Page 72 of Second Tide's the Charm
A few snacks survived, and we sat down to eat them in the living room, along with some of the fresh fruit and cheese I brought for Hope, paired with a bottle of sweet muscadine wine. Having Hope here shouldn’t feel so easy after everything we’ve gone through, but it does. She’s curled up at the end of the couch in sweatpants, irresistibly cozy, and it’s impossible not to think how easy it would be to scoop her into my arms and press a kiss behind her ear.
Maybe it’s the mellowing effect of the wine and late hour, but Iris manages to avoid touchy subjects, trading stories with Hope like she’s been a part of our lives all along. Wineglass clutched to her chest, Hope dissolves into giggles as Iris regales us with students’ most outlandish excuses for turning assignments in late, and the sound of her laughter hits me like a breath of pure oxygen.
Eventually, conversation dies down. My sister puts on a movie we’ve all seen a dozen times, and heads for bed not long after, leaving a stack of blankets on the armchair. Hope curls against me, head on my shoulder, and dozes off.She’s here. She stayed.
Tonight, that’s more than enough.
twenty-eight
hope
The storm died down when it made landfall, but severe flooding and widespread home damage make me glad we made the trip to stay with Iris. Local news says the roads are clear, so we leave after lunch and are halfway back to the condo, driving past uprooted trees and muddy ditches, when Marissa calls. A neighbor told her the power’s still out, so we detour to Walmart to buy a cooler, but it turns out we’re too late. The electricity has been off long enough that the contents of the freezer are thawed, the rooms dense with prickly heat.
Working in companionable silence we bag up the trash and haul the spoiled food to the dumpsters. Normally I’d be operating at zero battery after a day without alone time, but it’s never been like that with Adrian. By not pushing me into conversation, he gives me room to breathe, to recalibrate.
Back inside, he hovers by the doorway. “I have to head over to check on the boat, but I don’t want to leave you here, it’s stifling.” He gestures to the open sliding balcony door, doing nothing to dislodge the humid warmth. “I could take you to a hotel, or I’m sure Iris won’t mind you staying there for another day or two.”
“The fact that last night went so well is a miracle. I don’t want to chance it, no offense.”
“A hotel, then. I’ll cover it.”
Hurt rises at his choice of words. “Why are you speaking like my employer? I thought we were past that.”
His brow furrows. “I... I just didn’t want to assume.”
He’s standing at the vestibule, where our passionate kiss took place less than a day ago, and yet he’s acting as if nothing’s changed.
“Yesterday, you made it clear you wanted more than friendship.” I pause for breath, gripping the countertop and gathering my courage. I feel like I’m at the crest of a towering sand dune, the wind roaring against my face, poised to careen over the edge. “I would never have kissed you if I didn’t feel the same.”
His whole face shifts from stony indifference to joy, like someone lit a flame inside him, and an answering spark awakens in my chest.
I don’t often find myself lonely. This clawing want inside me isn’t a generalized desire for company, it’s an Adrian-specific need and I can’t muster the strength to deny it any longer. “Unless you’d rather be alone, I’d like to go with you.”
Adrian’s been in touch with the marina, and they said while several boats suffered damage, his appears to be fine, but he heaves an audible sigh of relief when thePraesperocomes into view, floating on the debris-ridden surface of the water, hull apparently intact. “Guess we lucked out.”
“Better do a full check, just to be safe.”
He grins at me. “I love when you talk redundancies and protocol.”
By the time we finish going over the boat to make sure nothing’s been damaged in the storm, we’re both sweating all over again. Marissa texted earlier with an invite to drive up and stay with her family, but I told her I’m good. A road trip sounds exhausting, though I wish I would’ve booked a hotel when Adrian suggested it, because now I’ll have to go further inland to find a good rate. I’m about to ask him to take me back to the condo to retrieve my car when his phone chimes.
He huffs out a laugh and tips the screen toward me.
Marissa: Are you with Hope? She’s doing the two-word text thing, and I’m worried about her staying at my condo with the power out.
Chuckling, I pull out my own phone.
Hope: “Two-word text thing”? It’s called answering your question.
Marissa: Omg, did Adrian show you my text?
Oops. Now she knows we’re together and will jump to all sorts of conclusions.
Hope: Don’t worry about me. I’m sure the power will come back on soon, and if not, we’ll figure something out.
Marissa: OK, but my offer stands. Aunt Clara will be happy for you to stay with us. Just let me know.
Hope: Will do.
