Page 89 of Obsession Under the Southern Stars

He’s quiet for a moment. Then he says, “Joel, don’t overthink it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know what you’re like. Now you’re worried that she’s going to feel she’s in your debt, and if she agrees to go out with you when you get back, that’s the only reason.”

I give a wry smile. “That didn’t even cross my mind.”

“Liar, I know you better than that. She’s always been crazy about you, bro.”

I say goodbye and end the call, then look back out over the ocean. The orca has vanished. The sea is calm now, a far cry from the chaos of the past few days.

I glance at Zoe again. She’s still talking quietly, and there’s a tender look on her face as she says, “I know, sweetie, I miss you too.” I think she’s talking to Rory.

Her eyes find mine. Something passes between us, carried on the early morning sea breeze, unspoken but undeniable.

After everything we’ve been through, a quiet resolution settles within me. Maybe God did have a hand in our rescue, but I prefer to believe it was our perseverance that got us to safety. Either way, I feel a strength I didn’t have before. I’ve spent too long doubting myself, holding back because of guilt or fear.

Zoe suggested control is futile, but I don’t agree. Not every fork in the road is the right one, but you still have to choose your path. And I know which one I’m taking.

I told her I always get what I want in the end, and I’m not ready to admit I was wrong. I don’t want to be like my father and believe our decisions are out of our control. I want her. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I don’t lose her.

Chapter Twenty

Zoe

I can’t believe how different the world looks today. Yesterday Tangaroa ripped through the Bay of Islands with the fury of a thousand suns. Today, he’s laid back and chilled, and the bay looks like paradise. The sea is azure, the grass is green as emeralds, and the sun’s rays are like molten gold spreading across my skin.

Manu turns up shortly after we end our phone calls, and I’m touched to see him and Joel exchange a long bearhug. I know the two of them are highly competitive, but it’s clear they have affection for each other, too.

Soon we’re on the boat, heading back to the marina. Manu tells us that the Codfather’s anchor caught on the seabed and stopped it from landing on the Black Rocks, so it isn’t too badly damaged, which is good news. He and Joel discuss the Relentless and what damage the storm might have done to the wreck. I sit curled up to one side, wrapped up in Joel’s hoodie, leaning my head on the side of the cockpit while I watch them.

Joel sits with his arms outstretched along the side of the boat, relaxed and casual, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. The brisk sea breeze whips the longer hair on the top of his head around. He hasn’t shaved, of course, so his jaw bears a slight stubble. His T-shirt is stretched tight across his chest, and his swim shorts reveal his toned, tanned legs with their scattering of brown hair.

I picture last night, him lying on top of me, moving inside me, and I slide down the seat a little, burying my nose in the top of the hoodie. I shouldn’t have slept with him… but I can’t bring myself to regret it.

I think about him telling me he was in love with me. I said,I think I’m in love with you, too,and I remember the way his eyes lit up at that. I meant it at the time, at the height of the storm, after he’d rescued me and saved my life for the second time.

And now? Do I still feel that way?

I think I do.

I let that realization sink into me, slow and gradual, the way the Relentless must have descended to the seabed. I’m in love with Joel Bell. I think I have been for some time, and the events of the past few days have just cemented it.

So what does that mean, going forward? I look out across the water, not surprised to see a couple of dolphins swimming alongside the boat. I lean on the side of the boat to watch them, smiling as one leaps out, showing off for me.

Just because I’m in love with him, it doesn’t mean I have to act on it. I have to be very careful. He reacted well when I told him what happened when I was young, but he doesn’t know the worst of it, and he hasn’t really had time to think about it, either. It’s possible that when he has, it might change the way he feels about me. Last night we were caught up in the moment. But it’s strange how different you can feel in the cold light of day.

It’s not long before we arrive at the marina. There are lots of people waiting who all cheer as we pull up—the other members of the Bay of Islands office, including Hori, Emma, and Clive, who all give us a big hug, as well as plenty of others who were apparently going to join in the search and rescue operation. It takes a while to talk to them all and tell them what happened, but gradually the crowd dissipates as everyone heads to work.

“We’re going to the villa,” Joel says. “Then we’ll head for the airport. We were due to fly out tonight anyway—I’ll just move the flight forward to midday.”

Manu nods. “Shame we didn’t find the necklace. It was good to meet you, though.” He gives me a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Me too.”

He has another bearhug with Joel, and then he waves and heads off to his car.

Joel and I exchange smiles, then he throws the waterproof bag in the back of the car, and we get in. He reverses out of the parking spot, and we head up the hill.

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