Lovewrecked - Karina Halle Page 0,94

cross a lot of water in that thing, but a plane nonetheless.

I can’t believe this is happening.

We all look at each and burst out laughing.

It’s real!

The plane starts to make its descent, getting closer and closer, and then its wheels are hitting the runway, kicking up red dust, and bouncing along past us, the pilot saluting us.

“Yaaaaaay!” I scream.

Tai whoops and hollers.

Lacey is jumping up and down, clapping.

Richard is doing some kind of dance?

It made it. It’s here.

Tai puts his arm around me and squeezes me tight, kissing the top of my head.

“Time to fly, Gingersnap.”

I look up at him. I can’t stop smiling.

Eventually the plane turns around, and then taxis closer to us before the propeller is turned off.

The pilot’s door opens and the pilot steps out, coming around the side of the plane.

“You must be the castaways,” he says to us as he passes by, going to the passenger door. “I heard Fred has been taking very good care of you.”

“Aw shucks, Maurice,” Fred says. “They’ve been taking good care of me.”

Maurice laughs and opens the back door.

We all wait eagerly, expecting Owen, the new researcher and Fred’s new roommate.

To our surprise, Owen is a woman. A very stately, pretty woman in her 50s with long grey-blonde hair.

“Everyone, this is Dr. Owen Stapleton,” the pilot says.

I steal a look at Fred.

He is absolutely smitten with her.

He suddenly stands up straighter, taking his hat off and smoothing back his hair, he’s blinking hard. “Dr. Stapleton. I’m Fred. Dr. Fred Ferguson.”

He holds out his hand, then takes it back and wipes it on his shorts, then holds it out again.

It’s so cute and awkward it’s painful.

“Nice to meet you, Fred,” Owen says, shaking his hand firmly. She gives him a coy smile. “You can call me Owen. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh is that so?” Fred says, wiggling his mustache impishly.

They’re still shaking hands.

That is until Wilson goes right underneath them and lets out a deafening “BLLLLEEEARRGH!”

I swear Owen jumps a few feet.

She looks down at Wilson. “Oh hello. Who do we have here?”

“BLLLEAAAAAARRRGH!”

“That’s Wilson,” Fred says proudly.

Please don’t translate what Wilson just said, please don’t translate what Wilson just said.

Stay cool, Fred.

“Here,” Fred says gently, resting his hand on her arm to guide her. “Why don’t I show you around?”

We all watch as they walk off toward the dinghy.

“Uh, bye Fred!” Tai yells at him.

He just looks at us over his shoulder and motions for us to go on our way.

I roll my eyes. “Figures. The minute someone better comes along…”

“So, you folks look all packed and ready to go,” the pilot says. “How about we throw your stuff in the back, get you all buckled in, and let’s ditch this place.”

We look back at Fred who is down by the water, laughing at something Owen said.

Wilson stands between us and the lagoon. He watches us as we start getting in the plane, gives us one last little bleat, then runs toward the researchers.

Bye, Wilson.

There are five seats on the plane, one beside the pilot, four in the back. Tai volunteers to sit in the front with the rest of us buckled in the back.

Then the pilot turns the prop on and the plane roars back to life.

Lacey reaches across and holds my hand, giving it a squeeze.

It’s too loud to hear anyone talk, but I know what we’re all feeling.

The plane gets to the end of the runway and then starts going, faster and faster and faster, going over bumps and rocks, shaking like hell, then the pilot pushes the throttle forward and we’re lifting off.

We all crane our necks to look at the land as it drops away from us.

I manage to see Fred and Owen, standing by the lagoon and waving up at us.

I wave back.

Goodbye!

Then Wilson takes the opportunity to headbutt Owen from behind.

I laugh. They’re going to be just fine.

We’re all going to be just fine.

Higher and higher we go, until we can finally see what Plumeria looks like from above.

Well, I’ll be.

Cock and balls.

Bye Dong Island, I think to myself.

Then I sit back in my seat and close my eyes.

Twenty

Daisy

“Oh. My. God,” I say, leaning back in my chair and patting my stomach. “That was mind-blowingly good.”

“Fucking right,” Tai says, munching on his last onion ring, eyes closing in bliss.

The four of us are sitting around a table in a bar just off Main Street in Nadi, Fiji. The remains of our first real meal after getting off the island are scattered