27. Henrik
TWENTY-SEVEN
HENRIK
“Hi, gorgeous,” I say as I answer the door, extending my hand to her. My heart pounds in my chest. It’s Friday night and my stunning girlfriend stands on my porch with her weekend tote packed full.
She blushes when I kiss her knuckles. I love how responsive she is to me. “Hi,” she whispers.
Pulling her into my arms is the best feeling. Resting my head on hers, I hug her tightly. “I missed you so much.”
Patting my chest, she laughs. “You just saw me last night for dinner. We haven’t even been apart for twenty-four hours.”
Only around her do I show my authentic emotions. She’s ruined me in that regard. And I’m not mad about it one bit. I love to be with her. “It was a long nineteen hours and ten minutes.” I dramatically huff.
A melodic, joyful noise fills the air, and I smirk. Carina has the best laughter. It’s carefree and cheerful. It’s just one of the many things I love about her.
“Are you laughing at me?” I ask dramatically.
Stepping back, her lips twitch as she fights a smile. “No, I think it’s adorable that you, a burly, rough and tough crab fisherman, count down the hours and minutes since he last saw his girlfriend.”
I shrug. “What can I say? I really like her.”
“Oh, Henrik. I really like you too.” Her cheeks pinken, and I suspect she more than just likes me. For me, those feelings sailed into deeper waters weeks ago. But I’ve said nothing yet. Everyone talks about those three little words, but there’s nothing little about my feelings.
I pull her back against my chest. “I’m glad you’re here, and that you’re spending the weekend with me.”
“Me too. Do you have big plans for us?”
Since it isn’t fishing season, my work schedule is more flexible, and I often plan our dates and adventures.
I grin and she smirks. “What?”
“It’s just… Your dimples are adorable. I’m sad it took me so long to discover them. Who knew it would be so difficult to make you give me a genuine smile?”
I frown. “They’re nothing special.”
She runs her fingertips over them. “I disagree. I love them, and I’m glad they only pop out for me. It makes me feel special.”
Leaning over, I kiss her nose. “You are special. To me, you are the most special.” She sighs dramatically, and I squeeze her tight.
“You asked what I had planned.”
“Sure. I can’t wait to see what you came up with.”
“Since it’s getting warmer outside, I thought maybe we’d pack a picnic and go for a hike tomorrow.”
“That sounds good. Any thoughts on where we’ll go? Remember, I’m built for lazy beach walks, not difficult hikes like the backside of North Sister.”
I’m surprised at her namedrop. “Have you ever hiked the backside of North Sister?”
Laughter fills my living room. Her blonde hair sweeps over her shoulders as she shakes her head.
“There’s no way I’d willingly sign up for that torture.
I heard you have to take several breaks, hiking poles are a necessity, and it’s very steep and narrow.
So no, thank you. That sounds like a recipe for disaster or, in my case, a broken leg. ”
“I promise you, the hike I have planned for tomorrow is easy. Have you ever done Abercrombie?”
She gapes at me and then stutters out, “F-fort Abercrombie C-cliffs?” She blinks in disbelief, putting her hands on her hips. “No. That always seemed too advanced for me. I’m the queen of the leisurely stroll. These hips of mine may look sturdy, but they aren’t meant for strenuous activity.”
Is she serious? I bark out a laugh. “Babe, I love your hips so much. But I disagree with you. You and I have tested them several times with strenuous activities and they’ve held up perfectly.” I wink when I know she’s understood what I’m alluding to. Her response is to roll her eyes at me.
Scoffing, she says, “Well, some strenuous activity is good for me, and I prefer how we’ve been going about it rather than trying to prove I’m some great mountain woman.” This woman’s sass. I love it.
“Relax, gorgeous. I’m not taking you up to the cliffs on our first hiking adventure. I don’t want to wear you out so much that I either have to carry you back to the truck or end up with you so mad at me that my favorite strenuous activity with you is a no-go.”
“Smart man.” She laughs. “So, if we aren’t going to the cliffs, where are we going?”
“Ever been to Gertrude Lake?”
“No.”
“Good. It’s still early to use the trail, but with the weather having been so good, I’m certain the route will be decent. From the trail, you can access the shoreline. We can walk on the rocky beach while appreciating the driftwood and the craggy cliffs surrounding the cove.”
The next day, we enjoy a lazy morning snuggling in bed. Once the sun’s fully risen, we get dressed and head out. The night before we’d prepacked our picnic, so this morning all we had to do was transfer it from the fridge to a backpack.
Twenty minutes after leaving, we pull into the parking lot for Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.
“How long is this hike?” Carina asks as she hops out of the truck, wearing cranberry-colored yoga pants.
Following behind her, my eyes lock on the sway of her luscious ass.
Like a bull moose during rutting season, my cock responds in a big way.
I glance left, then right, wondering if we’re alone.
I spot another car, and my plan to take her against a tree quickly fizzles.
“Are you coming?” she calls over her shoulder as she stands at the trailhead.
“This is rated an easy hike. It’s a little over a mile and takes about thirty minutes unless you dawdle, which I’m assuming we’ll do,” I explain before we head out.
Walking past all the giant, moss-covered trees, we follow the damp pine cone-covered path around the almost thawed lake.
Spring is just beginning, and the smell of decaying leaves that were trapped under snow is heavy in the air.
My boots slap on the wooden walkways that appear sporadically on the path.
Carina turns around and smiles widely when we reach the part of the route where just a dirt path divides the lake from the rocky shoreline.
Pointing to the cliffs at our left, she cheers. “Look, there are two bald eagles up there.”
Setting my bag on the rocks, I step toward her. “Do you love birds as much as the animals in the ocean?”
She laughs, and her face comes alive. “I love all animals, but the ocean ones are my favorite. If I had to pick another group of animals to love, it wouldn’t be birds. But it’s hard to deny the majestic nature of a bald eagle. They’re powerful, smart, beautiful animals.”
“Is that your favorite bird?”
I wrongly assume that might be a tough question, when she surprises me by saying, “Nope.”
“What’s your favorite, then?”
“My favorite birds are puffins and then penguins.”
Scratching my beard, I consider her answer. “Penguins are adorable, so I understand why you’d choose them, but why puffins?”
“Well, besides them being seabirds, they’re beautiful. They have the cutest little orange feet that match their beaks, and I especially love that both parents help with incubation of the eggs.”
Reaching for her hand, I say, “That’s the epitome of co-parenting.”
Thoughts of parenthood swim in my head. Before now—before her—I’d never considered it.
Becoming a parent brought out genuine fears for me.
I know the reality of my job is dangerous, and I’d never want to worry my children or leave them without a father.
And missing chunks of their lives because I would be at sea for weeks would weigh heavily on me. It wouldn’t be fair to any of us.
But the image of Carina round with my child makes me feel something I’ve never felt before—failure.
It’s still fear-based, but it has nothing to do with my job.
Because I’ve never seriously thought about fatherhood, I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it.
And now that it’s entered my head, my doubts wrap themselves tight around my heart.
Will I fail her? Them? Overwhelmed by my thoughts, I stuff them deep until I can give them more attention.
“And I think it’s ideal. Having both partners pitch in to raise their children. At least that’s what I’d want if I ever have children,” she says. I shy away from her hopeful-looking eyes, unable to swallow the fact I feel like I’m failing her already.
Not sure how to respond, I squeeze her hand and step off the trail. “Shall we go explore the beach?”