Chapter 29
twenty-nine
CARINA
When I wake in the morning, I reach for Orion. I should cut him loose now, before I start always reaching for him. He’s there for me if I need him now. But that can change.
At least I have today with him. I’m not ready to let him go yet. It likely doesn’t mean anything to him to have me around his family. He’s not careful or guarded like I am. I shouldn’t read into it.
I dress in a swimsuit, a pair of loose shorts, and a long-sleeved sun shirt. I take time to perfectly smooth my ponytail. It’ll get messed up later, but I want to have put in the effort. I don’t honor everything my parents taught me—my mother is horrified I leave the house in athletic wear instead of designer dresses. But she would be proud I take time with my hair, even if it’s a ponytail. I packed my bag last night, so I only have to toss in my face sunscreen after I apply it. Orion is right about hats—I should research making them. He’ll give me a hard time today, but I set a reminder on my phone to reapply sunscreen every two hours.
I text him to meet me at my garage so we can load the car. I back into the driveway and am in the process of lifting my hardboard to the roof rack when he appears with his kayak.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take my SUV?”
“This is fine. The rack is designed for both. Plus, hybrid. Less gas than yours.” He looks at me skeptically. We’ve fought about this before but I know what he’s doing. He’s feeling out my mood today. We work together to heave his craft on the roof and bicker the whole time. He thinks he knows the best way to secure them, but again, it’s my car and my rack. I know what I’m doing.
“It sounds like you two need coffee.” Brooklynn yawns. “Orion only has two travel mugs. Any chance you have more?”
“I do. Cabinet next to my fridge.” I gesture for her to enter the house. “The cooler is ready too.” Spencer follows her.
With his kayak secure, Orion turns to me. “Are we going to fight all day?”
I sigh. “I don’t know.” I’m not upset about the early morning or trying to make a good impression on his sister. I want to be closer to him than I’m letting myself, and I want him to hold me in his arms and kiss me.
And, frankly, I want to delay leaving twenty minutes so we can fuck. I’ve been imagining that future too much. One where things are easy. Where I open up to him and he stays to secure it all.
“We don’t have to fight,” he says.
We load the two inflatable boards into the trunk. We’re doing a final check for towels and waters when Orion does something incredibly stupid.
“I’ll take the keys.” His hand is outstretched and open.
“What?”
Brooklynn and Spencer are about to get into the back seat, but they pause.
“I figure I’ll drive since you never do.”
I blinked a few times before responding. “First, it’s my car. Why would you think I would let you drive it? Second, just because I don’t drive much doesn’t mean I can’t. Third, you either sit your ass in the passenger seat or I leave without you.”
He grins at me. “Sure thing.”
He’s fucking with me, but it’s unexpected. He’s never tried to take control. He doesn’t have issues with women driving him around. It must be one last chance to remind me what we are to each other.
We hit the road. It’s two hours to the park and involves driving through Tampa. But we watch the sunrise and have enough coffee that we don’t truly complain.
Of course, Orion and I can’t be in an enclosed space together without fighting. While discussing our favorite Disney movies, he counters all my opinions.
“No, Peter Pan is not a good movie,” Orion argues.
“Didn’t you dress up as Captain Hook several times?” Brooklynn asks.
“I knew it!” I exclaim. “You don’t believe half the things you fight me on.”
“Oh please. Because you really think my bushes are overgrown.”
Brooklynn chokes back a laugh. I’m sure she thinks it’s a euphemism. I shake my head.
“How long have you lived in Florida?” she asks.
“Um…technically since college. My family had the house since before I was born. We’d come here every summer and most family vacations.”
“Aren’t you worried about sea level rise? Hurricanes?” Spencer asks.
Orion gives me a look. I’m sure he had to answer these questions when he bought his house. He was probably told it was reckless and a bad investment because one storm could wipe out the whole beach. And it’s not like homeowner’s insurance is cheap.
“Of course. But that’s why I do everything in my power to mitigate climate change. I built a whole company around it.”
“You ever think you’ll leave?” Brooklynn asks.
“Nope. The sea levels can rise. I’m going down with the island.”
Brooklynn laughs. “You sound like Orion and the Twisted Rigging .”
When we get to the park, Orion and I take down our gear from the roof together. He doesn’t complain and lets me tell him what to do.
“Is this like the boat thing?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I guess I’d rather you be relaxed on the water. Then you won’t accidentally feed me to an alligator.”
“This river doesn’t have gators so it’s not an option.”
“Speaking of Gators.” He pulls a hat out of his bag. “I bought this for you.” He hands me a blue and white hat with a retro University of Florida logo.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“You went there, right? And you liked it? If you can’t endorse your university, then I don’t know how to help you.”
I should be annoyed. But I can’t. He found a way for me to be protected from the sun and not go against my values and I love it.
“Thanks.” I put the hat on. It’s the perfect moment to kiss him but I keep my distance.
“No problem. I’ll go pay the entrance fee,” he says, squeezing my shoulder briefly.
We reapply sunscreen as I inflate the other boards. Quickly enough, we’re at the water’s edge. I give Brooklynn and Spencer instructions on how to navigate the paddleboards, and we’re off.