by Tina Scott
When I got to the trail, Storm and Traci were headed my way. Storm saw me and ran forward. “Are you alright?”
“I was nearly attacked by a bear,” I said incredulously.
“Oh, you were not.” Traci folded her arms across her chest. “You’re way too calm. What took you so long, for real?”
“It’s the truth. Didn’t you hear me yell?” Bracing myself by holding onto Storm’s arm, I looked up sheepishly. “I saw a berry bush.” I lifted a shoulder knowing he would get it.
Storm pulled me to his chest and held me tight. “Are you alright?” He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head. “Oh, my stars! What would I have done if you’d gotten hurt?”
A full explanation was in order, but without paying attention that Traci was standing beside us, I pulled Storm’s lips to mine, releasing all of the excitement and fear of my experience into our kiss.
Twelve
Storm could be the guy, the man of my dreams. I’d been walking on clouds since our last kiss and had barely registered the bear encounter as the reason for it. His reaction let me know his true feelings—he liked me—and I was anxious to see him again.
Traci and I drove toward the spit prepared for our sight-seeing excursion to Seldovia. It had been two and a half days since we’d seen each other, a lifetime when put in the constraints of a two-week relationship. He’d had a few long days at work, and Traci had kept me busy helping with the family business. Had absence made his heart grow fonder?
I glanced at Traci. “What do you think teachers make around here?”
She grinned. “I knew it! That would be fantastic if you decided to move here. You could share my place until a spot opens up at the school.” At my worried frown, she amended, “Mom has a three bedroom. Or you could at least stay until you found your own place. So, things are going well with you and Storm?” She pulled into a parking spot near the boardwalk.
“You could say that.” I felt myself blushing but didn’t want to divulge my true feelings. His reaction to my bear encounter had lifted my spirits and my hope. But, we were still at an impasse regarding the actual logistics of a relationship, if he was even interested.
“Yeah. I guess I could say that.” Traci smirked.
“I don’t understand why I didn’t get a call from the state,” I said, changing the subject. “They were going to let me know if I got the job days ago.”
“They could still call. But, would you take the job if they offered it?”
“Of course, I would. I’d be a fool not to. Besides, if Storm is interested, he would be willing to move to Sacramento with me.”
“Perhaps.”
We walked down the boardwalk and toward the Northern Star office. I searched for Storm through the crowd of tourists, my heart fluttering with possibilities as we approached. He wasn’t there, and he wasn’t the one inside taking the money for the tickets. “Do you think he’s not going to be here?” That would be my luck. He’d probably changed his mind about me and decided to stay home.
“He’s at work, so he’s doing what he does at work.” Traci stepped up to the counter and paid her fare.
What did he do when he was at work? I didn’t even know other than he was part owner. If I truly felt for him the way I thought, shouldn’t I know the particulars of how he spent his days? Nevertheless, couldn’t a part owner take a minute to greet a person if he liked her and was serious? I paid for my ticket and we went outside, waiting to board with the others.
“Don’t be disappointed. You knew he was going to be working. That’s why we came today.”
“I know.” I wrinkled my nose. “But, I don’t know. I just thought...” What had I thought? That Storm would leave everything to the others and hang out with me the whole time? That was exactly it, I realized. I had foolishly and unrealistically expected that it would be a private excursion.
“Look. There he is.” Traci pointed. Storm was greeting each passenger and helping them to board the ship.
My heart did a little dance at the sight of him. “This probably wasn’t a good idea.” I hated feeling so insecure all the time, and we were intruding on his work. But, when he saw us he smiled. The way his eyes lit up when he saw me made all my doubts disappear, and I had to smile back.
“I’m glad you got here early.” He put his arms around me, and I melted into his embrace. As soon as I did, he stood back, and I faltered to get my footing. “I’m sorry,” he said, steadying me. “I’ve got to get things ready if we’re ever going to leave port.”
“Yeah, no problem,” I said. It wouldn’t have been a problem except he didn’t stick around to hear my reply. He hustled to the group behind us. Six women, varying in age but not in beauty. They were hot, and they knew it. He helped them to board the ship, chatting and laughing with them as though he’d known them forever.
I was the discarded old sock, and I gulped back my disappointment. “Where shall we go,” I asked Traci with forced cheer.
“We should probably go to the front. We’ll be able to see everything.”
We made our way through the crowd of tourists toward the front of the ship. When we got there, at least twenty people had beat us. I tried pushing my way forward, but it was standing room only.
“Let’s try over there.” Traci pointed toward the right where there were plenty of open spaces.
Just then, Storm came breezing toward us. “You should go over there.” He indicated the left of the ship. “You’ll get the best view. It’ll be windy on the top deck, but the view there is even better.” He winked at me and hurried toward the ship’s helm. I smiled. But, rather than making me feel special, I felt more like a college groupie.
“Let’s go on the top deck,” Traci said. She grabbed hold of my arm and tugged. We got up the stairs and there was a nice-sized area with railing all the way around. We went to the front railing and leaned against it. “You need to cut Storm some slack,” she said. “He’s at work.”
“I know he’s at work.” That didn’t ease the bitter taste of rejection. “It just seemed that he was really enjoying himself with those six gals who boarded after us.”
