Prologue
It has been exactly two months and three days since my bestie got married, and she is currently back in Willow Cove, living with her husband, Cooper Heyes, on their little houseboat. The NOAA was so impressed with her data that they offered her a position to do full-time research in Willow Cove. Coop told me, “It’s funny how things work out when you say a little prayer.” I’m not sure about praying. I’m not really that kind of person. But if it kept Molly alive when they crashed on that island, I guess it couldn’t hurt to say a few words to the big guy upstairs every now and again.
Coop and Molly have invited me out to Willow Cove for the weekend, and I am currently grappling with the idea of asking Dusty to come with me. Things have been weird between us for a couple of months now, and I’m not really sure what is going on. Maybe we just need to spend more time together instead of having late-night semi-dates in the NOAA’s lab while plotting data and writing up documents for the bigwigs.
I guess there’s no time like the present to ask him, so I swivel my chair around to face him and whisper his name. “Psst. Dusty. Ya busy?” He swivels his chair around and meets my eyes, a look of annoyance on his face. “Oops, I guess so. I’ll just ask you another time.” I swivel my chair around, and it stops as his hand pushes me back.
“Sorry, Clara, I’m just stuck on something right now and annoyed that I can’t figure it out. What’s up?” He smiles down at me, and I get that chocolatey, melty feeling inside as our eyes lock and I can feel my face heating up. I lick my lips, and his eyes flick down to watch my tongue travel across the distance. I wonder if he will try to kiss me again. He only kissed me that one time, and it was probably the best kiss I have ever received in my life. Not one I plan on forgetting anytime soon.
“So.. did you want to ask me something, or do you plan on just staring the words into my brain?” He winks at me, and I have to tear my eyes from him, or I fear my words will fail me completely.
“I… um… was wondering…,” I pause for a second, to think about whether or not I really want to ask him to come with me, and he motions for me to continue with his hands. “I was wondering if you want to come with me to Willow Cove for the weekend. Molly and Coop plan on taking me to Emerald Isle, and I thought it would be fun for you to come with. You know. Since you work with sea turtles and all.” Well, that could have definitely gone better. I could have barfed for real instead of barfing up my words. I try not to cringe, avoiding his eyes and clutching the arm of the chair to keep from slapping myself in the head while I wait for his answer.
“Sure. That sounds like fun. I’ve never been to Willow Cove before. Thanks for the invite; you”re such a good friend.” He turns back around and heads for his chair, and I swivel my chair around before he can register the scowl on my face, his words echoing in my head. Did he just friend-zone me? I’m pretty sure he did, but what the heck does that mean? He kissed me. Not the other way around. I was trying to be the professional one, and he went and crossed the line from friends to more. So what in the world am I supposed to do with this information? I pick up my phone and pull up my text thread with Molly.
Clara: Okay. I just invited Dusty to come with me this weekend to Willow Cove.
Molly: That’s awesome. Dusty and Clara, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Clara: Funny, Molly. The thing is, he totally just friend-zoned me.
Molly: No. I have seen the way he looks at you. That is not the look someone gives a friend.
Clara: Yeah… Well, he did. These were his exact words: “Thanks for the invite; you’re such a good friend.”
Molly: Oh. My. Gosh. He totally did. Want me to push him out of the plane when Coop and I come to get you?
Clara: Nah. I need to figure out what the heck is going on. But thanks for the offer.
Molly: Okay. But remember. What happens in the air stays in the air. We can always say he got sucked out.
Clara: LOL! I love you, Molls. What time are you and Coop flying in?
Molly: Coop says we will be there to pick you and Dusty up on Friday at noon. He’s excited to fly his new plane.
Clara: I still can’t believe he bought you a plane as a wedding gift. Especially after the plane crash. I figured you would never want to step foot on one again.
Molly: He’s such a sweetie. He wasn’t sure about things, so when his dad handed over the rest of the company, he sold his old plane and bought one that could fly to Arcadia Bay without stopping. I still get a little sick when we take off, but so far, so good. I gotta go. The Captain”s calling. See you Friday!
Clara: Lol! Sounds great. See you then. Love you!
Molly: Love you too!
“Coop and Molly will be landing at the airport, to pick us up at noon.” I yell over my shoulder, not wanting Dusty to see the disappointment from what he said earlier evident on my face.
“Sounds great. Should we drive there together? It’ll save on gas.” Dusty asks. Oh, sure, now you want us to drive together. Ugh. Why does he have to be so annoying?
“Yeah, sure, do you want me to pick you up, or do you want to pick me up?” I continue to yell over my shoulder.
“Whatever you want to do.” He responds, and it takes all of my willpower not to scream out loud. Whatever you want to do? Could he just make a freaking decision? Because right now I want to punch him more than I want to kiss him.
“Uh… I guess I’ll pick you up then.” I try not to let the irritation bleed through my voice, but it’s teetering, and I can tell I am about to lose it.
“Sounds good. What time?” What time? Oh, now you want to know what time? I squeeze my nails into my palms under my desk and answer him.
“I’ll be there at 11.” Before he can question my short, somewhat irritated answer, I push out my chair and head for the tank room. I need to cool off, and what better way to do that than to plunge myself into a tank with a turtle?
But wait… there’s more… Want to find out what happens next?