Through Her Eyes (12 page)

“Just trust me will ya?” He says this as if it’s the simplest thing in the world. And it might be, but I still don’t think I can do this.

“I don’t think I can do this. No, I know I can’t do this. In the past—”

“Stop. Stop, Aria. Your story is not yet written. Don’t let your past dictate your next move. Live every day with intention. And today you intend to do something new. You intend to face your fear. This boat is safe. I’ve been sailing boats this size since I was a kid, so has Luciano. You will be okay.”

“Promise?” I choke out. His eyes lock on mine. Not a hint of humor. His irises have grown and darkened, making his usual steel blue appear black.

“I promise, and I’ll never break a promise to you, okay?” His unwavering gaze penetrates, makes me believe.

“Okay.” He smiles at my answer, and my heart warms. “Um, Chase. Is there a bathroom on this thing?”

“You’re on a boat now. If you have to pee, you have to say ‘I have to hit the head.’ Got it?”

My eyes roll blatantly at him.

“Aye Aye, Captain.”

“Don’t get smart with me, or I’ll make you walk the plank.”

“For someone so cute, you have the cheesiest lines I’ve ever heard.” My words leave my mouth faster than my brain works, and I immediately clamp my hand over my mouth.
Shit.
He’ll never let me live that down.

“So . . . you think I’m cute?”

“Oh, good God, Chase. You know you’re cute, so shut up.”

“Well, you are not cute.” My eyes widen at his words. It’s like a sucker punch to my gut, and I didn’t understand why.
Who cares what he thinks of me?

“You’re gorgeous, Princess.” My heart skips a beat, and I just stare at him, because once again he’d rendered me speechless.
Who cares what he thinks of me? Answer . . . me.

I stand motionless, and his eyebrow arches suggestively at me. “So . . . you want to get out of here and start an amazing adventure together?”

“Why not? What do I have to lose?”
What
do
I have to lose?
No one would miss me, anyway. “Yeah, let’s do this. What do you need me to do?” From across the front of the boat—the bow, Chase called it—I spot an older man with olive skin and salt and pepper hair. He’s not at all how I imagined Luciano, so I wonder who he is. But as Chase points to the man across the ship and he gives a wave in my direction, I realize it’s the sailing ninja himself.

“Okay, I’m going to talk to Luciano. You stay here. We’re going to sail to the island of Ponza. It should take us an about an hour. Can I get you something from the galley?”

“The what?” My eyes go round, and I imagine the confusion is evident on my face.

“Kitchen. Would you like something from the kitchen?” His lips start to pull up, forming a sexy crooked smile.

“No, thank you. I’ll just sit here and enjoy the view.”

In what seems no time, the sun is setting, and we begin to sail toward our next destination. Colors streak across the horizon like vibrant ribbons dancing in the night. The ocean breeze hits my face as we coast across the distance. The air tastes salty on my tongue. My posture tenses as I see how vast the ocean is and fear shoots through me.

“Are you okay?” I hear Chase say and I peer up at him. His face is laced with concern.

“Yeah,” I swallow. “I guess I’m a bit nervous.”

“You know what I find helps?” I shake my head at him and he gives me a comforting smile.

“I find that if you’re afraid of something, the best way to conquer your fear is to face it head on.” As he speaks, he motions with his hand for me to come to where he stands behind the wheel.

“What?”
Surely he doesn’t mean for me to sail?

“Do you want to try?” My eyes widen in disbelief and I shake my head adamantly. “Come here. Don’t be scared.” I hesitate for a moment, before finally making my approach. “I want to show you how to sail.” He begins to back away from the large steering wheel and with shaking steps I take his spot. The wind whips across my face as my fingers graze the stainless steel. With a tight grip, I hold the boat steady. My knuckles begin to turn white from the exertion. Chase steps closer into my body, his back grazing my exposed skin as his fingers gently caress my hands. It feels like there’s a swarm of bees flying in my stomach as he touches me, small goose bumps break out across my skin.

