Page 81 of Leveling

Beckett said, “I understand, I get it, and then you’ll come?”

“Then I’ll come. I’ll come along the coastline, with due haste.” She grinned.

“I love you. Come, come fast, be safe, okay?”

“It will take us the rest of the day to get the packs back to their group. Tomorrow I’ll leave, it should take me about five days. I’ll be there in six days.”

Beckett shook his head. “I won’t be there, I have twelve days still before the ship goes back to dock, but don’t slow down, please. Be there when I get there and I’ll come and get you from the settlements.”

“I’ll go fast. I promise.”

“Good. Thank you.” He sat treading water for a minute staring in her eyes. “I have to say goodbye again?”

“This isn’t like last time, but yes. I have a lot of paddling to get these packs to the group.”

Beckett smiled. “Okay Luna, yes.”

He started back-floating and flutter-kicking away.

“I’ll see you soon Beckett, I will.”

He laughed, flashing his full dimpled smile. “I know you will.”

“Really?” She stood and projected her voice as he kicked farther and farther away. “Because overconfidence isn’t usually your style!”

He tapped the side of his temple. “You saidwe.”

She smiled, picked up her paddle, and soft-paddled against the current that was twisting her away.

He called across the expanse, “I also know you have to come, you have a responsibility, a commitment, and it’s too big to shirk.”

“A what? What are you talking about?”

“You have to bring me my great-grandfather’s watch!”

Luna looked down at her wrist and then smiled broadly across the deep ocean between them. The sun was bright, the visibility clear.

“I love you!” she said.

“I love you too.”

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