Page 91 of The Romance Game

“That seems super dangerous. Aren’t you supposed to avoid high ground during a lightning storm?” Robyn asks.

I wince, regretting the dare.

“I didn’t know that there’s a lighthouse around here,” Isla says.

We tell her about Nucifera Light on the other end of the island behind the resort.

“Everyone used to say it was haunted,” Harley says.

“Everyone being us.” Royal’s gaze lands on me as if it was my idea alone.

Isla shivers. “Sounds haunted.”

“I went up all two hundred and three steps and lived to tell the tale.” Harley smiles, pleased with herself.

“I’d like to check it out sometime when the weather is clear. I bet Lally would too. She’s a history buff,” Robyn says.

“Sure, but it’s in disrepair,” Royal says.

“If it’s historical, I wonder if we could rehabilitate it and make it another point of interest on the island.” Isla bounces in her seat.

“That’s a bright idea,” I say.

I get a round of mild laughter at the pun.

“It used to be a tourist attraction, I think,” Royal says.

Thunder rolls and lightning strikes nearby again.

“After storms, the strangest things used to wash up too. Bunches of bananas, clusters of cannon balls, and once, a waxy blob. Never figured out what that was, but we named it Stigroid from the distant planet Xamox,” Harley says, dredging up memories of summers long past.

We talk and reminisce as the storm continues. Robyn passes around a plate of baked goods.

It’s all very quaint and cozy, not at all like when we were teenagers when we were always fixing for trouble and taunting or tormenting each other. That’s why I’m afraid it’s all fleeting. We had a good life with Mom and Dad, then that was taken away. I could have a good life here with Harley and Luke, but whywouldn’t they also disappear from my life just when I get comfortable?

Maybe it’s better to live on the edge like CJ, unattached. He takes risks that endanger him physically, but that’s not the same as the damage that can be done emotionally.

“Sailor’s Folly,” Harley shouts, breaking me from my thoughts.

Everyone’s attention snaps to her in question.

“There’s a bight along the coastline that’s only visible during certain tides.”

“A bite like you want another cookie?” Robyn gets up to refill the plate.

“A bight is a geographic feature. Around here, they can pose nautical hazards. When Uncle Eddie and Aunt Martina still had their boat, he’d drop anchor over there and we could walk for what felt like miles because it was so shallow.”

“I don’t remember them ever having a boat,” I say.

“This was when I was really little. I think they sold it when I was six or seven. But my sisters and I would play mermaid because we could lounge in the shallows. It looked deep, but if you didn’t know about it, you’d run aground. Uncle Eddie called it Sailor’s Folly.”

“I’ve never heard of it,” Royal says.

“It’s not part of Coco Key, it’s along the next one. We’d stop there and Aunt Martina would load up on coconut for her coconut crunch recipe.”

I snap my fingers. “Ah, that’s where the old coconut processing mill is. Remember, we were going to explore it one night, but Magnus said it was too dangerous.”

“I somehow find that hard to believe. I bet you guys chickened out.” Harley elbows me.

---