Page 117 of Wayward
At the first peek into the clearing around the treehouse, Haley gasps. “It’s still here. Overgrown a bit.” She rights one of the chairs. “But it smells right, and it feels like home.”
I touch her elbow, and she turns to me. Her blue eyes shine in the dappled jungle light. “I didn’t know what I was searching for when I boarded theRock Candy. My professional athletic career was over, and I was floundering. But somewhere between the storms and the secrets, I found a future I couldn’t have dreamed of. And it started right here. You know wherever you are is home. But being in the spot where I learned what love is? Where I became whole again? It feels damn good.” I pull her into my arms and kiss her.
When we break apart, everyone is staring at us. Zane’s next. He kisses her, and when he finishes, he gives her an extra peck on her neck. It feels like an hour later when Dante’s the last to dip her and we continue our exploration.
The table Sam and Calvin made has a pile of branches on it. I could have sworn it was turned over when we left.
“Holloway must have picked it up,” Calvin says and walks a few feet down the still visible path to the stream. “There are no current tracks around.”
“Stove is still here.” Dante pats the hunk of cast-iron. The makeshift roof over it has collapsed, though.
“Our treehouse looks solid.” Sam’s the first one up on it. “You going to finish the bathroom now?” Sam calls down to Zane, laughing.
“I think we might start over.” Zane has got his sketchbook under his arm. “I don’t have my degree yet, but I’ve got some ideas.”
Haley wanders to the far side of the camp. She pulls at a stick in the weeds. And out pops our Christmas tree. “Whoa, it made it!”
“So did we.” I help her pull ferns from the driftwood branches.
“All right, we’ve got some serious work to do before the sun goes down,” Sam says.
“Aye-aye, Cap,” we all answer back.
Chapter 49
North Star
Haley
The sun’s beaming through the window. The frangipani tree brushes lightly against the glass like it’s checking in on me—gentle and persistent, like one of my guys. It’s weird being here and having glass windows, but I’m not going to complain. Glass and screens mean less bugs and water in your bed at night.
I stretch my fingers above my head. I should get up. There’s a soft breeze coming through the open balcony door, carrying with it the scent of saltwater and something sweet, maybe frangipani. I can hear the distant hum of a boat motor, probably Calvin and Sam out for an early morning fishing trip. There’s a clicking coming from the outside kitchen. Dante uses his old potbelly stove as much as our newly finished industrial kitchen. Easton has been up with the sun, working out in the gym on the lower level. And Zane, well, he’s probably off sketching somewhere, planning yet another addition to our ever-growing island home.
I’ve been awake for hours, but I don’t want to get up. It’s the fresh air and finally having the house complete, I keep telling myself. But I’ve got a garden to attend to . . .
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, the cool bamboo flooring grounding me as I stand. Our bedroom is simple, adorned with artwork we’ve collected from various islands and bits of driftwood art that Zane has made. On the balcony, I look through the jungle palms to the crystal blue water that surrounds our home. There’s a coffee carafe and a covered bowl filled with fruit. Dante must have brought them up when I was asleep.
The tang of pomelo and papaya makes my mouth water. The smell reminds me of our first few weeks back here—sticky fingers, barefoot mornings, and laughter echoing through a modern campsite.
The sound of footsteps echoes up the staircase, and I turn to see Easton, his skin glistening with sweat from his workout. He grins at me, his eyes softening as he takes in my naked torso where my shirt has splayed open. “Morning, beautiful,” he says, walking over to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. “How are you feeling?”
I smile up at him, leaning into his touch. “Hungry,” I admit with a laugh. “And excited. Nervous too, mixed with a little bit of sad. I’m not ready to go back to the States yet. Two more weeks here doesn’t seem like enough.”
“I know what you mean. But the rainy season waits for no one. We could stay if you want to . . .”
I devour the fruit bowl in seconds.
“No . . . we need to visit people. They’re going to think we dropped off the planet, and I miss Pepper.”
“She would like the new house, but I know she wouldn’t like the plane ride.”
“She’s happy staying with Dante’s mom.”
Easton kisses my neck. “I’m going to shower if you want to?—”
There’s a thud on the bedroom door. “Are you ready?” Zane calls.
“Ready?” I wipe my hands on the cloth napkin that Dante left for me and stand. “Ready for what?”
