Page 58 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

Warning would have been nice. Someone else could have done this charter.

Princess Carina

It’s fine. Don’t worry if you can’t come. It’s my fault. I was trying to keep it as quiet as possible so she wouldn’t find out.

Me

Will it be on when I’m back?

Princess Carina

It should. This is a big deal for her. It sounds silly if you’re not focused on content creation. But this is a major step in her career.

Me

I believed you the first time you said it. If you say it matters, then it matters. I will do what I can to be there. I’ll text you when I get to the marina.

My body acheswith how much I miss Carina.

I feel like I fucked up in the end with her. I should have pushed a little more, told her I wanted her again. Not anyone, just her.

I think I see what’s happening with her, but I’m missing a piece of the puzzle. Something she hasn’t told me that will make this skittishness understandable. It’s been two days since I’vebeen inside her, and the short text exchanges aren’t enough. We’re coexisting in the same space but not sharing anything.

I make it back to the marina on theCoastal Dragonon schedule. It’s full dark at this point, and the charter guests are a little tipsy and looking for a bar to continue their night. I point them in the direction of a seafood place by the pier. I haven’t been, but it’s a go-to recommendation from the rest of the crew. It also happens to be in the opposite direction of Paradise. Carina’s party will be in the locals’ section, but I’ve encountered guests after charters enough to avoid it at all costs.

I text Carina to tell her I’m on my way and hop in my car before I get a response. I have a spare T-shirt in my passenger seat and change quickly. I drop off my car at my place without bothering to go inside and walk down the beach to Paradise, the few lights from the houses guiding me.

It’s never worth it to drive there. Parking is terrible, and I don’t get to drink as much as I want. Not that I’ll be drinking much tonight since I have an early morning fishing charter. I understand this is important for Haley, and I want to be a supportive friend. I’m not solely going because I miss Carina like I miss the sea when I’m landlocked.

When I enter Paradise, the locals’ section is taken over for the party. A band plays and a few people dance. Usually that’s reserved for the upstairs level. A server I haven’t seen before passes out plates. Carina sits at a table with her head close to another woman I don’t recognize. She doesn’t see me until Haley taps the table in front of Carina, and she looks up.

The other woman says something I’d bet is, “Is that him?”

“You made it,” Carina says when I’m close. Her shoulders drop down like she’s relaxed after clenching them for hours.

Was she waiting for me?

She’s so beautiful. Her hair falls in waves around her shoulders. She’s wearing more makeup than I’ve seen before. And I want to wrap my arms around her and kiss her.

She’s wearing a dress. It has flowers and ruffles, and I don’t think there’s a built-in anything holding her in place. “You’re wearing clothes,” I say, ignoring everyone because none of them matter when Carina is wearing a dress.

Carina blushes and adjusts her skirt. “I’m always wearing clothes.”

We both know that’s not true. “Maybe. Can you do yoga in it?”

“It’s vintage, so it’s an exception to me only wearing Nebula,” she says. “I can do yoga in anything.”

I don’t think she’s drunk, but she’s a little tipsy. She’s happy. So I’ll take her fighting spirit and match it.

“Handstand, now,” I demand, pointing to a spare bit of floor where she might have enough space.

“Oh, fuck off.” She laughs and takes a sip of her drink.

The other woman shares a look with Haley. “I’m Sienna, by the way. You must be Orion.”

I shake her hand. This is Beckett’s fiancée. “I am. I’ve heard a lot about you. I didn’t know you were in town.” I should ask her about Boston. We can talk about the neighborhoods we frequent, but I’m still so focused on Carina, I can’t think about anything else.

“All part of the surprise,” Carina says, a pleased smile on her face.

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