I missed that laughter.
It’s a rainbow in the middle of this storm.
She turns and starts walking up the path, and I follow.
Fuck you, Owen. What the fuck?
The moment is gone.
And though I know it might be just a spontaneous burst of serotonin or dopamine—whatever the fuck it is—I hope I get it back.
26
CALLIE
I am so happy,I feel like I am on drugs.
I just kissed Kai.
I grin, walking through the rain. I don’t even care that I just fell like a loser and hurt myself.
Everyone is ahead. I don’t see them. But I don’t care. Because Kai is right behind me. I slip and slide and I try to slow down so I can have another moment with him. Or at least be close to him.
It’s getting dark. The clouds are black. The jungle suddenly seems hostile.
I stop and turn around.
Kai is walking up, inked, so fucking glorious that I feel like I am a tribal woman with a tribal man at her side.
“Do you know where we are going?” I ask. I can’t see anything upfront. It’s like a wall.
“Yeah,” he says when he reaches me. “Follow me.” He smiles and nudges me with his arm.
God, that arm.
I want it around me again.
I am soaking wet. Rain runs down my body. This is unbelievable and magical, and I don’t feel like going back to the shelter. I want to stay here and kiss Kai again.
It’s really hazy when we finally get to the familiar wider path I recognize. By now it’s a downpour. It’s hard to see. The night is coming down fast.
I turn to Kai. “Where are we going?” I have to almost shout against the rain and squint at him because the water pouring down my face blinds my eyes.
“My place!” he shouts back.
Excitement spikes through me at the words.
Yes, your place!
And I follow him.
We finally reach the point where the path opens up to the village beach.
I can’t see anything, shielding my eyes from the rain because it’s pouring like a shower onto me. We trot toward his bungalow, and somehow, I am the first one to reach it.
When I rip the door to his place open and walk in, it’s like a vacuum.
His body slams into mine, pushing me inside, and the door shuts behind us.