by Sarah Bates
He snorted softly and shook his head.
“It’s a surprise,” they both said, then laughed together.
Okay, this was weird. My mom and boyfriend were keeping shared secrets from me, and were also speaking and laughing in tandem.
Not sure what I was supposed to think of this – probably glad, because at least that meant they liked each other and got along, I suppose – I didn’t have much time to dwell on it, as I was suddenly enveloped in my mom’s arms, and she held me tightly.
“Mom,”
“Have fun,” she said, pulling back. “And be safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, perplexed.
“Just go,” she said, smiling at me. Her smile was a little wobbly, though, and I saw her swallow.
Before I could ask what on earth was going on, Hayden opened the door and pulled me out.
“Why was my mom being like that?” I asked as we turned to head toward the Courtyard’s main entrance.
“Like what?” he asked, shifting to take my tote from me, adding it to the shoulder he already carried the mysterious duffle on.
“Like she was trying not to get all emotional, in that way moms do when their kids are about to go through some kind of milestone or something,” I said. Then I remembered what she’d said about making sure he had everything he needed, and if there was enough gas in his truck. “Seriously, Hayden, where are we going?”
He sighed in exasperation as we stepped out into the crowded parking lot. “It’s a surprise, Coco. A good one. You’re just going to have to trust me,” he added, chuckling when I pouted and batted my eyelashes – only the real ones, as I’d long since taken the false ones off – at him.
“Fine, I’ll stop asking,” I muttered.
He laughed again as he led me over to his truck. “You don’t do surprises well, do you?” he asked, reaching out to open the passenger door for me.
“Not particularly,” I admitted as he helped me up into my seat. “I drive my mom crazy at Christmas.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, and he kissed me quickly before he stepped back.
I felt an excited thrill over the fact he was thinking that far ahead, and waited as he went around the hood of the truck, then climbed in behind the wheel after storing the two bags in the space behind the seat, before I moved over to snuggle against him, wrapping my arms around his and resting my head on his shoulder.
“Are you sure we can’t just go back to your room at the motel?” I asked, tipping my head back to look up at him.
He hummed, then sighed and shook his head. “While I’ll admit I’d like to, a lot, what I’ve got planned is actually pretty important, so I think we’ll table that for now,” he said, and he pecked a light kiss to my lips.
I cleared my throat as I studied him, and I saw the want in his mossy green eyes. “But later,”
“Definitely later,” he said before I could finish. “For now,” he reached out and cranked the engine, then put the truck in gear, “let’s get going.”
Though I still had a lot of questions about where we were going, I kept them to myself as he drove us through the parking lot, then through town, heading toward the bridge at the north side of the island.
Sixteen
It was so weird, but I hadn’t thought about going back to the mainland in weeks.
Somehow, somewhere along the way it was already nearing the end of September. Time really does fly, I thought, watching the scenery pass by. Nearly two months ago – jeez, it felt like a lifetime ago – my mom and I had made a similar trip, crossing land and sea to the place that was now home. Only then I’d been so despondent about all the changes happening in my life that I hadn’t really paid attention to our surroundings.
It was really very beautiful.
Enjoying the sights, and more importantly being close to Hayden, I smiled and laced our fingers together as I rested my head on his shoulder.
Saying nothing, he lifted our hands to his lips and kissed mine, then lowered them and held them over his heart.
It took a little over forty minutes for us to reach Homestead, then after another twenty-five minutes, heading toward Miami, we reached a small town I only had vague recollections of, from when my mom and I had driven through on our way to Treasure Key.
Like Treasure Key, it was small, but bright and pretty, with tropical flowers and palm trees, and mostly Spanish style houses and buildings.
From the main road that skirted the outer limits, I could see a giant Ferris wheel, not far from the beach, and just beyond it, what looked like a roller coaster, and other smaller rides.
“Is that an amusement park?” I asked, breaking our long silence as I shifted to keep it in view.
“Hmm? Oh. Yeah, sort of. Everyone just calls it the carnival.” Hayden shifted and checked his mirrors, then flicked on his directional light and turned off the main road at the exit. “Welcome to Neptune’s Corner,” he said, coming to a stop at a set of lights at the end of the ramp.
“Neptune’s Corner?” I asked, not recognizing the name.
“Also known as my mom’s hometown,” he said, and once the light turned green he turned toward the coast again, in the direction of the carnival.
“Your mom is from here?” I straightened up a little to get a better look when he nodded. “Do you have family here?” I asked, glancing back to him.
“I do. An aunt and her husband, their son and daughter. They’re both a little older than me. In fact, Ariel and her boyfriend Matteo actually just got engaged right before school started.” He came to a stop at a stop sign, and glanced at me. And laughed when I stared back at him, bewildered, and a little panicked. “Don’t worry, I’m not springing a surprise family reunion on you. I mean, eventually I’d like you to meet them, but Ariel and Blake aren’t even here right now, they’re both off at FSU. As for my aunt and uncle, they’re usually very busy on the weekends with their store, so we’ll maybe make this trip again at a time that’ll be better suited for them.”