“You’re being ridiculous. He’s got to be friendly and make each passenger feel special or they wouldn’t get any repeat business or good reviews online.”
That made sense. I was being overly sensitive, and he’d broken it off with Lana because of her insecurity.
As we drew farther into the bay, I pulled out the knit cap Traci insisted I bring, and I put it on. “Man, that wind is cold!” I handed her my phone. “Here, take a picture of me, please.” I huddled into my coat and smiled.
She shot a few of me with Grewingk Glacier in the background as we sped out of the bay, and then handed my phone back. “Here, now come stand beside me. I want to have a picture of the two of us.”
In case we never see each other again. I silently finished her sentence and gulped back the sudden emotion. But, we stood arm-in-arm and took a selfie. Then another passenger approached.
“Here, let me take one of the two of you.”
Traci handed him her phone. I handed him mine as well. He took our pictures and gave our phones back. “Thank you,” I said.
We turned back toward the scenery. The day was picturesque. Fluffy clouds rested in a deep blue sky, and misty patches of fog hovered among the green of the small islands we passed.
Storm’s voice came over the intercom, and he began explaining what we were seeing and what sights we could look forward to. We neared a green shoreline on an island thick with trees, and he gave a brief history of the area. Then we neared a small rock island.
“You might be looking for penguins,” he said. “But there are no penguins in Alaska. They live in the South Pole. If you look to your left, you’ll see a small island crowded with birds. The ones with orange on their beaks are puffins. They and penguins have a few similarities—they both like cold weather.”
Storm continued talking over the speaker, explaining about puffins and o
ther birds in the area, their decline because of warmer waters, loss of habitat, and possibly even tourism.
“Look.” I pointed to several puffins that shot into the water, then got out my phone and took pictures.
Each island or inlet we neared, there were otters floating and playing in the water. “They’re so cute.” I took pictures of those, too. Several islands had cabins and kayaks, some with for sale signs and some for rent with numbers to call posted on large boards. They must be vacation hideaways. “Hey, look, we could use your kayaks and come here.” But then I realized we’d been out for an hour. That was a long way on a kayak in freezing water.
Storm approached. “Are you liking the tour?” He took my hand into his. Maybe he did like me.
“It’s great,” Traci said.
But, Storm wasn’t looking at Traci, he was looking into my eyes, and in such a way that I remembered our previous kisses. The desire for a repeat performance welled inside. It was enough for now that my feelings were real. I wanted to feel his arms around me, his soft lips on mine. Heat crept up my neck.
Storm smiled. “My thoughts exactly.” He put his arm around me and spoke to Traci. “Do you mind if I borrow Marcia for a moment? I have something I’d like to show her downstairs.”
“Take all the time you need,” she said, and turned her gaze toward the ocean while shaking her head.
Storm claimed my hand, and I let him lead me down the stairs onto the main deck, and then down another set of stairs. He opened a door and flipped on a light and closed the door behind us. “I don’t know about you,” he said. “But, I’ve been dreaming of that kiss. Would you—”
I silenced him with a touch of my fingers. I’d been dreaming of the kiss too. Those lips were so soft. I leaned forward, breathing in the scent of him and waiting as he touched his lips to mine. Our kiss started out slow, tentative, then it became more passionate. His kiss traveled down to my chin and then along my neck and back again. My whole body tingled wanting more, and I wrapped my fingers into his hair, drawing his lips to mine once more.
Someone knocked on the door. “Storm, it’s time.”
He drew his lips apart from mine, and I felt instant longing, but I was confused as to why anyone would know where we were. I gulped down the realization that, once again, I’d let physical attraction take over rational thought.
“That’s Trent,” he said as though that explained everything. “You’ve got to come up and see this cool island. It looks like an elephant.” He pulled me exuberantly up the stairs, never realizing that I was less than enthusiastic.
Thirteen
“I take it that you got the special friend tour?” Traci gave me a lopsided grin.
“Maybe,” I admitted.
But, if that was the case, why did I get the impression that he was merely enjoying himself? Even if he did have feelings for me, and even if my feelings for him grew with every breath I took, the ‘I’m going to get hurt’ alarm was blaring in my head. I had barely known the guy two full weeks. He could merely be a different version of Brad. His closet-kiss had cemented that reality into my mind. I was just one of his groupies.
“Long distance relationships never work,” I said. We changed the subject after that and enjoyed the scenery. I searched the horizon desperately for humpback whales, or any sort of whale, but all we saw were otters.
By the time we reached Seldovia, it was noon, and I was famished.
“You ladies go on ahead,” Storm said. “I’ve got to secure the ship and prepare for our departure. I’ll catch up to you.” He walked away without glancing back.
I had heard those words before. From Brad. A poisoned memory flashed to the surface. Was Storm merely taking advantage of a situation? I gulped back the bile and the sick feeling in my gut, and smiled. “Sounds great,” I said, mostly for Traci’s benefit because Storm had already boarded the ship.
