Finding Haven by T.A. Foster Page B

“No, I don’t want to leave. Why would I? Our families are here . The beach is here . Everyone we know is here . I wish you would stop thinking that you could be happier somewhere else.”
    “That’s what you don’t get. I have been happier somewhere else. I went to college.
     I loved Carolina. Every single day I was in Chapel Hill was better than being stuck
     here. But you wouldn’t know anything about that since you refused to live life off
     this piece of sand.” She could feel her clenched jaw grating harder against her teeth.
    Gradually, he peeled his back from the door. “I can’t believe you.”
    “Trav, don’t go like this. We shouldn’t be arguing about this stuff. It’s always been
     this way.” She pulled on his arm. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. Believe me. I didn’t
     want this to happen.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Crazy, because when you were begging me for it the other night,
     I thought you wanted me.”
    She slapped him across the face harder than she meant to. It was the first time she
     had hit anyone. Her palm stung.
    His eyes dropped to the floor before he opened the door, walked out, and closed it
     behind him.
    Haven traipsed to the kitchen and inhaled the glass of wine. Maybe it could soothe
     her again. She opened the sliding door and tucked her feet under her as she sank into
     the hammock. She didn’t know when they started, but the tears were there, running
     down her face like the rain.

“H EY, THERE.” Charlotte waved as she placed her beach chair ten feet from Evan’s. “This spot taken?”
     She pointed to the open patch of sand and proceeded to bend forward from her waist.
     Today’s suit was a one-piece leopard number with big ovals cut from the sides.
    Evan pretended to adjust his hat. He didn’t want an accidental peep show of anything
     that belonged to Charlotte. It was clearly her intention. In the past two weeks, she
     had worn every skimpy outfit imaginable, and he didn’t know how much more he could
     take.
    “No, it’s free.” He limited his smile. It was one of his new habits on Perry Island.
    If he smiled too much, someone might recognize his magazine-selling grin. He was certain
     a couple at the gas station had recognized him yesterday. They whispered nonstop while
     he filled the Jeep, but he kept his head down and his smiles short. Eventually, they
     had driven off in the direction of the ferry, and he knew he had stolen another day
     of freedom. So far, the paparazzi hadn’t descended upon him.
    “Good. I love this part of the beach.” She wiggled her bottom into the striped chair.
     “Want a chip?” She extended a bag in his direction.
    “No, thanks. I’m good.”
    “You probably don’t eat stuff like this. Not with a body like that.” She pulled her
     sunglasses to the bridge of her nose.
    Evan hated when she looked at him like that. “Well, I try to eat healthy.” He reached
     into his cooler, pulled out a beer, and twisted the top off. Maybe a few of these
     would help drown out Charlotte’s chitter-chatter.
    “I saw you running this morning. What kind of workouts do you do?” She stuffed the
     foil pack of chips into her beach bag. “Do you need a workout buddy? I love running.”
    Evan swallowed hard on the beer. He wanted to tell Charlotte to give up. He wasn’t
     going anywhere near the Pirate’s Booty or her. She had invited him over for drinks
     and dinner almost every night. He was running out of excuses.
    “No thanks, ma’am. I like to do things on my own.” He dug a hole in the sand with
     his feet. The surf rushed in and filled the hole as if Evan’s heel had never moved
     the sand.
    “Well, that’s too bad. Let me know if you ever need help, you know, with the workout .” She giggled.
    “Will do.” He pulled his hat farther over his eyes and reclined in the chair. He didn’t
     have to talk to her if he was asleep.
     
    I T COULD have been two or three hours since he had drifted off. Sleep came a lot