Resonating Souls (Bermuda Nights #1)(23)

Kayla grabbed my hand. “C’mon!”

We danced, and danced, and I knew in my very core that everything would be all right. Evan’s music moved through me, coursed through my soul. If for now this was all we could have, that would be enough. If it was just his music, his voice, and his connection which sustained me until he came home to me, I would treasure what we had. So many had far less than us.


The evening spun by, wrapped in cotton candy bliss, and by the end I didn’t mind when Kayla ran up to Sven, when he wrapped her in a hug right there for the entire world to see. I turned to Evan and I knew. I knew from the look in his eyes that what we had would stand the test. It would endure the separation, and when he came home to me, it would sustain for a lifetime.

The corner of his mouth turned up in acknowledgement, his gaze holding mine for a long, meaningful moment. Then he looked down, drawing open his case and beginning his take-down.

I turned and left the club, moving quickly back to my room. I was riding the euphoric high, and I wanted to get to safety while I was still firmly within its grips. I didn’t want to tempt myself, not give myself the opportunity to hang around with Evan after their equipment was packed up, to somehow get drawn out by Kayla on her nighttime escapade. I knew this was important to Evan, to maintain our distance, and I would do everything in my power to support him. It was all he asked of me until he came home to me.

Came home to us.

The moment I got into the cabin I put on my pajamas, further buffering me from any temptation. I grabbed up my notebook, climbed into bed, and decided to journal about everything that had happened. Who knew, perhaps in years in the future I would treasure this – the record of our very first days together.

To my surprise the words flowed, expanded, and I was even including short rhyming phrases to go with the images. That first time we talked, above the ship’s wake. The soul-brightening delight of our first encounter with the silver porgies. The rich brilliance of our making love on the beach.

I was swept away by how easily the phrases streamed from the pen. I’d always craved being a poet, but I never had thought the words were in there. I seemed better at carefully noting figures and symbols in a grid. But somehow something had become unlocked, released, and the pages turned …

Brrrrring!

I looked at my phone in surprise. I’d turned it back on when we reached Bermuda, just in case there was some sort of family emergency. My heart pounded against my chest. Was something wrong with my mom or dad?

I snatched up the phone, barely glancing at it. “Yes?”

Kayla’s voice was a long slur. “Ammranda?”

I held the phone back, glancing at the time on it. Four a.m. How had it gotten that late?

I brought the unit back to my ear. “Kayla? Where are you?”

“I’m at the club. I can’t find Sven.” Confusion echoed in every word. “‘Man-dah, I don’t know …”

“All right, all right,” I reassured her. Clearly the woman could barely walk. “I’ll be right there. Where are you?”

“Hammerhead,” she mumbled.

“Stay put. I’ll find you.” I hung up and did a quick search on my phone. Thank God, it was only a short distance from the ship. I tossed on sweats and a t-shirt, then headed on out.

The streets were quiet under the glowing moonlight; it was only a few minutes before I came up to the bar. It was packed with stumbling, loud-talking tourists. I imagined the passengers were getting as much drinking as possible in on this bucolic island before we headed out tomorrow afternoon.

An electric blue shape shone out from the bar, and I made my way through to it.

Kayla’s eyes were barely open. She blinked blearily at me as I approached. “There you are, ‘Mand. Thought you forgot about me.”

“I came as quickly as I could,” I promised. “Let’s get you home and in bed.” The corner of my mouth quirked up into a smile. “You’re going to regret this in the morning, you know.”

She pressed a hand to her head. “I regret it already,” she grumbled. “Can’t believe Sven bailed on me. Phone rang, and he was off.”

I tucked my shoulder under her arm. “Yeah, well, we can worry about that tomorrow, hun. Right now, it’s bed time for you.”

I eased her off the seat, she groaned, and her weight came down on me. I snugged my arm, drawing her up, turning …

Evan.

I blinked. Evan was there, at a back table, sitting with a lanky woman with short, spiky, scarlet hair. She was leaning close to him, her eyes glowing with interest, and her hand stroked along his arm.

I stumbled, and Kayla groaned. “God, ‘Mand, which of us has been drinking?”

My mouth went dry. The woman’s head went next to Evan’s ear, and she whispered something into it. Her hand ruffled through his hair – that thick hair that I knew so well, and when she sat back her body radiated sexuality.

He drew his gaze down her, then nodded.

My stomach lurched, and I turned with Kayla, pushing my way through the noisy crowd to the front door. The cool air of the dark night was crisp and fragrant with the scent from the row of large, crimson hibiscus plants growing along the street. I stood for a moment, breathing it in, fighting to hold back the queasiness.


Kayla groaned as if she were having stomach issues of her own.