So, where are we going?” I inquire.
“Oh, now you want to talk.” He pretends to be annoyed, rolling his eyes and shrugging his shoulders theatrically.
“Well, now I have coffee. So hop to it.”
“Do you remember what I said we would do once in Ponza?”
“Oh my God, you can’t be serious. I thought you were joking. I’m not climbing that mountain.”
“Come on, it will be fun. I even packed a serious picnic. You should be excited.” A wide grin spreads across his face.
“Fine, fine. Let me get dressed.”
His eyebrows arch as he runs his eyes up the bed.
“You naked under there, Princess?”
I answer his question with a pillow to the head.
The early morning sunshine beams in through the windows in the hull. Taking brisk steps, I make my way to the galley and find Luciano. Although he has been a constant fixture since yesterday afternoon, he has yet to sit down and talk to us, rather ducking out every chance he got.
“Morning, Luciano,” I say as I walk to the coffee pot and pour myself another cup. “What time are we heading out?”
“Good morning, Aria. Pleasure to see you this morning. I won’t be joining you two, as I have to head into town and pick up more food to stock the boat. But I do hope you enjoy this wonderful island. It’s quite spectacular.”
“That’s a shame, but maybe you can meet up with us for dinner?”
“We shall see. Thank you for considering me.”
As I set my cup on the counter, Chase strolls in. His smile is crooked and his eyes sparkle extra bright when he takes me in. He’s dressed in a white V-neck T-shirt, cargo shorts, and Converse sneaks. I stare at his defined arm when he stretches for his camera from the countertop and loops the strap around his neck. He looks up through long lashes and beams at me.
I can no longer see straight, he’s that beautiful. As he runs his hand through his short, tousled hair, my knees go weak. I can’t think these thoughts. They
only lead to trouble. He’s just a guy, a guy I’m on a boat with, spending the day with alone . . .
Head in the game. He’s just some guy. No way am I going there, not with him. Not with anyone. Not after what I did to Parker.
An hour passes as I leisurely drink multiple cups of coffee and eat oatmeal for breakfast. Luciano has already left the boat for the day, and I’m ready to go, as well, antsy to have some space from Chase. Every time I move, there he is. Our arms bump, his finger grazes mine. I’m constantly trying to avoid his touch, yet I can’t help myself from seeking it out. I’m a dog in heat, and I don’t like that one bit.
Stepping off the boat is interesting and I’m not at all prepared for. Apparently, if you have your sea legs on board, you will have them on land, too. My stomach turns as the pavement beneath my feet dips and spins around me, but it’s all in my mind. Nothing is spinning. Nothing is weaving but me.
My stomach turns as nausea fights its way up. I swear my face is green. What does one do when they can barely stand? They wrap their arms around Chase Porter’s torso and hold on for dear life.
“Whoa there, tiger, I got you!”
“I don’t feel so hot, Chase,” I groan.
“Just keep your eyes on the horizon and take deep calming breaths.”
“Shouldn’t this only be happening on the boat?” I ask through a deep inhale.
“Typically, people do feel sick when the boat is on the open sea. But the ride from Rome was only an hour, and you were above deck. Since we’re on a sailboat, the moments were more defined so you got your sea legs right away. That’s good for when you’re on a boat. Not so good when you’re off.”
“Is it weird that I wish I was back on the boat?” I pout and look up at him with big eyes. His response is to squeeze me tighter into his body. Then I feel the whisper of his lips on my hair.
