Page 39 of Kayak Girl

“Yup.” His eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s for all our future adventures. With the amount of sunscreen you get through it felt like a necessary purchase.” His voice was warm and inviting, and I felt a flutter in my heart.

“I love that.” The words slipped out of my mouth. As I handed the phone back to him, I must have tapped the screen as another photo of Gray appeared. It was a candid shot, capturing him in a moment of unguarded contemplation, looking at something just out of the frame.

“What’s this?” I asked, intrigued by the expression on his face.

He took the phone back, glancing at the picture with a soft chuckle. “Oh, Brenda sent that to me. She snapped a picture of me looking at you.” His eyes met mine, filled with warmth and a hint of vulnerability. “Look at this guy... utterly smitten,” he said, his laughter mingling with a note of honesty.

I felt a rush of attraction for him. Gray, with his practical, down-to-earth nature, always seemed so in control, so sure of himself. But in this moment, with his laughter and his admission, I saw a different side of him.

As the waiter set our plates down with a flourish, I marveled at the sizzling steak in front of Gray and the perfectly seared salmon before me. As we shared our meals, we also shared pieces of ourselves, our stories. He talked about his latest project at work, his words measured and full of purpose. I listened intently, chiming in with my own experiences.

In that moment, seated across from Gray in the soft glow of the restaurant, with the clinking of cutlery and the low hum of other diners in the background, everything felt just right. It was as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of us. It was, in every sense, perfect.

After dinner, we drove back to Gray’s place. It was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom stand-alone house, with a garden cottage in a nice-looking neighborhood. Gray had told me all about how he’d built his business over the years, and I knew this house was the result of his hard work. I wanted to tell him I was proud of him.

“I like your house,” I said, instead.

“Thanks, I’m comfortable here. Bonus is that it’s close to church and the beach. I like your house, too.”

“Mabel is not exactly a house. But I enjoyed giving you the grand tour yesterday. What movie are we watching? Are you up for a girly movie?” I asked.

“My girl, I am up for anything as long as I get to have you next to me on the sofa.”

“That’s a dangerous offer—I may have you watching Sleepless in Seattle or Notting Hill if you aren’t careful,” I teased.

In the end, we picked Notting Hill from his streaming platform. We chose it because shockingly, Gray had never watched it. I’d forgotten how much fun the movie was, and we both laughed at the antics of the roommate character.

I started off just sitting beside Gray, but it wasn’t long before he gently took my hand in his. The way he held it, so carefully, as if cradling something precious, sent a cascade of warmth through me. Every so often, he’d adjust his grip—sometimes interlacing our fingers, other times gently tracing the lines on my palm.

As we sat there, I allowed myself to indulge in a little daydream. The thought of having this simple, sweet connection with Gray on a regular basis. The more I entertained the idea, the more I became convinced that we could really make a relationship work. Eek. The feelings bubbling up inside me were so strong that I even considered forgoing my long-planned road trip.

The credits of the movie scrolled up the screen.

“Come over here,” Gray said, his voice husky.

“I am here,” I said with a giggle, already sitting so close to him that our shoulders touched.

“Not close enough,” he replied with a confident smile, gently guiding me closer until I was nestled snugly against him. His presence felt safe, reassuring.

Gray tenderly brushed my fringe away from my eyes. The simple gesture made my heart flutter, and I instinctively leaned into his touch.

“My heart is literally aching thinking about you leaving soon,” he said.

“Argh. Mine too.”

“Just so we are clear... I’d never dream of caging my Zebra Finch. I don’t expect you to cancel your trip for me. But I was thinking, maybe I could join you for some of your travels? Whenever you set up camp for a while, I could rent a cottage in the area or bring a tent. And of course, my kayak. What do you think?”

The idea of having Gray with me on my journey made my heart expand with joy. “I would love that,” I replied. “But what about your life here? And your work?”

Gray thought for a moment. “My work is flexible; I can figure something out. Maybe your travel plans could include returning here every now and then?”

I smiled, touched by his willingness to make sacrifices for our relationship. “More time here sounds perfect.”

Gray squeezed me. “You know, you had me at ‘take care of the cam strap’, Elle,” he reminisced.

I squeezed him back as a response, my stomach swooping. I leaned back and searched his eyes, I pursed my lips, trying to read the story they told. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and I couldn’t help but wiggle with anticipation.

“Why are you squirming?” he asked, a playful edge to his voice.

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