By the time we head out through the doors of the Coconut Beach airport and into the Florida warm, salty and familiar air, I feel like I’ve lived many lives in one week. Coconut Beach feels like a relief compared to the electric, bustling race of New York City. I don’t know why my father can’t understand why this is where I want to be right now. He was here. I know he felt it too.
Cal’s hand finds the small on my back, and just that simple touch relaxes and charges me at the same time. It must feel similar to him, because his shoulders are relaxed and he seems happier. Content. Hot sex on the plane didn’t hurt, either.
I wish he’d have told me about his past in New York, but I know he wasn’t ready. There’s still baggage to unpack with Cal. And he’s working on it. Regardless, I don’t care what his secrets are. I want him.
When I look at Cal, I want it all with him. I can’t even begin to explain it, but I just can’t imagine not being with him.
Birdie’s house comes into view as we pull up in front of Cal’s, and we park.
My hope is to take a shower and have a quiet night in with Cal and some takeout. That hope is gone when the front door flies open to Birdie’s house.
January steps out and calls back inside, “They’re here!”
I barely have time to get out of the truck before Birdie squeals my name and barrels toward me. Her arms wrap around me, and she laughs. “You’re back!”
I laugh. “Of course I’m back. I told you I would be.”
Gale catches up and says, “Her husband is here after all, of course she came back.”
Husband. I love the sound of that. I glance at Cal, and we share a small, secretive smile.
The Bees surround me, and I smile. They are so happy to see us, wrapping us both in hugs.
“What are you all up to tonight?” I ask as I take in their chatter and chaos.
Gale says, “We were tracking when you all landed. Birdie was worried you wouldn’t come back. We consoled her with sangria and kept her busy by playing poker.”
I laugh and pull Birdie into another hug. “Of course I’m back.”
Cal sets our bags down, and one of the Bees claps him on the shoulder. “You make it out alive?”
He smiles. “It was good.”
They laugh and joke with him as if they’ve known him forever, and then I remember they probably have. I watch as he leans into the chaos here, and he looks at home. This version of him feels slightly different than the man walking beside me in Manhattan. He’s himself here, and there he feels like a ghost of himself. But still strong by my side.
Birdie stands back on the porch, smiling as if she’s relieved. Hugging Birdie feels like coming home in a way that I need.
“You survived New York and your first day as CEO?” She beams at me proudly.
“I did,” I say. “Barely.”
She looks at me more closely and says, with her kind eyes that always seem to know. “You look different, sugar. Happy.”
Before I can ask what she means, a cold glass is pressed into my hand by Lucille. “Drink. And cheers to being back where you belong.”
I glance at Cal, and he shrugs. “Go have fun. I’ll put our bags up and order food for everyone. I need to check in at the bar, anyway.”
But I don’t want him to go, and he must sense that because he comes over and kisses me softly and says, “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “Bye.”
Inside Birdie’s house, it’s loud and chaotic. Shoes piled up by the door, and half-empty plates stacked on the counter. Our coming home clearly interrupted their party. I lean against the island, feeling overwhelmed and happy in the best possible way.
We eat fondue over a big fondue pot that the Bees have set up. If there’s one thing about the Bees, they sure do know how to have a good time. I listen to them talk about an upcoming wedding and a couple of other events.
Birdie catches my eye from across the room and tips her glass toward the porch. I slip outside, the night air wrapping around me, the waves crashing in the distance, steady and familiar to me now. That’s the sound I fall asleep to and the sound I wake up to.
I check in on Iggy, and he’s curled up on a rock under his hibiscus bush. “Hey, buddy,” I whisper.