“Not so tight.” His words tickle the back of my neck. “Point the boat into the wind.” I turn my head over my shoulder and shoot him a questioning look. “Turn the boat to the
port side . . . 
left. Like this,” he says as he helps me steer. My grip relaxes as Chase helps guide me. Together we sail into the distance. The ocean, the waves crashing across the helm . . . and then it all begins to melt away. All the tension in my muscles dissipates as I breathe in and start to relax.

“Next time I’ll teach you how to hoist the sails,”
Chase says as we continue to coast across the water. After a few minutes my legs begin to fatigue from standing and I make my way back on my perch to admire the sunset. I lose myself yet again into the bewitching colors drifting across the sky.

“Aria?”

I turn to him, and my hair whips across my face.

Snap

Snap

“Perfect. You really are a natural.” Shivers run down my body as the wind picks up. I clench my arms around myself, running my hands up and down to make myself warm.

“You’re cold. Why don’t you run below and grab a sweater?”

“I will in a minute. I just want to see this sunset. It’s really beautiful.”

“Yeah, it is,” Chase, says, but he’s not looking at the sky. He’s looking at me. I can feel his gaze on my skin. Chase thinks I’m beautiful, and I realize I want him to. Does that make me a horrible person?
Yes, it does
. I’m not ready for that. Not after what I did to Parker. He was always there for me, and for what? So I could crush him. I think of all the things Parker helped me with over the years. All the times he stepped forward and was there for me no matter where he was.

“Hey, Park. Can you talk?”

“Yeah, I’m just with Everest in our dorm. Hold one second while I step out of the room.” Of course, he was with Everest. Every time I called he was with him, getting into some sort of trouble. Off on some crazy stunt. I rarely got him on the phone without Everest interrupting to steal him away.

I heard, “Okay,” then a low mutter, “Dude. I’ll be right back.” Then I heard the words, “The girls are waiting,” from a voice I could only assume was Everest. My stomach knotted, and I wished I hadn’t heard that. I wished I could rewind time and never have called. Knowing Parker was going out with girls was too much for me to handle right now. I heard a rustling sound and then a door shut. Thank God, at least I didn’t have to ask my embarrassing question in front of his friend.

“What’s going on, baby girl? You okay?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s nothing like that. Umm, this is kind of embarrassing, actually.”

“Ari . . . seriously, I’ve seen you at your worst. Just spit it out.”

“Canyougotopromwithme?”

“Try saying it a tad bit slower and enunciate your words.”

“Argh! You’re being a dick. Forget it.” I went to hang up on him, but his voice through the earpiece made me stop

“Oh stop, Ari. I was just playing.”

“Fine, will you go to prom with me?”

“No one asked you?”

“You don’t have to rub it in.”

“Isn’t there anyone you like who you want to ask?” I died right then and there. Of course there was someone I liked who I wanted to ask . . . and I just had. But he didn’t see it. Because he was too busy meeting girls and partying with ‘Everest.’ What kind of stupid fucking name was that, anyway? Mortified, I pulled the phone away from my mouth so he wouldn’t hear my gasp. Calming myself, I let my voice dip to a low whisper.

“No, I don’t have anyone.”

“Well, you always have me, baby girl, and I would love to take you to your prom. Just give me the details, and I’ll book a flight.”

“Thanks, Park.”

“Anything for you.”

I breathe audibly.

No matter what, no matter how much his friend always tried to come between us, Parker put me first when it was important. I owe it to him to concentrate on myself now. To learn to be happy, to not be distracted by a guy, no matter how beautiful he is.

A few hours later, lights begin to twinkle in the distance. They grow brighter and more prominent the closer we get.

“You ready to see what you’re capable of?” Chase asks.

“What do you have in mind?” My stomach shifts uneasily and I wrap my arms around my stomach as I wait for his answer.