“Ugh, what is that fishy smell?” Traci pinched her nose and waved off the stench of fish guts on cutting tables near the shore. It was stomach-turning. I held my breath and hurried toward the town. When I saw that ‘town’ consisted of a restaurant and a grocery store and very little else, I realized the point of the excursion was to bring tourism dollars to a remote island.
“Have you been here before?” I asked Traci.
“Nope. First time.” She pointed. “Let’s go see if that restaurant over there is still in business.”
The restaurant looked like a large, wooden cabin with a front porch and a back porch. The road up to it was dirt. We walked the short distance to the restaurant and got settled inside. And then a waitress appeared. I glanced around to see if Storm had followed us in, but he hadn’t. The waitress, in her late teens or very early twenties, had mermaid-blue hair and a small silver loop on the edge of her nostril. She handed us each a menu. “I’ll be back for your order,” she said and then went to stand by the front door.
I looked at the menu. “What do you suppose is good?”
“I don’t know,” Traci said. “But at this point, I think it’ll all taste good.”
“Yeah, maybe we should order one of everything.”
While waiting for the waitress to take our order, we visited and talked about the amazing sights we’d seen. A burger sounded safe enough, but apprehension niggled at the hairs on my neck. “What’s taking our waitress so long?” And, where was Storm? The feeling of déjà vu made me uneasy. I turned in my chair and looked toward the door.
The waitress was there. Storm was talking to her. My heart sunk.
Storm put his hand on her shoulder and hugged her close. That was enough! “Is there another way back to Homer,” I asked. “I don’t think I can stomach another minute on that overgrown boat.”
“What’s the matter? Are you sick?”
I indicated the door with a nod and wiped the ridiculous tears from my face. I would not cry over a guy I barely knew.
“We don’t know who that is,” Traci said. “It could be totally innocent. In fact, she looks vaguely familiar.”
Yeah. Innocent. Why was Traci defending him? He was such a jerk. Playing nice, like he liked me, making out in the utility closet of the ship like he was some kind of chick magnet and then coming here and embracing someone else! Maybe I could find lodging on the island because there was no way I’d go back to Homer on the same ship with that two-timing creep.
Storm and the waitress continued in a close-knit teasing way and never once did he even look back at us. He clasped both of her hands in his and planted a kiss on her forehead.
“He’s too old for her,” I groused, “but, I guess age doesn’t matter to everyone.”
“Naw, it can’t be what it seems.” Traci wrinkled her brow. “We need to ask him.”
“And now he sees us.” I turned my attention back to the menu and slunk into the seat. “Of course, he’ll come join us.” Because he thinks he’s so good-looking he can do anything he wants.
I glanced wildly about for an exit that didn’t involve walking past him, but I was trapped. I’d stay, but I wouldn’t create a scene, not like I had with Brad. I shook my head. Causing a scene with Brad had only made things more humiliating for me.
“Hey ladies, have you ordered yet?” He sat down as though nothing was amiss. Just like Brad. And, he called us ‘ladies.’ Just like that cheating ex.
Was he like Brad? I clenched my teeth together and folded my arms tightly across my chest. Did he have so many women in his little black book that he couldn’t keep our names straight? Did he take other women to the ship’s utility closet? Women he’d conquered with his smile, his straight, white teeth, his sparkling brown eyes, his...?
“Marcia?” Traci nudged me.
I blinked back, frustration warming my neck. “What?” I said defensively. “I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” Which was true. I stared out the window toward the ocean, trying to take myself away from this situation and realizing I was leaving in two days.
But, my foolishness of believing Storm
was different, of falling for him in so short a time slammed me in the face when the blue-haired child came to our table. Storm jumped up and stood behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Ladies, I’d like to—”
“Ladies?” I screeched, pounding my fists against the table. “Do you not remember our names?” I froze, mortified. This wasn’t Brad. I wasn’t engaged to him. Nor had he given any indication that we were exclusive.
The other guests stared at me. Traci’s mouth hung open, alarm on her face. Storm appeared hurt, of all things. And the little tramp beside him? Her jaw set, her brows dipping into a scowl.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. At that moment, my feet decided to work. I stood abruptly and scurried across the room and out the door like the foul creature I was.
But now what? I had overreacted, I knew I had. And, I’d have to eat a whopping dose of crow in order to make up for that scene. I didn’t know if I had it in me. I was hungry, but I wouldn’t go back inside the restaurant. Nor could I face Storm and that pained look on his face—and what right did he even have being upset with me after hanging all over that teenager?
The store across the street was decked out with old fishing nets and glass baubles. Though I was still shaking from the drama, I walked over and went inside. There were groceries and trinkets, a few t-shirts and other things. There was even a fishing section. That was logical. People here probably ate a lot of fish. I plunked a box of crackers and some canned cheese on the counter as well as a bottle of soda, a bag of chips, and a candy bar. “Say hello to lunch,” I muttered. Then, reaching into the freezer chest, I pulled out an ice cream sandwich for dessert. The grand total was the price of a steak dinner at home.
A bell chimed indicating someone else had entered the store, but I was afraid to look. I’d made such a mess of things, embarrassing Traci in front of her childhood friend and a room-full of strangers. Storm deserved his embarrassment though. He knew I’d had a hard breakup. He shouldn’t toy with my feelings like that.
