Page 54 of The Perils of Pretending
I smile sympathetically at her. “That good, huh.”
“I’m never eating a berry again.”
“What about the dessert the chefs were making for you?”
Her face goes green. She puts a hand up to her mouth. “Uh-uh.”
I point with my thumb in the direction of the lodge. “Would now be a bad time to tell you breakfast is ready?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Do you want stomach meds or toast?”
“I brought medication with me. But toast might help, too. I’m not feeling up to getting ready and heading over, so I’ll just eat a granola bar or something when I get hungry.”
“I’m happy to bring you food.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
I’m here to be Sadie’s boyfriend. With her out of commission, there’s not much else for me to do. “Not at all. Just promise me you’ll stay here while I’m gone. I don’t want Dorian hunting you down.”
“I wouldn’t mind never seeing his face again.” She points to the couch. “I’ll lock the deadbolt after you leave and veg on the couch until you get back. Knock three times in a row so I know it’s you.”
“Can do.”
Up at the main lodge, I eat a quick breakfast of salmon and eggs benedict and get Sadie a variety of toast options with butter on a plate and head back to our cabin. I knock as instructed and Sadie opens the door moments later.
“Thank you.” She takes the plate from me, going to sit at the table.
“No problem. Are you up for kayaking around the bay this afternoon?”
She nods. “I should be. And if I’m not, I’ll suck it up. This is one of the activities I was looking forward to the most. I refuse to miss out.”
“Do you want to watch a movie or hang out on the porch this morning and rest?” I’m not leaving her side. Whatever Sadie is up for is what I’ll do.
“The porch sounds perfect.”
“I’ll grab a couple card games and meet you out there whenever you’re ready.”
Sadie smiles. “Thanks, Max. You’re amazing.”
I wink. “I know.”
Chapter 21
Sadie
Theguidepointstothe left. “If you look over there, an eagle is resting in its nest.”
“Wow,” I breathe. We’ve already seen sea otters, sea ducks, seals, and sea lions. We’ve been on the lookout for humpback whales but haven’t had luck yet. I’m not too worried if we don’t see any, because we’re going out on a boat tour tomorrow.
“I haven’t seen so many eagles in one place in a long time,” Brody says in his kayak next to me and Max. We’re sharing a two-person kayak, me in the front and Max in the back. Dorian tried to get in on this tour with us, but Brody did an excellent job of convincing the guide that Dorian would be better suited with the following group. Being away from him and not worrying about when he’ll sneak up on me has made this tour even better. I’m truly relaxed and at ease. The warmth from the sun on my back is almost like getting a hug from Dad. The good kind he gave me when I’d had a hard day. Max and I paddle in tandem with limited communication needed. The animals are active, the water and trees are showing off their beauty. I never want this tour to end.
“How often did you guys come to Alaska growing up?” Max asks.
I look at Brody, letting him answer.
“We came for family reunions in Fairbanks a handful of times, but this is our first time in Homer.”
