I have an assistant manager position set up and waiting for me at one of the smaller resort hotels on Hilton Head Island. It’s a position I’ve been trying to zero in on for months. My experience in Cape Town the first three months, plus Allen’s contacts, landed me in one of Cape Town’s top luxury hotels. The Cape Grace. It was hard to make the decision to stay in Cape Town after being there my allotted three months, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was ready to see Joey again. And I knew I’d never have an opportunity like the one being offered again.
I worked my butt off in the luxury hotel, a more high end establishment than anything Hilton Head Island had ever seen, earning a promotion in four months. Only then did I start applying for coveted positions back home. I applied, knowing I’d only go back for the right thing, and willing to keep living in Cape Town for as long as it took. As it happened, it didn’t take long.
I absolutely adore Cape Town. I hope I’ll go back there to visit a lot. Especially for Allen and Dave’s wedding next January. But it turns out I’m really a Lowcountry girl at heart. I miss my friends. And I miss my mom. I miss the marshes, and I miss the dark soupy ocean that’s actually warm enough to swim in. The ocean in Cape Town is blue, clear, and beautiful. But also freezing. It is close to Antarctica after all. The penguins on Boulders Beach are cute, but they smell. And I miss looking for sea turtle nests.
The day is so clear and we’re at just the right altitude that I can see for miles. Hilton Head Island comes into view ahead, and I trace the coastline south until I find Butler Cove Island nestled in just near Savannah. I spot the Tybee Island lighthouse in the distance. My eyes come back to Butler Cove and my heart thuds heavily with happiness. Home.
As soon as we land, my phone beeps with an incoming message from my mom. “Can’t wait to see you.”
Smiling, I grab my carry on bag, smooth my shorter, shoulder length hair and head down the steps and out into the soggy humid heat. It’s uncomfortable as hell, but I love it.
Entering the small airport building, my eyes adjusting from the bright sun outside, I’m greeted by cheers and whistles from Keri Ann and my mom. They’re holding a banner with the words, “Welcome Home, Jazz.”
I laugh at them and drop my bag so I can grab them both into a massive hug. The banner crumples between us. “Hey, I worked hard on that,” Keri Ann grumbles.
“Dork. Can’t believe you made a banner.” I shake my head, matching her grinning face.
Mom is smiling and crying. I wrap her up in another hug. “I’ve missed you so much,” I tell her.
“Don’t ever go away for that long again,” she answers me and pulls back. Her hands cup my cheeks. “I missed your beautiful face.”
Keri Ann’s gaze wanders to the left and I turn my head.
Joey.
My heart lurches against my ribs.
He’s standing off to the side, I don’t know when he came in. His arms are folded, his denim-clad legs apart, his head cocked to the side, his shaggy dark blond hair flopping across his forehead. His blue eyes are burning into me, his mouth looking like he’s fighting a smile.
He looks the same. But different.
“We’ll go look for your bags,” Keri Ann says, and I sense rather than see her and my mom back away.
I take a few steps toward Joey.
And he drops his arms and takes a few steps toward me.
“Hey, Jay Bird,” I whisper as we stand face to face.
The smell of laundry detergent and his woodsy scent sink into me, making me lightheaded with memories.
“Hey, Jazzy Bear.” His gaze roams my face, stops on my lips, then drops to my chest.
I feel his fingers nudge my buttoned shirt apart. When he sees my necklace, his shoulders visibly relax.
We stare at each other. There’s so much time between us. I wondered what it would be like to see him again. I worried about it. If I’d still feel the same. If he would.
There’s nothing but love left in me. I feel no anger, no irritation, no regret. Just love. My heart aches with it. My chest hurts. A hot flush is crawling up my neck and tingling in my lower belly. And lust. I still want this guy. God, I want him so bad. I want everything. I want him forever.
His look moves to my mouth again. Kiss me, I want to say. But he’s waiting for me.
I reach up hesitantly, slipping my hand around his neck.
As my fingers graze his skin, his eyes flicker, and he releases a small breath.
“Jay Bird,” I whisper again, and then coming up on tip toes, I touch my lips to his.
Tentatively our lips slide together. My hand tightens on the back of his neck, and I deepen the kiss. The fresh taste of him floods my senses.
Immediately, his arms snake around me and crush me against his strong body. “Thank God,” he croaks against my mouth and then drops his face into my hair. I feel his heart pounding heavily against me as he holds me tight. “Thank God.”
WE STAND LIKE that, holding each other, for whole long minutes. Then he pulls away.
It takes a while for words to come. We just smile at each other. In the end he starts first. “You have to go do a whole bunch of people stuff. But later, and after you’ve rested. Maybe in two days or so, can I take you out on a date? I’d like us to start over.”
I grimace. “I don’t know,” I say and see his look falter. Oops. “It depends on whether you put out on the first date,” I add quickly.
He breathes out roughly. “You know, sometimes, it is not appropriate to try and be funny. My heart just stopped.”