Page 14 of Submit

“Can we have her just a little longer? I’d love to take her out to breakfast and show her our favorite beach in case you guys haven’t been there yet.”

I start to politely decline, remembering that I got Will out here because I promised I would make breakfast when we got home while he got back to work, but before I can say anything, Will says, “Lib, go. You need some friends since I’m buried with work right now. I can make something quick when I get back.”

“Are you sure?” I ask hesitantly. I really want to go out with the girls, but I also want to be careful not to become too complacent in this relationship until I’m sure it’s over.

“I’m sure,” he confirms. “Have fun.” He places a hand on my bare waist and pulls me in for a quick kiss goodbye. When I open my eyes, Casper is on the stairs coming down into the gym, burning a hole in the back of Will’s head. Casper looks pissed which unfortunately also makes him look fuckable as hell.

Not that he didn’t already, I think to my slutty self.

His hair is a mess from his helmet. I can see the knife he has strapped to his right thigh which was invisible earlier because it’s in a black holster against black cargo pants. His biceps are more noticeable now than when his top half was naked during our lesson because his t-shirt is having to workreallyhard not to split across them.

Sweat is dripping off his brow and his lips are slightly parted as he continues to breathe heavily. The rise and fall of his chest calls to me and I feel my own lungs expand in response, trying to take him in.

I can’t look away even though he’s now looking at me like I just murdered his puppy, his eyes turning a deeper shade of green like they reflect his current mood. He wastes no time as he moves around the corner and heads for the parking lot.

I cut my eyes to Will, who is grabbing the car keys out of my bag, before returning my attention back to Casper, fully aware that I’m openly staring and utterly unable to change that fact.

He opens the door to a black Mercedes G-class SUV - like “G Wagon” style. Okay, so he’s a prison guard and a kite surfing instructor. How thefuckdoes he afford that?

Johanna comes over and knocks me with her hip. “You stare any harder and your eyes are going to pop out and glue themselves to his ass,” she giggles.

I hear my teeth bang together as I close my mouth, whipping my eyes to Johanna, embarrassed that she caught me, when she holds up a hand. “Trust me, I get it,” she whispers. “We all do. Cas is undeniably hot, but he’s also undeniably untouchable.”Sounds familiar.“He doesn’t get close to anyone. He keeps to himself even though a few of us at the kite surfing school try to get him out.” She points to a few of the prison guards still milling around on the second floor. “I’m sure those guys try as well with no luck.” As if to emphasize her point, two of the guards are shouting a chorus of, “Come on, Cas!” and “Don’t be such a prick!” and “It’s only a beer, not a marriage proposal!”

“What’s his story?” I ask as I pull my tank top back on and roll up my mat, reluctantly turning away from Cas’ Mercedes as he pulls out of the lot.

“I’m not sure anyone really knows. He has friends in high places though, that’s about all we can deduce. He’s the lead for the governor’s personal security detail and you don’t get that position by simply filling out an application.” She smirks.

“The job must pay well,” I say absentmindedly.

“Actually, I don’t think it does,” Johanna replies cryptically. I want to ask her more when she doesn’t elaborate, but Alida and Elke have joined us and are discussing breakfast just as I hear my stomach rumble.

~

I GET ANOTHER SHOCK at breakfast where I learn that Elke and Johanna are planning another protest for the windmill farm proposal.

“Companies have tried to pass this before and have ended up leaving because we put up such a fight,” Elke explains proudly.

It’s the most I’ve heard her speak.

Her passion about the subject is unmistakable as she dives into a stack of pancakes.

Before I reveal that Will is heading the whole project and risk angering - or losing - my newly-found friends, I want to know more about why they are so against it. To hear Will talk about it, it would be a great investment for the island.

“I don’t think I totally understand. Wouldn’t it bring more affordable power to the island and reduce the reliance on having to import fossil fuels?”

Again, it’s Elke who pipes up. “That’s what most people think, but the reality is that we only have to rely on those fuels so heavily because the resorts and the cruise ports need an insane amount of electricity. People vacation here and expect the same level of comfort they have at home, which is usually America or Europe. They want to keep lights on until one or two in the morning, they want hot showers every day, and to wash their clothes and run the dishwasher. But those that live permanently on the island live very differently. Most of us don’t have air conditioning at all. We work here which means we go to bed at nine or ten and aren’t partying until one or two. We shower only a couple times a week because we know it’s almost pointless since we’ll sweat again the next day and the day after. A lot of us ride scooters or drive golf carts which means a tank of gas can last three weeks or more, and solar panels are already providing a huge amount of our energywithoutdestroying our coastline.”

Elke is animated as she talks with her hands, the bun on top of her head bobbing wildly as she gestures. “The need for the wind farm is propelled by outsiders moving here and drawing more and more people to the island. I know our economy is afloat because of tourists, but they seem to forget that if they build that eyesore on our coastline, people will vacation elsewhere for that unobstructed view, not to mention, the land they want to use is in our national park which is one of our main attractionsanda wildlife refuge. They are cutting off their nose in spite of their face for a quick dollar without looking at the long game.”

I’m momentarily taken aback and I have to admit, what she says makes sense. I’m lost in thought, pondering her words when Johanna says, “Hey, you should come to our protest! This is your home now, too.”

I guess it’s time to spill the truth.

“Okay, well, this is really awkward, but um…my fiancé, Will, is the project manager for the windmill farm. It’s why we moved here actually.” I laugh nervously and give the girls a very embarrassed smile, trying to apologize with my eyes and shrink in my seat.

Elke’s reaction surprises me. “Oh! This is great news!”

“It is?” The last bite of my salmon and cream cheese bagel pauses on its way to my mouth.

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