37. Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Anson
" W e can walk to where we're going?" Nova asked.
I'd asked her to dress casually and for the outdoors. I also told her to be ready to leave by seven, which meant that we didn't go for a morning run.
"Sort of," I told her cryptically.
She was in a pair of tailored blue shorts with a collared white sleeveless T-shirt that did wonders for her tits, and was going to give me blue balls.
Her hair was in a ponytail, and her face was made up in a way that it looked like it was not. She had a small backpack with her that she slung on one shoulder. She reminded me of the girl I used to know, and I felt a pang for the years we'd lost, and for the innocence she'd lost because I had been incapable of getting my head screwed on right.
On that crisp spring morning, it took us twenty minutes to reach River Street. The historic waterfront, known for its charming cobblestone streets, vibrant shops, and restaurants, was also the hub for various boat tour operators, including those offering dolphin cruises.
"We're going on a boat ride?" Nova asked excitedly.
"Yep. But not just a boat ride, this is our very own private dolphin cruise."
She lit up like fucking Vegas from space. "No. How did you know?"
"I may have asked around." It was Katya who had told me that Nova had always wanted to see the dolphins but had never seemed to make the time. This was after I'd managed to convince Katya and Trevor (who grudgingly believed me) that I was sincere in my efforts to win back Nova and that I loved her.
We boarded a private boat, and the captain introduced himself to us.
Nova seemed a bit hesitant at first, but as we set out onto the Savannah River, I saw her shoulders relax, and a small smile appeared on her lips. The gentle hum of the boat's engine and the sound of the water lapping against the hull were calming, and I hoped this was just the beginning of a day that would help her let go and enjoy herself.
"Isn't it amazing that there are dolphins in the Savannah River," she beamed.
I hadn't known about the dolphins, but had gone out of my way to learn before I booked this cruise.
As the boat glided through calm waters, the first mate suggested we keep our eyes peeled for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
"Look over there!" I pointed to a pod of dolphins playing in the distance. Nova's eyes widened with delight as she watched them leap and dive gracefully through the water.
"They're beautiful," she said in awe. "I've never seen dolphins up close before."
We leaned against the railing, watching the dolphins for a while, their playful energy infectious. While the marine mammals entertained Nova, I watched her, absolutely loving her excitement. She looked so much lighter, her usual seriousness replaced with genuine joy.
As we continued our journey, the captain guided us deeper into the heart of Lowcountry. The landscape around us transformed into marshlands dotted with clusters of spartina grass swaying gently in the breeze. Egrets and herons stood like statues in the shallow waters, their keen eyes scanning for fish.
"Look at that," Nova whispered, pointing to a great blue heron that took flight, its wings spanning wide as it glided over the water.
"Love that y'all are not grabbing your phones to take pictures," the first mate, a burly white-haired man, told us.
"I'm not a good enough photographer to capture the beauty of this," Nova breathed.
"Yeah, no camera can capture this beauty," I agreed, but I was looking at Nova and not the nature surrounding us. She flushed, and I wished I had the right to hug her, kiss her, hold her. But I'd forfeited those rights by being careless, cocky, and bullheaded.
The first mate handed us a pair of binoculars. "There are some ospreys nesting over there." He directed our gaze to a tall wooden platform where the majestic birds of prey had built their home.
Nova took the binoculars, her eyes lighting up as she observed the ospreys. "They're incredible," she gasped, passing the binoculars to me. I looked through them, seeing the powerful birds tending to their nest, their sharp eyes surveying the river below.
The boat ventured further into the marshlands, where the cacophony of bird calls created a symphony of nature. We spotted pelicans diving for fish, their large beaks scooping up their prey.
Nova laughed. "A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill will hold more than his belican. He can take in his beak, food enough for a week; I'm damned if I know how the hell he can!"
I cocked an eyebrow. "Is that a limerick, Sugar?"
"Indeed! It was written in 1910 by Dixon Lanier Merritt. He was an American poet, editor, historian, and humorist," Nova showed off. "Though some misappropriate the limerick to be by Ogden Nash."
"I'm in awe of the weird things you know, Sugar." And fucking proud.
"Hang with me, Anson; I'll teach you all sorts of things," she joked.
"I fully intend to," I vowed.
She blushed again, and this time, her eyes lingered on me.
As we slowly sailed toward Tybee Island, we saw a group of roseate spoonbills wading in the shallow waters, their pink feathers standing out against the green backdrop.
"This place is magical."
"It really is," I agreed. "I'm glad you're enjoying it." She looked so fucking happy, and it made me feel ten-feet-tall because I was giving her this, and she was letting me.
After nearly four hours, the boat sailed past Cockspur Island lighthouse to dock at North Beach in Tybee Island.
