Page 2 of Go Away, Darling

I nodded as a weird tingling sensation crept over me. The way she spoke...the shape of her face...I knew this woman. “Yeah, about a month ago, but I haven’t really had much time at home yet.” How did I know her?

“Your boat looks very new, too.”

“It is. Part of the reason I moved here was the fishing.”

She laughed, sat on top of the puffy white seat and leaned on her knees. “Usually I hear it’s for the beaches or the shells, although I personally prefer the fishing.”

“Well, those are nice too.”

“They are.” Then she smiled. A giant megawatt smile that floored me. Sent my heart slamming into my gut, made me forget how to swallow or breathe.

I know her.

My entire body went on red alert, all my senses firing, my brain searching for the answer. “Have we met before?” Why couldn’t I place her? Was it a simple run-in on the island? Maybe at the grocery store? No. I’d remember that. This physical reaction wasn’t the kind of thing I’d ever forget.

Like ever.

Which was why I knew we’d met somewhere...

She shook her head slowly. “Maybe? What is it you do...I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

And that’s when it hit me. Thewayshe shook her head, the lilt of her words (despite my inebriated state) triggered a very old memory. It slammed into me like a ton of bricks dropped from a crane above my head. Like hitting a catcher blocking home plate when you’re screaming toward home.

Like a bolt of lightning.

When I was five years old, right here on Calusa Key, all my friends and I were struck by a bolt of lightning. And the girl I had been standing beside was now sitting in front of me.

It was like getting struck a second time. “Olivia?”

I hadn’t quite allowed myself to wonder what happened to my friends after we moved away from the island. I was too preoccupied with winning games to really let my mind wander down that path yet, but it was the first thing on my post-season to do list.

But now I didn’t have to wonder at all.

“Olivia?” I took a step back for some reason. Maybe I was surprised. Maybe I really was slammed by a ton of bricks. Maybe I needed a better vantage point to take all of her in. Regardless, it was a bad choice because once I started moving I couldn’t stop. I had no motor control. Between the weird things I was feeling, the lack of breathing and swallowing, and the beer, I teetered, tottered, and then went right over the side of my damn boat. Ass over head, no less.

Splash.

Cold. Salty. Wet.

Embarrassing.

“Son of a bitch!” I yelled at myself as I pushed up from the muddy floor and stood. We were only in five feet of water and the mud sucked my feet right in.

“Are you okay?” I heard her yell. And giggle. I must have been a sight. Dumb mainlander in his fancy boat falling overboard. She probably thought I was a frat-bro who didn’t know starboard from stern.

“Yep. Just . . . yes. I’m fine.”Holy son of all that is good and right in the world.Olivia Saldana.TheOlivia Saldana. We only lived on the island for a year and half when I was five, but my brothers and I loved this island and all the friends we made when we lived here.

For me the most important of all those people was Olivia. I loved her. Well, as much as a five-year-old flirt can love his big brother’s friend. I thought I was tough shit. That if I smiled just right and dropped a line or two she’d swoon for me. I was an idiot. I could see that now. But back then? I couldn’t think clearly.

And obviously nothing had changed because as a grown man I had the same urges.Maybe if I smile just right and say something clever she’ll throw herself at me.

Asshole, she probably doesn’t even remember your stupid ass.

I took a deep breath, slogged my way around to the stern of my boat, and hauled myself back up and in with a wave of water that spilled over the engine well, shedding my sopping wet shirt and sunglasses in the process. I couldn’t look at her. I was too excited and embarrassed—a really unfortunate combination, all things considered—so I searched for a towel and attempted to dry off before facing her. I expected a laugh for my ineptitude. Or maybe boredom.

Instead I found her staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

Like, jaw unhingedhanging openas she stared at me. “Chris?” She half-whispered.

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