Page 41 of Commit

“Oh, good! Not good.” I grimace, and my voice goes reverent. “It’s very sad that the Crocodile Hunter got killed. I’m just saying I’m glad it’s not the same animal, or else I was about to think that our tour guide didn’t know what she was talking about when she said they were docile.”

Nothing.

Matt’s face is expressionless, so I keep going. “I guess I don’t know what a manatee is.”

“They’re hard to miss,” he says dryly.

I lower my voice. “So, is this part of the war? You’re going to be cold to me now?”

“The war’s over.” His eyes flick to mine. “You won.”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the heart. My board wobbles, and it takes a second for me to recover. Right now, I don’t feel like I’ve won anything. Only lost.

I can’t blame Matt for being upset with me. Heck, I’m upset with myself.

“I’m sorry about last night,” I say.

“I bet you are,” he snaps. “Don’t worry. I won’t kiss you again.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I glance back at him. “The kiss was good. It was more than good,” I muse. “But I’m talking about the part after the kiss.”

His head jerks to mine. “The part where you pushed me away. Where you said, ‘I can’t,’ and then you walked away?”

He’s got a great memory. I’m sure the people at NASA are thrilled about that.

“Yes. I’m apologizing for all of it.”

His focus goes back on the water. “Thanks.”

Now what?

My apology didn’t win him over.

It’s time to remind him of the good ol’ days.

“Do you remember the last time we went paddle boarding together?”

“Yeah, I told you I loved you and freaked you out.”

“You didn’t freak me out. I’m just slower to?—”

“What are you trying to do here?” he asks, turning to me. “What’s the point of bringing up memories from the past?”

“I—”

“There are several manatees below us!” the tour guide calls out to the group.

I look down and see a ginormous dark thing swimming below me. I scream, recoiling back, almost falling off my board.

“That thing is huge!” I look at Matt, and for once today, it doesn’t seem like he hates me. His lips are curved upward, and there’s amusement swirling through his eyes.

“You’re fine.” He laughs. “They’re friendly, remember? The cows of the sea.”

Cows of the sea? Is that like how tuna is the chicken of the sea?

I straighten, gaining my composure. “It just startled me, that’s all.”

A manatee swims toward us, knocking Matt’s board. “Whoa,” he says, bending his knees so he doesn’t fall off. The animal spins in the water and heads back toward Matt, bumping his board again. “What the heck?” His arms go out to the side, and he looks at the tour lady. “I thought you said they’re docile.”

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