Valérie stays outside with my dog while I check in at reception. Suddenly, loud barking breaks the silence of the room. Val calls out, but Flocke has seized the moment of surprise and broken free. Damn it. “One second, please.” I raise my hands apologetically and then follow my husky.
Fuck, she’s fast, purposefully running toward a person in the distance who is walking back from the beach. I freeze when I realize who she is jumping up at so happily. He raises his hand to stop her, and she immediately sits down in front of him, her tail still wagging in excitement. Slowly, he bends down, grabs the leash that is still attached to Flocke’s harness, and the two of them come towards me. “Jannis.”
Tears glisten in his eyes and his lower lip trembles. “What are you doing here?”
“Val called me.” I slowly approach him, not wanting to scare him off. “Can I give you a hug?” The first tear falls as he nods andI close the distance between us. In a heartbeat he wraps his arms around my neck, and I reach around his waist, then he breaks.
I’ve seen Jannis cry many times before. Quiet tears and total breakdowns, we’ve been through it all together. This is different. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I just ran away, I...”
“You were overwhelmed, it’s okay.” I gently stroke his back and feel his tension ease a little. “I’m here. Everything’s fine.”
Chapter 31
Jannis
“Where are you?” Valérie’s message pulls me out of my thoughts, though I can’t even remember what I was thinking about. I was just staring blankly into space, or at the sea and the horizon.
“At the beach. You?” An hour ago, Val got up and left without a word. Not that V owes me any explanation, but it was still strange.
“Let’s meet at the reception.”
“Now?”
“Yep, and hurry up.”
I have no idea what this is about, and to be honest, it makes me a little nervous. Nevertheless, I get up and walk toward the driveway that leads right past the reception building.
Out of the blue, I hear loud barking, a scream, and then a large dog rushes toward me. I recognize Flocke from a distance, and she obviously recognizes me too, but why is she here? It doesn’t make any sense.
Overjoyed, she jumps up at me, but we understand each other without words. A hand signal is enough, and the dog sits in front of me.
“Hey, sweetheart. Where’s Dayyan?” I reach for the leash, then I see him. My vision blurs, my body goes into autopilot. Somehow, he’s suddenly standing in front of me, my mouth moves, then his.
“Can I give you a hug?” I listen to my heart and trust that Valérie is right. My heart has enough room for both of them, choosing Dayyan is not a decision against Danny. And so I nod.
Seconds later, we are in each other’s arms, and all the weight is lifted off my shoulders when Dayyan gently combs his fingers through my hair. I close my eyes, stammer an apology, but he doesn’t want to hear it. He just holds me a little tighter.
“Everything is fine.” And here, in his arms, I feel it for the very first time, deep down inside. He’s right. No more doubts, this is good, this is right. I carefully lift my head—I need to see him, his beautiful face, his soft, boyish features, his gentle eyes, and the open, curious smile that gives me the courage to be myself.
“Hey, sunshine.” I furrow my eyebrows questioningly and Dayyan laughs. “Whenever I see you, the sun rises for me.”
That’s nonsense, and I find it hard to believe his bullshit, but my heart beats a little faster and hey, fuck it, what the hell. “Then you’re my moon, my light in the darkness.Ma lune.”
We look at each other, neither of us looking away, the world around us is standing still. “There are certainly more romantic places here, but may I kiss you?”
We’re standing on a small street, a few boys are playing soccer behind the fence next to us, pedestrians are walking by, and Flocke is tangling us up with her leash, but behind the dune, the sea is roaring, and there’s no place I’d rather be right now than here with him. It’s my decision, and I want this. I’ve had plenty of time to think about it, and I nod. “Yes, absolutely.”
Dayyan tenderly cups my face with both hands, then stands on tiptoes. My eyes close and my heart explodes when our lips touch. At first, his lips just rest on mine and I’m already surethere’s nothing more amazing in the world, but then he breaks our long kiss to replace it with lots of soft little kisses. His lips play with mine and I want to play along, even though I don’t know how. Danny never kissed me like this.
Oh no, I didn’t want to think about him, I’m ruining everything. I squeeze my eyes shut and suddenly he’s here. Laughing and cheering me on. Hooting loudly, just like he did countless times in the schoolyard when he saw a couple kissing. Grinning, he blows me a kiss, I catch it, lock it in my heart and know Valérie was right. Tears run down my cheeks and it’s beautiful.
The young woman at the reception desk is slightly confused and a little annoyed when Dayyan returns to finally complete the check-in. She launches into a long monologue about the leash requirement at the campsite and how it is not tolerated when a dog disturbs other guests. “Oh, my dog knows him, we are... He is my boyfriend. She missed him.”
I stand in front of the door with Valérie and Flocke, and my grin gets a little bigger with every word.
“My God, you look silly when you’re grinning like that, so in love.” Val nudges me in the side, laughing. “But I’m happy for you”
“Thank you. And thank you so much for bringing him here. A simple thank you isn’t even enough.”
