Page 3 of Exception

I spendthe next hour getting situated, changing out of my clothes and into something a little more suitable for the tropics. Then I sit on the edge of my bed and debate going outside. I don’t start my shift with Devon until tomorrow morning. Until then, I’m free to roam.

I glance around my small, bare room and realize I don’t have anything else to do. I’m not particularly exhausted, and I wouldn’t mind checking the island out. As much as I can anyways. I don’t have anything besides my feet to carry me where I need to go. Do employees get golf carts too, or do we have to walk everywhere? That’s something I need to ask Devon about.

My phone rings, and I glance down at it, seeing my best friend’s name on the screen.

I debate answering before deciding I fucking better. If I don’t, who knows what that crazy fucker would do. He’d probably show up here.

I swipe at the screen. “Hey, Dixon.”

“Hey, yourself. You make it safely?” he asks, and I bob my head.

“Yep.”

Dixon shuffles around on the other end of the line, probably getting ready to go down to the gym.

“Your parents call yet?” he asks, and I lean back on the bed, staring up at the stucco ceiling.

“Nah, not yet. They’re probably too confused.”

“Ginny?” he asks, talking about my younger sister.

“She texted. She’s upset I left without saying goodbye, but she knows why I had to go like that.”

“Yep, you would have stayed if you could. And hey, don’t let anyone make you feel guilty. You need this time to figure shit out. Enjoy the island life and then come home.”

I bob my head again, knowing that he’s right. We’ve had many a late-night discussion about beliefs and dreams. He knows how much I’ve struggled with what I’ve been raised to believe and what I feel is right. He knows I needed to get away to find myself.

“Just don’t stay gone too long. You know how needy I get.”

I scoff at that because Dixon is one of the most resilient and independent guys I know. And he most definitely is not needy.

We chat a bit more before saying our goodbyes with the promise of another call next week.

I stand and glance out the window, seeing the ocean in the distance, the white-tipped waves. I square my shoulders and inhale deeply. It’s decided. I didn’t travel all this way to sit in my room. I came here to try something new, to experience life and a different way of living.

I shove the room key into my pocket and head out, my eyes most definitely not searching for Holden.

I’m not the least bit disappointed when I don’t see him strutting around the hallway. Maybe more like a little relieved since I don’t know why the fuck my eyes had been glued to his ass. But I had been intrigued.

Inappropriately intrigued. Maybe being this far away from home is allowing me to actually think for myself for the first time. Maybe these thoughts will continue to shift and grow. Who knows who I’ll be once I head back to the States?

As I exit the building, I take in a lungful of warm, salty air. Shit, this climate is so different than what I’m used to. It’s not freeze-your-nutsack-off, biting-cold like South Dakota. I could rip my shirt off and not even shiver.

I glance to my right and see a paved trail leading out to the beach. I should probably stay on a path so I don’t wander off and get lost. I looked up the local wildlife online during my sixteen-hour trip here, and apparently, there are a lot of lizards that reside on this island. Not a huge fan of lizards. My grandma has a pet iguana. He sits in his tank and watches me with his beady eyes, flicking his weird forked tongue at me.

Unnatural, if you ask me.

So no, I won’t go wandering around the island without a map or a guide. What if I get lost and have to make friends with the lizards to survive?

I shiver, moving forward on the path, my eyes watching the trees above me. I wonder if there are any monkeys out here. I know that some islands have them, those little shitty ones that steal your stuff and get angry when you try and retaliate. They have sharp pointy teeth too and long, flappy arms.

God, I hope there are no monkeys out here. I’m not cut out for that shit. The wildlife in South Dakota consists of cows, deer, and the occasional beaver. Nothing that will steal your wallet.

I finally make it to the sand, and I glance down at my boot-clad feet. I need to buy some flip-flops for days like these. I might fit in a little better, and honestly, my toes could use a little air right now. They’ve been stuffed in these work boots for far too long. What a novelty that would be. Flip-flops. Who would have thought?

I move toward the ocean, taking in the vastness of it, wondering if I should snap a picture with my phone and send it to my little sister as an apology. She would just die seeing where I’ve escaped to. But then I realize I don’t have my phone on me. I left it back in my room. Doesn’t matter anyways. I don’t know the time difference between the Pacific islands and South Dakota. I’ll think about sending her one tomorrow.

But if I send it, will she open it, or will she just delete it?

---