Page 13 of Broken Heat
“For both of us.” He grinned, taking his seat.
My heart jolted at the glow on his face. His easy manner made me almost jealous.
“Thank you.”
It hit me that I was merely a guest here. This was Mykel’s world, his element. I was still as alone as the day Coah died.
I wondered how we looked as a pair to the rest of the people in the dining room. But glancing around again, I saw no one giving us a second glance. Everyone ate or chatted, all also in their own worlds. I didn’t need to keep thinking about being observed by anyone other than Mykel.
I forked some strawberries on top of my pancakes and indulged.
After breakfast, I insisted on a walk to digest.
“Can we go down to the beach?”
“Of course.” Mykel led the way.
The path wound behind the large building that housed the check-in facility and the dining hall.
“Are the top floors offices?” I asked.
“Yes. And some on the first floor, too.”
The beach was rocky, as Mykel had warned yesterday. We stepped carefully over and around flat rocks and round boulders. I didn’t care that this area did not offer a beautiful beach. The view was spectacular.
The ocean was pure blue flecked with gold. It sparkled in the Caribbean sunlight. Everything smelled of salt and wind, of faint brine and distant sweetness. The jungle swept up to the cliffsides and leaned over the sea as if to taunt and tease it with its non-aquatic life. And the gentle waves drew up to reach for more.
Mykel pointed out tide pool relics and salt-water life. He leaned down over one large pool. “Look. Do you see under that flat rock just below the surface?”
I saw something dark and strange. “What is it?”
“An octopus. He’s waiting.”
“Is he trapped.”
“Not for very long. When the tide comes in, he’ll swim back out to his feeding ground.”
Crabs scuttled here and there. Little minnows darted about ponds already filling with the incoming tide.
“Are we going to lose our path with the tide coming in?” I asked.
“No. We’re fine.”
Mykel had a way about him that made me feel safe.
Up the beach we found a large flat rock and sat for a while looking out over the blazing waters. It was cooler down here with the ocean breezes. My kimono flapped about my knees.
“How did you sleep?” Mykel asked.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Not that great. At first.”
“Tell me why.”
“I’m worried my heats are just gone. Gone for good.”
Mykel stretched his head back, looking up at the taffy-blue sky. “We have barely begun, Elon.”
“I know, but…”
