Chapter Thirty-eight – Andie
Chapter Thirty-eight
ANDIE
‘F uck!’ I shout as I stub my toe on the path somewhere near Jack’s cabin. A sharp pain shoots through my foot, and I squat down to inspect my injury. It isn’t bleeding, but it still registers a solid five on the jellyfish pain scale. I glare at the culprit: a pothole that urgently needs to be filled with crushed oyster shells. I had hoped to become a birdwatching expert by the end of this trip, but apparently my focus has shifted to roadworks, the intricacies of limestone production, and one irresistible island local.
Serves me right for having my head in the clouds , I think as the throbbing starts to dull. I’m lucky I didn’t twist my ankle. I should have been more careful in the dark. Lights dot the way, but they’re more for ambiance than any real functionality. I straighten up and scan my surroundings for a familiar landmark. I don’t recognise where I am. Have I somehow overshot the usual employees’ access gate, I wonder? I decide to press on anyway, growing increasingly disoriented with each step as my thoughts swirl.
I’ve just experienced two of the best nights of my life – so why do I feel so anxious? I mull, grappling with what feels like a vulnerability hangover. Maybe it’s an actual hangover – I did have most of that sparkling.
I didn’t mean to reveal everything about Mum and that island feeling. But as Jack shared his own stories – about Clara, and caring for Hannah – it crystallised what I guess I’d sensed all along. He wasn’t just a flirty local seeking out a good time with tourists. Maybe he was someone I could truly rely on, someone with real feelings for me.
The resulting emotions were so overwhelming they made me want to flee, to catch the next river boat off the island.
But when Jack came to check on me on the couch, he was impossible to resist.
I have no idea what to do. Should I keep my distance to stop my feelings from deepening? Or do we explore the possibility of continuing things once I leave? What I know for certain is that I risk inevitable heartbreak when Jack discovers that real-world Andie isn’t the same as island Andie. I can’t be this carefree girl back at home.
I’m still lost in thought when I realise I’ve wandered into Clam Cove Resort’s guest area. Just as I’m about to turn around, the door to one of the rooms opens, and a tall silhouette emerges.
I gasp as the porch light flicks on. It’s Taylor.