“While we’re in Ponza, we’re hiking to the top of that hill.” He points toward the horizon to a dark, shadowy shape. I look at him in complete wonder as his words really sink in, my face contorts into what must be an expression of shock.

“
Hill?
That’s a fucking mountain!” This man has got to be out of his mind.

“Princess. That ain’t no mountain. I should know. I climb mountains.” My head cocks to the side, and I look up at him. He snickers to himself and my reaction seems to amuse him.

“No way.”

“You afraid?” His pupils flare, and I groan loudly.

“Fine. Show me this hill.” I throw my hands up in defeat.

“Atta girl!”

As he steers the sailboat closer to the dock, I get ready to jump off and help pull us closer. Two men are already there, waiting for us to near.

“No worries. Luciano has this. I radioed ahead to get clearance to dock here overnight.”

“Oh, okay. Should I get my bag?”

“Why would you do that?”

“Umm, to sleep.” I stare at him. This is such an obvious notion. I don’t understand his confusion.

“Where do you think we’re sleeping, Princess?” he asks with what appears to be a smug look on his face.

“On the island, obviously.” Chase busts out laughing. “Wait, Chase. We’re sleeping on the island, right?”

“If by sleeping on the island, you mean sleeping in this boat . . . then yes, we’re sleeping on the island.”

“You cannot be serious!” He stops laughing and concentrates on docking the boat.

“Totally serious. Now pick your mouth up from off the floor and watch what Luciano does. That way, the next time we go sailing, we won’t need his ugly mug.” Luciano flips him off, and Chase erupts into another fit of laughter.

“Wait, but there are no beds. Are there beds?”

“Of course there are beds. It’s time I take you to see the boat.”

“Yeah, I would have to agree with you.” As he steers the boat, Luciano rushes past me to grab the rope and toss it ashore. The men who work at the marina make quick work of lashing it to a cleat and pulling us taut. Chase stands up and stretches his arms into the air. His shirt rises ever so slightly, giving me a view of his perfect V. As the drool collects in my mouth, he catches me gawking and smirks. He turns to walk away, then turns back again, still smiling. “You coming?”

“Uhh,” is all I get out before I curl my tongue back in my mouth and run to catch up to him.

“So, this is an Oyster 475. She’s actually the best in her class for size and stability,” he says as he softly caresses the stainless steel handle on the door leading down into the cabin.

“Well, that’s comforting. But it doesn’t mean I want to sleep down there.”

“Oh, come on, Aria, Where’s your sense of adventure?” he turns the handle and opens the door leading to the steps.

“I’m adventurous. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Would you have come if you knew you were sleeping on a boat?”

“Well, no.” I shrug as if the answer to such a silly question is obvious.

“And why is that?”

“I barely know you, Chase Porter. How can you expect me to sleep on a boat with you and some guy named Luciano?”

“Princess . . .” he taunts me.

“Don’t ‘Princess’ me right now. I’m not sleeping in the same room as you.”

“First off . . . cabin.”

“Oh, God—” I grumble.

“Secondly, there are multiple ‘cabins’ down there. Follow me. I should have done this before we set off. Let me show you what this baby has to offer.”

We stride down the stairs leading into the bow of the ship. Each step downward is tentative. I try to balance my footing as the boat sways with the rolling of the sea beneath us.

“So, this way is the pilot’s cabin, and over here is the forward double.”

We walk through a large area with walls finished in white and sky blue furniture with maple accents.

“This is the salon. There are books on the bookshelf over there if you need something to read and board games, as well.” Across the salon, I notice a glass armoire. Squinting my eyes, I notice it carries multiple bottles with every hue of amber liquid in them. My mom would be a kid in a candy store. With a shake of my head, I catch up to Chase, who’s now a few steps ahead. As we continue our tour, we enter a narrow corridor.

“This is the galley, and in the back . . . that’s the owner’s cabin.”

“Is that where you’ll sleep?” I whisper, biting my lip.

“Well, normally yes, I do sleep there, but since you are the guest. I figured I would let you have that cabin.”