Page 100 of Mayflower

Ali told me the other day, “You kneel to humble yourself. For faith. But ultimately, for gratitude and love. Love for humanity and the power that governs it. You have to love it. The world is the reflection of yourself. That’s what God is, seeing ourselves in others and vise versa.”

Ali and I have become close. I like his lessons on wisdom.

I want to think Maddy is a reflection of me. But I have so much to aspire to even think that way.

I lean in and place a little kiss on her mouth, like I used to.

She rubs her cheek on my shoulder again. “I love those. Always did.”

My heartbeat leaps up. I thought she was sleeping, but my sneaky, pretty girl is always aware of everything I do. Maybe, she is just talking in her sleep.

“Love what?” I ask.

A little smile forms on her lips. “When you used to steal kisses, thinking I was asleep.”

I grin to myself. There goes my heart, growing wings. She is my soulmate.

I stroke her hair, thinking about the future. The little mayflower sparkles on her finger—she likes wearing the ring though we are not married yet. It’s my lucky charm. She is.

I pick up her hand, studying the flower that signifies a lot more than just a nickname, and I gently rub it with my thumb, like a magical lamp that will conjure a Genie and grant me all my wishes.

We have a lifetime together, however long it is.

My biggest wish has already been granted.

I lean over and press a kiss to the ring on her finger.

M.

Maddy.

Mine.

BONUS SCENES

MONTHS LATER

KAI

The sky is brilliantly blue, caressed by the rustling green tops of the rainforest.

Callie and I are at the small waterfall not far from Ayana. It’s tucked into the thick jungle with a blue lagoon that swallows the sunlight and almost blinds with its azure blue.

The water is deliciously cool as I dive from a thirty-foot rock. When I emerge from the water right below the waterfall, the lagoon is the rippling reflection of the sky. And I’m greeted with my favorite view—Callie’s tanned body perched on a flat rock. Her polka dot bikini top is back on. Dammit. She squints in the sunlight, then shimmies over to the edge and lowers her feet into the water, shielding her eyes from the sun as she smiles at me.

“How is it?” she shouts and dangles her feet in the water, splashing it around.

I swim up and, finding the rock bottom, walk up to her and nudge myself to stand between her legs, setting my wet hands on her sun-heated thighs.

“The water is great,” I say, leaning in to kiss her, then shake my head, splashing her with water droplets.

She squeals, then murmurs, “My nutcase,” when I kiss her again.

“Coming for a swim?” I close my eyes and lift my face to the sun.

I love this island, and I love it when it’s just the two of us. Ayana has been so loud and crowded lately, and Port Mrei even more so. Work never ends. Considering we work on social projects, we are surrounded by hundreds of people on a daily basis.

This—these moments in nature of just Callie and me and not a trace of any other humans—is rare.

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