Page 78 of Broken Hearts

With the envelopes in my hand, I make my way out to my dad’s old SUV, having returned my rental car once things began to heat up with Nate.

I climb in, taking in the smell and smiling. It feels good to be able to keep my dad’s name and his shop alive, not just for the people on the island, but also for him. Even better, is that Nate is a co-owner, news that I can’t wait to share with him.

My phone chimes out, and I see a text from Nate with a pin drop that says, “Meet me here”. I click it, getting the directions to pull up.

It takes me about fifteen minutes to get from the lawyer’s office to the location Nate sent me, and I see him waiting on the side of the road. Pulling up alongside him, he tells me to park, and it literally looks like we are in the middle of nowhere.

“You sure it’s okay to leave the car here?” I ask him when I hop out.

He laughs, shaking his head. “Yeah, Sage, you’re good. Now come on. Not like anyone is going to steal Barney anyway.” He pats the hood of the old SUV, and I smile, realizing it’s only valuable to me. It’s really a piece of shit.

Holding out his hand, I take it as he pulls me toward a heavily wooded area, trekking through with nothing but my flip flops on my feet.

“Nate, where are we going?” I’m giggling as he pushes back tree branches, stepping over rocks and mud.

“Will you just trust me?” he quips, looking over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at me. But behind his harshness is a happiness that is contagious.

“I trust you with my life.”

My words cause him to pause, and I see him swallow hard. Now I worry I’ve said too much. Things between us have been intense for the last couple of weeks, but I do worry I’m misreading how he feels about me. My feelings are real, despite the short time I’ve been here. I have a connection to Nate like nothing I’ve ever felt before, but I worry he doesn’t feel the same way. That this could all just be my connection to my dad and Nate’s need to hold onto something.

“Come on,” he says, slinging an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to him. His lips press softly against my temple, and I can’t wait to tell him I’m planning to stay, that this could be our life every day.

“How much further?” I now ask, and he lets out a hearty laugh. Not that we’ve been walking very long, I’m just so impatient. I have such a hard time with surprises, and it makes me laugh now as I think about how I’m keeping the fact that I’m staying from Nate, wanting to surprise him.

“Close your eyes,” he tells me, and I look at him, wondering what the hell he’s up to. “Put your hands on my shoulders, and I’ll guide you the rest of the way.”

“Oh my god, Nate, what is going on?” I squeal, laughing.

“Just a few more steps. Keep going,” he tells me, and I follow along, giggling as I do.

Then he stops, and I nearly run into his back, my eyes still closed, and Nate laughs now.

“Okay, open them.”

And when I do, I’m met with the most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen. The turquoise blue water cascades down the rocks into the small plunge pool at the bottom, the water foaming and misting as it hits it. The lush greenery around it is dotted with brightly colored flowers, the rocks covered in moss while dragonflies buzz through the mist. And when the sun shines though, it creates little rainbows all around.

It seriously looks like a goddamned postcard, and I gasp out loud. It’s secluded and beautiful and as Nate and I stand here, I wonder how many people even know this is here.

“Want to go for a swim?” he asks me, reaching to the back of his neck, tugging his shirt off over his head and tossing it onto one of the rocks.

“How did you find this place?”

“I don’t even remember, but it’s my favorite place in the whole world.” He reaches for me, pulling me to him, and I push up on my toes to kiss him. Letting our lips linger against each other’s, my heart racing at his closeness.

“Thank you for sharing it with me.”

I wantto share everything with you. That is what I want to tell her. But I don’t, knowing I can’t say things like that to Sage. Instead, I pull her closer, deepening our kiss, as I move one hand to the back of her neck, the other to her ass, grabbing the material of her dress. Sage whimpers, her hands on my chest as I pull the fabric up, only stopping our kiss so I can get it off.

“Come on,” I whisper, taking her hand in mine as we climb down the rocks and into the pool. It’s warmer than the ocean, even in the shade of the trees.

“How deep is it?” Sage asks.

“In the middle, very,” I tell her, walking us in until we’re about waist-deep before I turn and pull her into my arms.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she says, looking around. “Does anyone else ever come here?”

“Not that I’ve ever seen,” I say, pulling her in for another kiss. Sage walks us in deeper until she can wrap her legs around my waist, her arms looping around my neck.

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