Page 38 of The Hitchhiker in Panama
“Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile.”
“Ah, along the Pan-American Highway. That is unfortunate that you will miss Argentina.”
Marcella told me about a trip she took to Argentina, making me wistful for more time to add on a visit, and Eivind and Jonas talked about a project on the boat. A few people had started to sway to the music, and Elayna tried to convince Jonas to dance with her. When he couldn’t be budged, Elayna stole Marcella instead.
Jonas stood up. “Hit the head,” he explained.
Eivind and I were left alone at the table and his hand moved up my leg another inch. I tried to swat him away.
“Eivind, stop! I’m not going to make it very long if you keep teasing me.”
“I don’t want you to make it very long. I would rather spend an evening on the boat with you, doing anything, than drinking with my crewmates.” He seemed to sober up a little bit. “We only have a few more days left.”
“I know.” I sighed. “It’s kind of a good thing, bad thing, yeah?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, four nights to have some fun,” I said as I leaned around to kiss Eivind below his ear. “Not too short, not too long. You won’t fall in love with me.” I kissed him again and he snorted.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Stop it,” I admonished him. “You know, I really like your neck too. Especially here.” I traced my finger down his Adam’s apple, and it bobbed as he swallowed.
A throat cleared behind me, and Jonas took a seat across from us.
Eivind held out his palm. “Keys.”
Jonas groaned. “What? No! We have not even had dinner yet!”
“Sorry. Keys.”
“You arenotsorry.”
“I am,” I said.
“Trust me, you will not be,” Eivind assured me. “Keys.”
Eighteen
Jonas pulled the boat key and the cord for the dinghy out of his pocket and held them up in front of his face. “Promise me. When I call, you will come to pick us up. Eivind. Promise me.”
“Yes, I promise.”
“You will keep your phone on, plug it in when you get home, and make sure the ringer is on. PROMISE.” Jonas turned to me. “Lila, promise.”
I raised my right hand. “I solemnly swear I will not let rooting with Eivind strand you on land. This is not a mutiny.”
Jonas rolled his eyes but handed the keys over to Eivind. “Move, move, move!” Eivind whisper-shouted like a commando as he guided me back into the stairwell.
We didn’t make it more than half a flight down when Eivind pulled me against the wall and kissed my neck again.
“Eivind, honey, focus.” I pulled his face away from mine. “I am not having sex in a stairwell.”
“Right, yes. Fine.” He winked as he tugged me along with him down the stairs.
Outside, we waited for our Uber to pick us up. I let Eivind kiss my neck again—I had never hooked up with a man so into necking. A thought occurred to me.
“Eivind, do you have protection?”