"You hungry?" I asked as I picked up a picnic basket that had been hidden under a bench on the boat.
Nova grinned. "Starving, actually."
"Well, come on then."
She grabbed the blanket next to the picnic basket and hugged it to her chest.
We bid the captain and first mate goodbye. A car and driver were waiting nearby to take us home when we were ready.
We walked along the sandy shore, the salty breeze ruffling our hair. I found a perfect spot near the dunes that would afford us privacy, thanks to Diego, who had mapped it out for me, and dropped a GPS pin on Apple maps for my convenience.
We laid out the blanket together.
"Ready for lunch?" I opened the picnic basket once we settled down.
"Absolutely."
The smiling woman I used to know was back. She wasn't guarded. Sailing had brought excitement into her eyes and taken away some of the stress.
It was a simple lunch that Rhodes Hotel had put together for me. Fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, and sandwiches. And there was a bottle of champagne in a cooling bag.
Nova laughed, a sound I had missed dearly. "This looks amazing, Anson."
We talked as we ate, the rhythmic sound of the waves providing a soothing backdrop.
"This was so much fun," she claimed as she sat back on the blanket, facing the water.
"Thank you for giving me a chance to make it fun."
She smiled sweetly at me, and my heart raced.
I cleared up the remnants of our picnic, filled her glass and mine with champagne, and sat next to her.
"How are we getting home?" she asked as she took her glass of bubbly.
"We'll drive." I clinked my glass against hers.
"Anson?"
"Yeah, Sugar."
"I'm afraid of getting hurt."
"I know. Me too."
"I never hurt you."
I wrapped my free arm around her, and kissed the side of her head. "You're not capable of hurting anyone. I'm afraid now, as I was then, of losing you. Lost you anyway because I was a moron. Won't make that mistake again."
She leaned into me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"You really think there's a chance after all that's happened that we can have a healthy and normal relationship?" she mused.
I chuckled. "I don't know about normal, Sugar, 'cause that definition is dubious as fuck. Healthy? Yes."
"When you say you want a chance, what is it you want?" She looked at me and I couldn't resist it, I brushed my lips against hers. She tasted of champagne and sea air, of hope and future happiness.
"We date. We become a couple. We learn from each other."
She nodded and breathed out. "We'll fight."
"Yes." We both were passionate people, so hell, yeah, we'd fight. "And we'll have excellent make up sex."
She laughed then. "Do men really think about sex all the time?"
"Not all the time. We sometimes sleep and dream about sex," I joked. "Sugar, here’s the bald truth. I want you desperately, and my cock is sick of my hand."
She drank some champagne. "I've had sex since us."
"I know." I had zero fucking right to be upset about that, and I wasn't. We were apart for seven years. It would've been a fucking shame if she'd been celibate all that time.
"Not good sex…just…I tried," she faltered. "Do you know that you and I had sex only that one time?"
"Yeah, Sugar, I'm aware."
"How do you know we'll have good sex now?"
"Because we love each other."
She buried her face in my chest then. I put my champagne glass on the blanket, and held her close as her shoulders shook. I felt her tears against my linen shirt, and my eyes filled in response.
"I do love you," I said, my throat hoarse with emotion.
"I know. I love you, too…but…." She sobbed softly.
I hated that she was crying, that I had no way to make it better.
"You broke me."
I pulled her onto my lap and held her. "I know. I'm so fucking sorry."
"I never… God , Anson, you hurt me."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Please don't cry."
She raised her head and gasped when she saw my tears. She wiped them gently.
"I hurt when you hurt," I told her. "Your pain is mine."
She placed her lips against mine and kissed me, first softly, then deeply. We kissed for a long while, open-mouthed get-to-know-you kisses, hungry, I-love-you kisses, gentle, soothing.
As the wind picked up, I caressed her ear with my mouth. "Ready for some more adventure?"
"What do you have in mind?" she inquired curiously.
I set her down. I reached for the large picnic basket and opened it. I pulled a kite out of the side pocket. "How about we try flying this?"
Nova's smile was wide. "I haven't flown a kite since I was a kid."
We spent the next hour running along the beach, the colorful kite soaring high above us. Nova's laughter was contagious, and I found myself grinning like a fool. It was incredible to see her so carefree, a stark contrast to the serious and guarded woman she had become.
As the afternoon turned into early evening, we walked along the shore. The beach was dotted with driftwood and seashells, and the water was cool against our feet. We walked in comfortable silence, occasionally pointing out interesting finds, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
"I have to admit," Nova said as we made our way back to the blanket, "this has been one of the best days I've had in a long time."
"I'm glad to hear it," I replied, feeling a warmth in my chest. "You deserve to have more days like this. Let me give them to you."
She looked at me, her eyes softening. "Okay."