Page 56 of Broken Secrets
“This is perfect,” I say, stopping where the water just touches our toes.
“It really is.” Derek turns to face me, his hands settling on my waist. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making today incredible. For being here. For being you.”
Instead of answering with words, I step closer and kiss him, my arms wrapping around his neck as his circle my waist. We wade deeper into the water, still kissing, until we’re knee-deep in the gentle swells. The water is surprisingly warm, heated by the day’s sunshine, and the sensation of floating slightly witheach wave while wrapped in his arms feels like something from a dream.
When we finally break apart, the sun has nearly disappeared into the horizon, leaving us bathed in the soft light of early evening. Stars are appearing in the darkening sky, and the lights from the research station building create a warm glow behind us.
“I don’t want this trip to end,” I say, though I know it has to.
“It doesn’t have to end. I mean, the trip ends, but this doesn’t.” He gestures between us. “We go back to school, back to real life, but we take this with us.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. What we have isn’t going anywhere just because we leave this island.”
“We should probably head back,” Derek says reluctantly. “Before they send out a search party.”
“Probably.”
But neither of us moves immediately. We stand in the waves, arms around each other, watching the last sliver of sun disappear into the Pacific. It’s one of those perfect moments that you try to memorize even as it’s happening, knowing you’ll want to return to it later.
Finally, we wade back to shore and walk hand in hand up the beach. I can see Maya and the others in the distance, sitting on towels and talking animatedly about something. Normal teenage evening activities that seem both familiar and strange after the intimacy Derek and I just shared.
“See you tomorrow?” Derek says as we reach the point where we need to part ways, him toward the boys’ cabins, me toward the girls.’
“See you tomorrow.”
He kisses me once more, quick and soft, then heads off toward his cabin. I watch him go for a moment before rejoining Maya and the others.
“Have fun with your not-third-wheel activities?” Maya asks with a grin.
“Shut up,” I say, but I’m smiling as I sit down on her towel.
“That’s not a denial.”
“That’s not an admission either.”
“Your hair’s all windblown and you have that post-kissing glow. It’s definitely an admission.”
I throw sand at her, but she’s not wrong. I do feel different, calmer, happier, more settled than I have in weeks. Being with Derek has this way of making everything else seem manageable, even the family complications that have been consuming so much of my mental energy.
We stay on the beach until full darkness falls and Mrs. Henderson’s whistle echoes across the water, calling everyone back to their cabins for the night.
In the cabin, we get ready for bed with the comfortable efficiency of people who’ve spent the last few days learning to share space. Maya and I claim the bathroom first, brushing our teeth side by side while Sophie and Jessica organize their gear for tomorrow’s departure.
“Today was amazing,” Maya says through a mouthful of toothpaste.
“Really amazing,” I say
“You two are really good together, you know that?”
“It feels good.”
“The best relationships do.”
