Page 110 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

We stare at the waves together. He has been with me for every storm I’ve faced since he came into my life. Even the ones he created.

“You could lose the house,” I say.

“Not this storm,” he replies. He’s not wrong. The latest forecast has it weakening and heading north.

“The next one, then.”

“Maybe. Doesn’t matter though.”

“Why?” I’m finally ready to hear what he’s saying.

He sighs. “Fuck it. Carina, you are my home. You are my anchor. I don’t care about anything else if I don’t have you. You were right. This whole thing was a mistake because I hate living so close to you and not being able to have you. I’m spiteful enough that I’ll stay. Because I always intended to stay and you’re the one who didn’t want me to.”

“What do you want me to say to that?”

“Nothing, Carina. I’m done asking you for anything.” He turns and walks in the direction of our houses.

“Wait!”

He turns back, but any hope he once had is gone. He’s truly given up on us.

Maybe I can fix this. My whole body shakes. “I was wrong.”

He doesn’t move. “About what?”

“I was scared. I was spiraling. I didn’t know how to make it stop. Every other relationship I’ve seen has fallen apart. I picked a fight because I was so scared we would break and I wouldn’t recover. I’m not recovering from losing you. I won’t ever. I didn’t mean it when I said there wasn’t anything to throw away. We have something here. I know that. I’ve always known that.”

He approaches me. “We don’t have to end, Carina.”

In my desire to keep my perfect facade up, I showed far more of my fears than I thought possible. “You’ll take me back? I said some horrible things to you. I twisted everything. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting me to crawl on broken glass just to prove that I would. I’d give up my home. My company. Anything.”

He looks at me for a long moment. Rain starts to fall, and it might have been safe a minute ago but conditions are rapidly deteriorating.

He sees that as well, because he wastes no time stepping close and wrapping his arms around me, pressing his lips against mine. He tastes like home. How could I have ever thought to give this up?

“I don’t need you to give anything up. I need you to commit. To promise thatyouwon’t leave. A guarantee that we’re partners.”

I nod. “Yes. I’m committed. I love you.”

He silences me with a kiss, but I know those aren’t the last of his terms.

“I know all of you.” He takes my hair and makes a ponytail with his hands at the nape of my neck. He’s holding me together like he always does. “I know all your flaws. Each one of them is perfect to me.”

I’ve done nothing to deserve this man. But I’ll take everything that he gives me.

“I know. That terrified me. But I don’t want to be anymore,” I say, shaking and trying my hardest to control my tears. But I fail at that.

He holds me tight. “I’ve got you. I promise.”

“What happens when you want to sail off to Key West?”

He laughs. “You’ll come with me. I love you. We can figure everything else out. But I promise you, if I leave Wendell Beach, I’m taking you with me.”

“I love you too.” He smiles, and I hate every second I let pass without telling him the truth of how I feel. Every second I let myself hide from this.

“I promise you’ll always know what I’m thinking,” he says. “I will still argue with you for the sake of arguing with you. But you’ll always know.”

“I’m sorry I said I didn’t trust you. I do. I know you. I know what we are.” I need this man. He won’t leave me. He won’t change his mind.

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