“Okay.” I waited for a beat, then added, “I do want to meet them, though.” When he glanced at me quickly before pulling away from the sign, I reached up and tucked a loose lock of hair behind my ear. “I want to get to know your family. So if that had been your plan, I would have been okay with it.”
He smiled, that lopsided grin I loved so much, and reached out to take my hand. “Duly noted.” He kissed my hand, then held it close again as he drove us through a small, pretty little downtown area, then past it.
When we reached the beach I felt my eyes widen in surprise. Not only was there an amusement park – sorry, I’d been to carnivals, and none of them have ever had roller coasters, or had such a huge variety of rides and games – but there was a bustling commercial area with a giant sign that arched over the entrance to the parking lot that welcomed people to The Boardwalk.
“It’s like the Fun Center on steroids,” I said as he pulled into the parking lot.
He laughed as he maneuvered through the lot, looking for a parking space. “Yeah. You know, I’ve never thought about it that way, but you’re right. Logan and I used to love coming here when we were kids.”
“I bet. Wow.” I shook my head in awe as I took in the busy boardwalk and its crowded arcades and restaurants, then blinked in surprise and glanced back to him. “Wait, is this the surprise? Are you taking me to the carnival?” I asked.
“Actually, I’m not. But where I’m taking you isn’t far from there.” He finally pulled into a space, narrowly beating out another car full of other teenagers, and reached out to put the truck in park. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I said, and I reached down to release my seatbelt. “I was curious before, but now I’m even more so,” I added as I waited for him to climb out, and then I climbed out after him.
“Well, soon all your questions will be answered,” he said, and he reached out to pull the duffle from behind the seat before he closed the door. “Come on.” He looped the straps of the duffle over his shoulder, th
en hooked his other arm around me and guided me toward the busy boardwalk.
“This is amazing,” I said, shaking my head over it as we passed by arcade after arcade, and restaurant after restaurant, and all different kinds of tourist-trap gift shops. Silently I wondered how such a place could thrive, especially being right on the water, in an area prone to hurricanes and tropical storms, but I refrained from saying this out loud, as I had quickly learned that it was unwise to speak of such things. According to Zach, it was best not to tempt the Fates.
In the distance I could see the lights flashing on the rides and games at the carnival, and hear the rides and the delighted screams of those riding them.
When Hayden turned us down a side alley between two enormous buildings, I felt a slight tug of apprehension, but as Hayden seemed perfectly at ease, I decided not to ask if he really thought it was safe to be there. Then he reached out and opened a door, and I smelled it.
Ice.
I know some people would say that you can’t smell ice, but you can. It left a tang on the cold air, adding a crispness to it.
For a second I simply froze. It was like my whole body seized up on me, so that I could hardly even breathe. The ache that tightened in my chest was almost soul deep.
When Hayden shifted and looked at me, his lips spread into a bright smile, clearly knowing his secret was up. “Surprise,” he said, lifting his free hand to run it over my hair.
“You found me an ice rink,” I said, my throat tight with emotion.
“I told you I might have a lead,” he said. “Last night it came through.”
“You found me an ice rink,” I said again, my voice catching softly as the tightness constricted a little more. “You,” I tried to choke back the tears, but several escaped, and I tugged my hand free of his.
“Coco,”
I threw my arms around him, laughing and crying, my whole body trembling with anticipation, and pure, unadulterated joy. “You found me a rink,” I said again, my voice raspy with tears as I clung to him.
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against him. “I found you a rink,” he said, pressing a kiss softly against my lips. When he pulled back he studied me for a moment. “Are you okay?”
I laughed. “I’m so far beyond okay,” I said, kissing him again. “You’ve made me so unbelievably happy. I didn’t know a person could be this happy. Hayden,” I shook my head, unable to say the words, as my throat closed up again.
Even unable to say them, though, he still knew what I wanted to tell him, and he smiled and kissed me softly. “I love you, too,” he said, lifting a hand to brush it over my hair. “Now, how would you like to go skate?”
“Very much,” I managed to say.
“Then let’s go. They close in an hour,” he said, checking his watch.
“Let’s…Oh!” I glanced down at my dress. “I can’t skate in this,”
“Your mom’s got you covered,” he said, and he patted the duffle he carried when I looked back up to him.
“So she knew?” I asked.
“Of course she knew. I didn’t think it would be appropriate to take you off the island without her permission,” he said, reaching out to pull the door open again. “Plus I needed her help with getting a change of clothes for you.”
This time when I smelled the ice it caused such a visceral reaction that for a moment I had to pause and catch my bearings again. It was like my whole body instinctively remembered every moment I had ever spent on other ice, in another rink, thousands of miles away, all in that moment.
The muscles in my thighs actually quivered with the urge to make that first push, from platform to ice.
With my heart racing about a billion beats a minute, I let him lead me inside. My smile was so wide it actually hurt my face, but I couldn’t help it. In that moment all I could see was the ice, and it was like the final pieces of the puzzle of my life had finally clicked back into place. They might be rearranged into another picture than before, but at least now the picture they formed was truly complete.
“Here you go,” Hayden said, handing the duffle to me as he gestured to a door marked as the ladies’ room. “I’ll go check us in.”
