Darkness descended and Bonnie waited, minute after minute, breath after breath, for the worry to cease and the calm to return. One call from her dad and she was right back in the lonely hole she’d been trying so desperately to climb out of. She sighed, regret lodged in her chest. She couldn’t blame David. How could he not doubt her when there were times she doubted herself?
Duchess’s talons clipped along the fiber-glass deck as she approached Bonnie and dropped her new toy, the plastic keys, into Bonnie’s lap. Bonnie managed a weak smile and drew her finger down the parrot’s head.
“You’re such a pretty girl, Duchess.” she whispered.
“Make it work.” Duchess bobbed her head.
“You’re also lucky, Duchess. Flying from boat to boat. Nothing to worry about other than who you’re going to annoy next. No one to disappoint.”
“No one’s disappointed in you, Bonnie.” David’s voice echoed out of the darkness.
She was shocked when she heard him and even embarrassed that he’d heard her, but she got over the feeling immediately. She had offered herself to him and gotten turned down. What else could top that? She thought. She had enough things to be embarrassed about. She uncurled her legs and drew them up against her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees as if creating a shell of protection. Bonnie waited for him to make a joke, to try to get her to laugh or forget about that stupid discussion they had. She was so hurt. How had she thought, even for an instant, that David would want a relationship with her after a few weeks of knowing her, she didn’t know. He had been focused on his job and she had stupidly let herself get carried away.
“Scoot over, bird.” David said to Duchess and sat down beside her, stretched out his legs and held out a mug topped with what looked like half a can of whipped cream. “Lucky for you I found where you hid the chocolate. Duchess, go entertain yourself.”
“Squawk. Pretty bird. Pretty smart bird.” She high-footed it across the deck like a soldier marching into battle.
“Sure, yeah, pretty bird. Ah-ah.” He pulled the mug back when Bonnie reached for it, and set it on the deck beside him.
“I’m sorry about what I said… and the way I said it…It was…insensitive and I didnt mean to be that way” Even in the growing dusk, she could see the kindness radiating in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Bonnie.”
“Sorry for what?” Bonnie pinched her eyebrows together so tight her forehead hurt.” You simply said the truth. And I was already living in some stupid fairy tale land. You made me see reality…and that’s fine. I needed it.”
“Oh, stop it, Bonnie. Don’t be like that.” He caught her chin under his finger, tilted up her head so she would look at him. “You know that the last thing I want to do is hurt you or make you feel bad.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t release his hold. He didn’t stop gazing into her eyes. “You are not alone in this…. Just so you know. It’s hard on me too. If you think that I don’t hate the idea of us separating, then think again.”
She stared at him in surprise. Oh, she liked him.. She liked how honest he was. She liked how he always found a way to tell her exactly what he was thinking…and she was glad that at least, he was honest enough to let her know that he enjoyed her company too and that he would miss it. She couldn’t deny even to herself that his words made her feel a little better, but she held back…getting carried away was the reason why she was in this situation now, so she said nothing.
“You should drink up, before your cocoa gets cold.” He said without staring at her after he finally released her.
She didn’t pick up the mug, and David slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying as much as she could to stop the tears so as to not watch him look at her. The words welled in her chest before she managed to push them up and out. “I’m sorry that I’m dumping all this emotional shit on you. I know that I shouldn’t but I can’t help it.” She swiped away an escaped tear and tried to blink them back when David’s arm tightened around her. He pressed his lips against the top of her head then reached down and picked up the mug.
“Drink this,” he said softly.
She nodded, relishing the sensation of his T-shirt against her cheek. He felt so good. So warm and perfect. She could smell the ocean on his skin, the spice and citrus of the soap and shampoo he used. This, she thought and squeezed her eyes closed. This was what feeling cared for, protected and secure felt like. And she dreaded having to let him go. She took the mug and gulped down the drink. He was right. It did help calm her down a little and she leaned against him again, just enjoying the feeling of being so close to him at the moment. His closeness brought her comfort and she reveled in it, wanting to make the most of the limited time they had to be together.
David shifted uncomfortably, but she held onto him. He sniffed her hair, although he tried not to but he couldn’t help it… she smelt so good, and with her holding him like that, her body pressed so intimately against his, her breath tickling his chest, he started to feel hot. He wanted to kiss her… make love to her over and over and show her just how much he wanted her, but he had to control himself somehow so he gently pushed her away and stood up.
“Something wrong?” Bonnie asked as she looked up at him.
David tried to avoid staring at her big brown eyes. He took one step away and stretched.
“I’m hot,” he said. “Are you?”
Bonnie shook her head. “Not really” she replied.
“I guess it’s just me then” In the next instant he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off over his head.
Bonnie didn’t so much as blink. His upper body was so gorgeous. Dark hair liberally covered his well-defined chest. Sleek, prominent muscles in his shoulders bunched and moved as he haphazardly folded the shirt and laid it over the back of a chair.