Page 49 of The Sailor in Polynesia
“Looks like you are stuck with me.”
He gave me a soft smile. “I like that.”
I gestured to my hammock. “I am going to set this up. I’ve never actually used it.”
“Do you want help?”
“Sure.”
Jonas followed me out on the deck. The sun was declining, the air starting to cool. My intention was to set the hammock up with one end on my headsail and one end around the mast.
It took us a while to figure it out, but with a little ingenuity and knot-tying on Jonas’s part, the hammock swung in the slight breeze.
I sat on the edge, testing the weight. I leaned more and more until I could swing my legs over, comfortably lounging.
I closed my eyes and laughed.
“Is it comfortable?”
I scrunched up my face. “To sleep, yes. But maybe to read I’d need a pillow.”
“I will get you one.” Jonas turned to walk back to the cockpit.
“Oh, wait! Get me my book too!” He flashed a smile over his shoulder. “And your book!”
This time he turned around and looked at me. “My book?”
“Yeah. It’s a two-person hammock.” I gestured next to me.
The smile Jonas gave me was blinding. He disappeared out of view and returned a few minutes later, practically giddy. It took a bit to get him situated; we giggled as the hammock pitched up when Jonas sat on the edge, and when he swung his legs over we both tumbled together in the middle and I laughed so hard, I cried.
Finally we were settled next to each other. The press of Jonas’s warm skin against me was comforting. He kept a leg dangling off the side, gently pushing us back and forth, occasionally slowing us when the boat rocked too hard in the small waves around us.
I read until I got drowsy, closing my eyes and allowing the book to collapse on my chest.
* * *
I blinked awake, disoriented for a moment. Where was I? It was dark, but a gentle breeze wafted over me.
Warm skin was under my cheek, a heavy arm pressed around me. I swallowed and shifted.
“Mia?” Jonas whispered.
“Hey. I fell asleep on you?”
“Ja.”
“Sorry.”
“It is okay.”
“What time is it?”
“I do not know. Late.”
“Oh, Jonas, I am so sorry.” I struggled to sit up, rocking the hammock lightly. “It’s after dinner—your crew is probably back by now.”
Jonas’s hand ran along my spine. “It is okay,” he repeated. “You slept hard, ja?”
