Page 17 of That Island Feeling

‘What was screening tonight?’

‘Coyote Ugly.’

‘Wow. You really are forgoing a piece of cinematic history right there.’ I sneak a look at her to see her face scrunched.

‘You’ve never seen it, have you?’ she asks.

‘Excuse you. It’s only my favourite movie ever.’

‘Is that so? In that case, I’d love for you to tell me about it.’

‘Um . . . ah . . . well, it’s about that poor coyote who is unfortunately very ugly.’

‘And?’

‘And it becomes a very beautiful swan. Obviously.’

‘Obviously,’ she repeats, her groan turning into a laugh.

Bingo.

But before I can keep up our flirtatious exchange, a shrill screech echoes through the night.

Andie freezes, latching onto my elbow. ‘What the hell was that?!’

I chuckle, linking my arm in hers. ‘Just a bat.’

She turns to me, her amber eyes wide. ‘Lions and tigers and bats, oh my!’

I have no idea what she’s saying half the time, but I also can’t get enough of it.

‘From The Wizard of Oz,’ she adds.

I snort. ‘Right, of course. Another favourite.’ I am actually familiar with that one.

The path narrows, and I regrettably have to drop her arm so we can walk single file to squeeze past the overgrown bushes.

I’m behind Andie as she pulls her phone from her bag and angles it over her face.

‘Need my assistance with more professional nature photography?’ I tease.

She pauses for a beat. ‘No thanks. Just checking my messages.’

‘Ah, so you know, the reception on this side of the island isn’t always the best.’

‘Really? Okay. Thanks.’ If her laughter is like a tonic, then her voice now has the opposite effect.

As she re-pockets her phone, I’m debating if it’s overstepping to ask what’s on her mind when a pair of golf carts with souped-up wheels whizz past, and I pull her off the road.

‘Watch out, guys!’ I shout to the party up ahead, and they scramble into the bushes just in time to avoid the reckless drivers.

‘Where are they going in such a hurry?’ Andie huffs, brushing off leaves from her dress. She’s swapped her cute picnic-blanket dress from earlier for another equally appealing summer dress. I’ve struggled to keep my eyes off her perfectly curved shoulders all evening.

‘Clam Cove Resort,’ I say as we keep walking, trying to keep my voice even.

‘I didn’t realise there was a resort here?’

‘Yeah, it’s pretty new.’

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