Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
He twists his lips to my ear. “For you. Anything for you.”
My insides turn to liquid as his words echo through my head. For you.
“Maybe we can come back,” he says, leaning his head against mine. “You’re a travel agent. Maybe you can book us for a whole week.” I feel him smile against me. “Imagine what we can do with seven days.”
I chuckle for reasons he’ll never know.
I booked a four-day, three-night stay because that’s all the time Eton could get away from work. Now that I know the extent of his bullshit, I’m sure there was another reason. But at the time, it made sense, and although I was sad my honeymoon would be so short, I took it.
I took the breadcrumbs that were given to me and excused away. The lack of care. The lack of commitment. The lack of interest. The lack of spark and friendship. Like a fool.
How was I so blind?
Never again.
But Maddox—Maddox wants longer. A man who I’m not even marrying wishes he could stay longer with me. “Maybe you can book us for the whole week.” The difference between the two astounds me.
I want to ask him what will happen when we get home. Will we go back to being friends who see each other on occasion? Will we return as flirty friends like we were when we left? Are friends with benefits something I can really do? Would he even want to?
Is that healthy for our relationship? Because this, how we are right now, just feels so right. But can this last in Kismet Beach? Should we tempt fate?
I don’t ask him because I don’t want to know. Just enjoy the day that you have and then figure it out later. The only thing you’ll do by asking is ruin what you have now.
The trip takes a little longer than I expected. By the time the boat begins to slow, I’ve nearly been lulled to sleep by the waves and Maddox gently stroking my arm. Every now and then, he takes my hand and plays with my wedding ring.
Each time he touches it, I smile.
“You two doing okay?” Captain Jimmy asks.
“We’re great,” Maddox says.
I lift my head from his shoulder.
“That island right there is where we’re going,” he says, pointing straight ahead.
Maddox and I get to our feet as the boat slows even more.
“How did the pigs get here?” Maddox asks.
“There’s a little lore with that. Some say pirates or explorers brought them hundreds of years ago and left them on the island. Others say they were on ships, being transported to slaughterhouses, or being sold, and a ship or ships wrecked, and some of the pigs made it and survived. And still, others say that the locals on neighboring islands got sick of their smell, so they used this as a pigpen. They’d boat over and feed them, grab a pig if they needed it—that sort of thing.”
I frown. “We’re going to go with they were little survivors from pirates while I’m here, okay?”
Maddox laughs.
“When they hear our motor, they’ll start swimming out to us,” Captain Jimmy says. “There are some apple slices and pieces of bread in the cooler at the front of the boat. If you get in the water and want to feed them, use the apple on sticks. They’re friendly, but they’re animals. Don’t have a finger between them and food.”
“Sounds like Banks,” Maddox says, grinning.
I laugh. “You’re not wrong.”
Maddox looks at me. “You want to swim with these things?”
“Yes.” I look over his shoulder. “Look at them! They’re coming.”
The water gets shallower, and Captain Jimmy cuts the engine. We drift closer to the beach, meeting the animals halfway.
My heart leaps with joy.
We dart to the front of the boat and find pieces of apple.
“Just toss it to ’em,” Captain Jimmy says.
I laugh at the sight of the pigs swimming around our boat. They snap up the treats we send their way, squealing with delight.
“Aren’t they amazing?” I ask. “Seriously. Think how adaptive they have had to be to swim. Pigs don’t swim.”
Maddox tosses a piece of bread to a large black beast. “Clearly, they do.”
We drift until we’re almost to the shore.
“Got lucky today,” Captain Jimmy says. “We’re the only boat here. There are usually four or five at least.”
“Can we get in with them?” I ask, my heart racing.
“Yeah. Go ahead. Have fun. I’ll let you know if we need to head back.”
We go to the back of the boat. Maddox removes his shirt and sunglasses. I shed my shorts and tank.
Maddox growls. “Did you have to wear that?”
“It’s a bikini,” I say, laughing.
He leans closer. “I’m going to get in the water, and they’re going to think I have a banana in my shorts.”
I cover my mouth and try not to draw attention to Maddox’s attempt at being less interested in me.