I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering how, as kids, Kenna and I used to talk about getting a boat one day. It had been one of those promises we’d made to each other when we were younger. The thing you say, not knowing how you’re going to make it happen, but hoping one day you will.
That night, I promised Cohen that we’d get a boat. He didn’t know what I meant by that yet, but I could see the excitement in his eyes. That promise was not made lightly. It wasn’t just a passing thing. It was something I’d been thinking about for a long time.
The thought of getting a boat for us, for Cohen, for Kenna—it fills me with a kind of urgency, a need to make this right. I’ve spent too long being apart from them, too long wondering if I could ever give them what they deserved. But this I can do. I can give them this. I pick up my phone and call a friend of mine who works at a boat manufacturer. He’s a guy I’ve known for years, and I know if there’s anyone who can help me get my hands on the perfect boat, it’s him.
His voice comes through the phone quickly, almost as if he’s been waiting for my call. “What’s up, Cole? You need a boat, don’t you?”
I laugh, even though I’m nervous. “Yeah, I do. I need the best boat you’ve got. The best one. It’s time.”
He doesn’t ask questions, which I’m grateful for. He just agrees, tells me he’ll make it happen, and says that it’ll be ready soon.
I hang up, and my heart races. I know this is a big step, a huge purchase, but it feels right. It feels like it’s time to make the promise I made to Kenna all those years ago come true.
Weeks pass.
The renovations at the hardware store continue. I’ve put in long hours sanding down the floors, repainting the walls, and fixing up the shelves. It’s coming together, slowly but surely.
I can’t help but think about Kenna. She’s been so supportive of everything I’ve been doing, from the store to the boat, and she deserves something for herself too.
I know Cohen is going to be staying at Kenna’s parents’ house this weekend, so it’s the perfect time for my surprise. Just the two of us, no distractions, no interruptions. I want to do something special for her, something that’s just for us.
I head to the market and pick out a bouquet. I smile to myself as I imagine her face when I hand them to her.
When I arrive at Kenna’s house, I take a deep breath, my nerves suddenly hitting me hard. I’m standing on her porch, holding the flowers, and for a split second, I feel like I’m seventeen again. Nervous and unsure of myself.
But I’m not seventeen anymore. I’m here, a man who’s spent years growing, changing, and becoming the person I always wanted to be. And Kenna is still here, the woman I’ve loved since we were kids.
I knock on the door, my heart hammering. She opens it, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. Kenna is standing there in a tiny tank top and shorts, her hair pulled back loosely. The warmth of the sun has kissed her skin, and she looks effortlessly beautiful. She’s the woman who makes my heart racejust by breathing. I can’t help but let my eyes linger on her, feeling a wave of desire crash over me.
“Hey,” she says, her voice light, like she knows exactly what’s coming. She glances down at the flowers in my hands and smiles. “What’s this?”
I hold them out to her, trying to keep my cool. “These are for you. And you need to get ready. I’ve planned a surprise.”
Kenna’s eyes sparkle with curiosity. “A surprise? You know I’m not very good at waiting for surprises, right?”
I chuckle softly. “This one’s worth the wait. I promise.”
She disappears inside to change, and I pace the porch, nerves twisting in my stomach. I want everything to be perfect. For her to know I’ve been thinking about us. About everything we’ve been through, and everything still to come.
When she finally comes back down, my breath catches again. She looks stunning. Calm and radiant, like the best version of herself. But there’s something deeper in her gaze now, something that sends an electric thrill through me.
We head to the car, and she’s already full of questions, asking me where we’re going.
“Come on, Cole. You’ve been so secretive. Where are we going?”
I try to keep my cool, though it’s hard with the way she’s looking at me. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you,” I reply, trying to stay calm.
Kenna just laughs and leans back in her seat, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, I think I know. You’re driving toward the lake, and that can only mean one thing. We’re going boating.”
I laugh, a little defeated. “You always figure me out too fast.”
As we pull up to the lake, I see her eyes widen. The boat is there, gleaming under the sun, its sleek lines and polished surface shining. It’s not just any boat—it’s a dream. A dream I’ve been holding onto for years.
Kenna gasps. “Cole…what is this? This isn’t the boat we were supposed to rent.”
I walk around to her side of the car, taking the bouquet from her hands and setting it aside. My heart is beating fast now. I take her hands gently in mine, my forehead resting against hers.
“No, Kenna,” I breathe, my voice full of meaning. “I didn’t rent this boat. I bought it.”
