Tide Changer

Sixteen

When we returned to Marfolk in the afternoon, Rys's mood was hard to gauge. I'd caught him staring into the distance a few times with his mouth set in a hard line, and he didn't seem especially affectionate, but thinking he'd freeze me out after last night hurt.

Since Rys had a video conference with hotel managers, I went to the rental, showered, and started making another necklace to replace the one I'd given Kaia.

Two hours later, a loud knock on the door rattled the quiet.

I shoved my feet in a pair of flip-flops and marched to the foyer. Only a few people could visit me in Marfolk. I threw the door open without checking who was on the other side, but I didn't see anyone.

It was when I looked around the porch that I spotted a huge bouquet of pale pink peonies and roses in a vase sitting on the worn wooden boards. I picked it up and carefully separated the flowers, looking for a note I must've missed.

"There's no card."

Rys's deep voice sent a blip to my heartbeat. Burying my nose in a fragrant peony, I watched him climb the porch steps, dressed in a loose white button-down and dark blue slacks.

"Apology flowers? I don't really know what you'd want to apologize for."

"Let's call them petition flowers. Go on a date with me."

He ran his fingers through my still slightly wet from shower hair, and I resisted the desire to close my eyes from the pleasure his caress brought. "A date?"

"Yeah. I want to take you somewhere beautiful."

"What should I wear?"

"Anything comfortable. It'll only be you and me."

"Okay. Would you like to wait inside while I get ready?"

"If you don't mind."

Rys shadowed me into the house and sat on the couch in the living room while I put the bouquet on the dresser in my bedroom, ditched my tank and shorts, and put on a short flowery dress. I brushed my hair, applied gloss to my lips, and went to look for him.

"I'm ready," I said, standing in the doorway.

He shoved his phone in his pants pocket and got up from the couch. "You look stunning. Let's go. We'll take my car."

"Are we going somewhere far?" I asked when we were outside.

"Not really," Rys said. "It's a twenty-minute drive."

He'd parked his Tesla nearby. The doors unlocked as we approached it, and I sat in the passenger seat while Rys took his place behind the wheel.

Rys started the car and drove through the residential area of Marfolk on our way out of town.

On my right, the ocean glistened in the rays of the evening sun. The water caressed the sandy shore lazily as if it were tired of the long day. I switched my attention to the pristine white sails of a few boats and then the horizon, where the sky was changing its colors to the palette of oranges and reds, getting ready for the sunset.

Eventually, Rys drove off the lane and took a narrow country road. The pines hid the seascape from view for the rest of our journey. Ten minutes later, he parked in the woods.

I accepted his hand as we got out of the car. "Where are we?"

Rys brushed his lips over my cheek. "You'll see."

He grabbed a picnic basket and a blanket from the vehicle and motioned for me to follow him as he stepped onto a narrow trail winding between the trees. Pine needles crunched under my flat sandals, and the pungent scent of pine filled my lungs, making me want to inhale deeper.