Page 12 of Tell It To The Waves

I’m not sure how long we sit out there, but he looks at me. “Let’s go in, go get cleaned.”

“I need to leave.” I say it like I’m begging for his permission as I wipe my face. And maybe I am.

“Go get cleaned up first, and if you still want to, I’ll help you load up.”

My hair drenched from the shower, I drive out of the driveway, not looking back at August Cove. I knew at that moment I wouldn’t be back.

Thankfully, I’m able to catch the last ferry.

I force myself to get out of my car and watch Driftwood Bay slowly get farther away.

And I cry for him and everything I’m leaving. Everything I ruined.

The ferry horn sounds, yanking me out of the past. I hurriedly wipe my eyes before grabbing the seashell in the cup holder.

Bohdi proposed to me with the ring in this seashell, while we drifted on a boat in the middle of the bay, with no worries in the world. Screaming yes, before we made love.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The cottage looks the same as when I left it. Opening the front door, I drop my overnight bag and walk straight to my parents’ room.

My hand flies to my mouth, shocked.

Half the roof is completely gone, laying on the floor in pieces along with the insulation. Water is all over the floor, and the smell… It already has a mildew stench.

“Oh, my God.” I step in and stand, shocked. How the hell did this happen? I can only walk a few feet in and just stand there.

Turning around, I hear my name called, “August.” And I about jump out of my skin when I see Bohdi standing in the doorway. His face is neutral, but for a quick second his eyes hold something else, but quickly it’s gone.

“Do you know how this happened?” I turn to look at the ceiling, completely shocked.

“I have the water turned off; it was still going when I got here yesterday. And Kai is on his way. He’ll be able to let us,” he pauses, “You…know how it happened.”

“Okay,” I say in disbelief. “Excuse me.”

He steps back and lets me by, and in that brief moment, I get the all-too-familiar smell from him. Sea salt mixed with what Iimagine the sun would smell like, welcoming and home… I head out to the back porch, needing his smell out of my nose. Stepping outside, I breathe in the ocean, trying to erase his smell. He smells like home.

Leaning on the railing, I stare into the ocean; the sun glints from it. He doesn’t need to announce himself; I can feel his presence.

“How long do you think it will take to fix?” I turn to ask him, my hair flying behind me.

Bohdi stands on the steps outside the door, watching me. His eyes roam my body, as if he’s remembering what it looked like under my shorts and tank top, but now trying to picture them more mature. “Um.” He licks his lip. “Maybe two weeks, if that. I know Kai will need to find the problem first before anything gets fixed.” I watch his Adam’s Apple bob up and down before he diverts his eyes.

I let out a loud huff. “Great.”

Bohdi opens his mouth, but he’s cut off by his phone ringing. I see his eyes close briefly before he answers, putting the phone to his ear and walking to the front of the cottage.

I take a few steps to the middle of the porch, hearing him speak. “I’ll be there once I’m done. Kai is on his way.” It gets silent. “Stop acting like that. There is no need to worry,” he tells the person. “Molly.” He draws out the name, and I’m trying to piece it together: his fiancé? “Yeah, me too.”

I try to step back to where I was, but he turns the corner and spots me. His lips turn upward just a bit. “Sorry about that.”

Shrugging, I say, “No worries.”

“What's your plan?” he asks while messing with his cell phone.

“I don’t know yet. I have to get this fixed first, and then I can go forward.”

It all feels so weird. All we had between us and I feel like I’m speaking to a stranger.