down to eat some crackers and cheese. Candles unused in the holders stood next to a sad bouquet of dead flowers, dredging up memories of how I’d let Amber spook me out of bringing Ethan here.
I wandered over to the easels with their big blank canvases and closed my eyes. I was seized with the urge to paint, and decided to try and capture the beautiful waves of Hawaii. I started hesitantly, and as I picked up the tempo I got lost in the memories. I could almost feel the warm turquoise water surrounding me, and smell the ocean’s perfume on the balmy breeze.
I dove into the work headfirst, focusing only on the white canvas, blocking out all other thoughts and giving myself over to the sweet relief of forgetting. Before I knew it, the sun was rising, and I was shocked to discover that I’d been painting all night. Mission accomplished; I had successfully kept my mind off of Ethan, forgetting Olivia and the strange vision to boot. I flopped down onto my own comfortable couch, pulled a throw blanket over me, and fell into an exhausted sleep.
By the time I woke it was Saturday afternoon, and I sat up and stretched, pondering what I should do next. I splashed some water on my face and studied the painting I’d gotten so lost in. It had morphed from a simple wave into the blue tube of water I’d been so thrilled to surf on. Looking at it made me want to be in the water, and I decided I’d go out surfing again, thinking that at least my sisters would be happy to see me.
When I pulled up at Abby’s to retrieve my board, Ethan was there before I could even step out of the Rover.
“Where have you been?” he asked loudly, “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
I squared my shoulders and hardened my face, “You told me to go away.”
I brushed past him and made for the house. I wanted to go surfing, not be accused of chasing around after Kimo again. He darted past me onto the porch, positioning himself between me and the door.
“Please,” he said, softly this time, “I was wrong… I’m sorry.”
I looked at him skeptically, not even close to forgiving him, “Really? Why the sudden change of heart?” I asked sarcastically.
“Shayla called me… she told me what happened.”
My eyes flew open with outrage, and now it was my turn to raise my voice, “You believe Shayla, but you won’t believe ME? That’s just great!”
“I’m sorry, it’s just that I saw that picture of you with him… and–”
“Could you please move?”
“Marina, I wasn’t thinking straight… it made me crazy.”
“Go away!”
“No. I’m not leaving.”
There it was again, another “no”, and it aggravated me once more. Evie had to be wrong about that whole “no” thing.
“Let me go in,” I said through gritted teeth, like an angry ventriloquist.
“Not until you talk to me,” he held up his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“Like you talk to Amber?” I hissed, surprising myself. I guess I was never going to get over it.
“It’s not like I can avoid her when I’m at work,” he said defensively.
“At least I’m not talking to Kimo about you!” I replied harshly.
“I told her we were getting married!” he yelled.
“Yeah? Well, I told Kimo the same thing!” I yelled back.
He paused for a second, and his eyes flashed blue at me, beautiful. They crinkled up at the corners, “I thought you said you didn’t talk about me.”
He had me there, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t suppress the smile that started to play on my lips. He stepped towards me with his arms wide but I shied away, missing the porch step and staggering backwards into the rosemary hedge to land on my butt.
To his credit, he didn’t laugh, even though it was probably a pretty funny sight. He sprang forward, taking my hands, and pulled me up into his chest. Then he put his arms around me and I let him, in spite of myself. Why did he have to feel so damn good?
He pressed his face in my hair, “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice muffled. “I don’t wanna fight with you. I missed you so bad… I acted like a jerk… I’m just a jealous guy.”
I sucked in a breath, but nothing came out. I didn’t know what to say. He took my hand and led me over to the bench on the porch, pulling me down