Chapter 30 Time to Think
Time to think
As they rollerbladed along the boulevard, Riley visibly relaxed. This was her island, and now she was sharing it with someone else. In reality, it wasn't her island, but she felt at home here in a way she hadn't expected.
Thinking back to when she first moved here and remembering Cam's warnings about how so many ex-pats couldn't hack it, she couldn't fathom why anyone would ever want to leave.
She suddenly realized Gray was asking her a question.
"Sorry, what?"
"You were not on this planet!" Gray teased, his laugh warm and easy. "I was asking how often you come out here?"
Riley hesitated, but only for a moment. Gray was a good guy, a great guy, and she felt comfortable enough to share. Riley wished her poor relationship from the past would stop creeping into the present.
"Well, let's see. I'm here at least once a week to think while I'm blading. I don't have to worry about cracks in the road or falling. No one else comes out this way, so I have the road to myself. I get a lot of thinking done. If I struggle with a problem to solve, the solution finds me out here."
"That makes sense." Gray nodded. "I brought my rollerblades, not even knowing if I could use them here, so thank you for bringing me.
Back home, I do the same, especially when I'm piecing together a research project.
I love heading out to think, but I have to carry my notepad with me.
I've learned the hard way that if I don't write down a solution right away, I won't remember it later.
Then I end up thinking, 'Well, better get back out there and let inspiration strike again! "
Riley laughed, understanding the creative struggle. As they continued along the road, talking and blading, she noticed Gray was blading close to her, so close that now and then, his arm would gently swing into hers, a subtle connection that made her heart skip.
She loved how strong his arms looked, and his tan had darkened.
As his arm swung forward again, his tank top lifted a bit, and she caught a quick glimpse of what was obviously a 6-pack, she flushed thinking about seeing all of it which made no sense because she saw lots of hot bods all day long at work, no one was shy when you lived in a bikini or board shorts.
Riley shook her head and looked into Gray's curious eyes.
"Would you ever move to an island?" She asked, surprising herself with the question. "You said you'd never been to one before, but now that you're here, do you think you could live here?"
She couldn't believe she was asking him this.
She wanted to know his answer, but she also dreaded it.
What if he said he could never see himself living in a place like this?
She realized that, deep down, she'd been secretly wanting to ask him all along.
If he said no, that he'd never live somewhere like this, she knew she'd have to protect her heart and stop dreaming that he might stay, maybe even stay for her.
"I would live here in a heartbeat," Gray said, his voice steady and sure. As he spoke, he reached out and found her hand.
She smiled down at the ground, not wanting to break the spell that had fallen over her.
Oh Gray, you are a great man, she thought, her heart swelling with a mixture of hope and happiness.