I nodded and turned to hurry into the restroom, but I paused and turned back to look at him. “You make me so happy.”
He smiled at that. “You make me happy, too,” he said, then he turned and headed toward a window in the wall at the other end of the hall, pulling his wallet from his back pocket along the way.
Feeling overwhelmed with joy and excitement and love for him, I hurried into the restroom to change.
My mom, knowing me so well, had packed my athletic tights and a sports bra, and my favorite raspberry pink thermal shirt, and socks. My matching pink winter headband was there, too, to keep my ears warm, along with a fitted black fleece vest.
My skates were missing, or course, because they were packed in a box in our storage pod, but luckily rinks rent them out for novice use.
Barely able to contain my glee, I made myself store my dress and shoes and jewelry neatly into the duffle, then hurried out to rejoin Hayden.
When I found him with two pairs of skates, my smile widened. “You’re going to skate with me?” I asked as he tapped out a quick message on his phone, probably to my mom to let her know we had arrived safe and sound, just as he had promised he would. One of the best things about Hayden was that he always kept his promises.
“Well, I’ll probably end up sitting on the ice more than skating, but yeah, I thought I’d give it a try. Though I don’t want to embarrass you,” he added as he tucked his phone into his back pocket.
I grinned at this, and followed him to a bench along the wall, and once we sat and had stowed the duffle under it, along with Hayden’s shoes, I watched him pull an old, worn gray sweatshirt on that had the word ARMY printed across the front in big, bold black letters.
“Was that your dad’s?” I asked, leaning forward to check my laces.
“Yeah.” He didn’t say anything else about it, so I let him leave it at that, and stood to test the fit and feel of the skates out. I nodded – my mom must have told him my size, along with everything else she’d helped him with – then shifted and crouched to help him with his laces.
“How do they feel?” I asked once he got – wobbly – to his feet.
“Good. Though I don’t foresee myself lasting long out there,” he said with a self-deprecating grin.
I chuckled and held his hand, carefully guiding him over the floor to the entrance to the ice. We paused there, with him contemplating the logistics on going from floor to ice, and me all but vibrating with the excitement to make the transition.
“I think I’ve got this,” he said, gripping the half-wall tightly as he carefully put one foot then the other on the ice. His eyes widened as his feet began to slip and slide. “You know, I think this part of our outing was possibly better envisioned in my head. Maybe I should just sit this out and watch you instead.”
“Just try a few steps,” I said before he could pull himself off the ice, and without any effort at all, I stepped out onto the ice and glided a few feet away. It felt amazing. Almost as though there hadn’t been nearly two months between the last time I had been on ice until now. It was the most natural feeling in the world to me.
My heart leapt with joy, and my muscles quivered for the chance to really get out there and skate. But he was here with me, and I wanted so very much to share this with him.
“Here, take my hands,” I said, holding them out to him.
“If I do I’ll take you down with me,” he said, laughing even as he shook his head.
“Then we’ll go down together,” I said, waggling my fingers at him. “And then we’ll get up and try it again.”
He hesitated, then, when I waggled my fingers again, reluctantly accepted my hand. When I pulled him toward me, slowly, he shook his head and laughed again.
“I don’t know how you do this without feeling like you’re
going to fall flat,” he said.
“Well, to be fair, I’ve been doing this since I was four.” I smiled and slowly, carefully, began to move backward.
“Oh, jeez. You’re going backward and I feel like I can’t even more forward.” He laughed, keeping his gaze locked on the ice.
“Hayden, look at me.”
“If I look up I’ll fall.”
“Look at me,” I said again, and he looked up. “Do you trust me?”
He smiled, that sexy lopsided grin. “Yes, I trust you.”
“Good.” I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around him, and kissed him. “Then follow my lead.” I slid backward again, then shifted and slid around so that we stood side-by-side.
“Lead on,” he said, and he laced our fingers together and followed me, if just a little bit wobbly.
☼
Skating with Hayden had been one of the best moments I’d had since my mom and I had moved to Treasure Key, and I knew that it was something I would remember for the rest of my life, and would treasure always. And thanks to my mom’s request for pictures, I now had plenty to look back on as reminders.
My favorite was the selfie he’d taken of us after we had made our first successful lap around the rink without falling – which he’d done several times on the three prior laps we’d taken – as in it he was holding me close and was smiling the most beautiful smile.
I planned to have it printed the first chance I got, and already knew exactly where I was going to put it when my mom and I moved into our new house – on my bedside table, where I would see it every night before I went to sleep, and every morning when I woke up. The rest would go into the album I was going to put together as well, to have as a keepsake, along with all of the other pictures I had taken since I’d arrived on Treasure Key.
Something to remind me of all the good that had come out of all of the bad.
“These are great,” Kat said, drawing me out of my thoughts.
It was after dinner and we sat together on Aunt Nora’s hammock, swaying softly with the light breeze while I showed her the pictures Hayden had taken of me while I skated, and out in the yard the guys were playing a loud, rousing game of cornhole board, with Hayden, Leo, and Delaney on one team and Jamie, Zach, and Donovan on the other.
