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It whispered on the breeze pushing coolness through the opening transom windows, bringing with it loaded memories and fresh, clean ocean air.
Dragging my gaze across the man’s face, I picked out similarities under the smears of someone else’s breakfast. This man… My savior. He reminded me of Kosta. The man who’d saved me not too long ago, who brought me into his world and helped me find the courage to leave the life someone else had mapped out for me.
There was peace and joy and an insane sense of rightness hidden there under the red drops of juice dangling precariously in front of his eye. And though I could feel my clothes clinging to my chest and legs, though I could hear the chatter of the customers who’d turned to gawk at their newest server covered in food and drink, I couldn’t help but think this man was sent here for a reason.
His brow dipped as I stared at him, as I perched there in his lap. He tilted his head, exactly as Kosta so often had. “Is… everything all right?”
A smile took hold of my lips as a rush of blood colored my cheeks. “Yes. Yes, I’m sorry. I just… You look so familiar.”
His own mouth tipped into a smile, his green eyes sparkling like the sea. His gaze dragged across my face, lingering on my lips. “You do too.”
“Mysti? Is everything o—Goodness! What a mess!” Junie stood before me, hands gripping the white towel she used to wipe down the counters, her face a crumbled mix of distress and feigned happiness. “Are you two okay?”
My savior loosened his grip on me and helped me scramble from his lap. Ice cubes clattered from between my legs, plinking off his thigh before tumbling to the ground.
“I’m fine,” I tried to assure, turning back to face the man.
He pulled the slice of tomato from his head, holding it up before him and turning a gentle smile Junie’s way. With a shrug, he told her, “I did come for the breakfast. Heard it’s the best in town.”
Relief burst from Junie on a quiet laugh. She reached for the tomato and handed him the towel in her hand. “Well, today, breakfast will be on the house.”
She cringed, but his laughter rattled through the air, knocking into me and wrapping me up. “Instead of on me?”
My own burst of laughter was cut off only by those sparkling, sea-green eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“No worries, love. Just glad I could break your fall.”
“Why don’t you go clean yourself up,” Junie murmured near my ear. Then she turned, calling over her shoulder, “Callie, can you come on out here and help?”
I ducked my head, squeezing between the gawking crowd while they waited in the to-go line. Callie snickered as I passed her but called out to me before I could slip through the kitchen door, “There’s fresh clothes in my locker. You’re welcome to them if you need.”
And need, I did. I needed more than just fresh clothes, though. I needed a pile of sand to bury my head under. I needed something to slow the hard pounding of my heart.
The first man to make me truly feel alive was sitting in the other room, covered in my mess. It was more than I could take. And at the same time, I couldn’t change fast enough. I cleaned myself off as best I could in the bathroom sink, putting on my bikini because even my bra and panties were soaked. After I pulled on Callie’s spare t-shirt and skirt, I tossed my soiled clothes in my beach bag, then tied back my kombucha-scented hair as I rushed back out.
But my fast wasn’t fast enough. By the time I’d returned to the front of the diner, my savior’s table was cleared and he was gone.
