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This change has a countdown. It isn’t going to last forever, and that makes me all the more willing.
Our two-hour drive has been beautiful and scenic—and it’s almost up. I’ve taken one hundred fifty-two pictures on my phone, including one selfie with Kal. He’s driving and not even looking at the camera, which is fine because it’s not as if this photo will ever be shown to another soul. This is one for my memory, to remind me that this week really happened. I didn’t dream it up.
I peer over at my guide. Such a shame I won’t be sharing him with anyone else—Autumn would have found him entertaining. “What do you do, Kal? What supports your no-pants lifestyle.” I can’t help but glance at his tan, sculpted legs with the thought.
“I teach too. Online, for the community college. The day we met I had to go on campus for end-of-the-year meetings. It’s the only bad thing about my job.”
“Wait. You teach? What subject?”
“English. I legit get to read on the beach and get paid for it.”
Okay—not gonna lie, a book in a shirtless Kal Jex’s hands is fairly hot, even for my tame heart. But it can’t be that simple. “There has to be more to it than that.”
He grins, flashing his pearly whites, his skin stretching like beautifully tanned leather. “Oh, there is. But that’s my favorite part. I even teach a few lessons via live video, but I can lecture from the beach too.”
“Wait.” I shake my head. “You teach from the beach.”
“I do.”
I sigh. “We live in different universes.”
“It would seem that this week, we are very much in the same universe.”
I swallow. Yep. For one week, I get to live the pantless, beachy life that belongs to Kalani Jex.
We pull up to a wooden structure and stairway. I haven’t even asked what’s at the end of this drive.
“Is this what we’re here for?” I ask as a man jumps from the wooden platform. The wire he’s connected to was invisible to my eyes until he’s zooming along through the jungle.
“This is it.”
Ziplining.
He asked.
I said yes.
There’s no backing out now, Meg Miller. I mentally correct myself—Spontaneous Meg Miller. Somehow, the amendment to my name fuels my courage.
“Let’s go,” I say, ignoring the tremor making its way over my skin.
Kal grins. “That’s my girl.”
“I’m not anyone’s girl.”
“Sorry,” he says, but I think he’s holding back a laugh. His mother did call me feisty, and I’m giving it to him firsthand.
We start up the stairway, where men work to help another couple strap into gear and zoom down the floral mountain.
My knees start to shake, and I fumble on the last step.
“Whoa,” Kal says, catching me by the elbow. “You okay?”
“I’m great!” I call, blaring the most obnoxious smile at the man.
He nods—like he might not believe me, but he’s going with it, which I appreciate.
“I’ll go first, you’ll follow. Is that okay?”
