“Five percent?” Kalin’s forehead creases. “They must like you, Brian. They never offer anyone more than one percent until you prove yourself. Just make sure it’s yours, Jeff.” Jeff laughs as Kalin slaps him on the back before turning back to Brian.
“It’s great seeing you, Brian.” Kalin holds his hand out, and Brian grabs it and pulls him in and hangs his arm around Kalin’s neck.
“It’s good to see you again, old buddy,” Brian says.
I faintly hear Brian say something about his fiancée passing, and I watch Kalin’s lips form the words ‘thank you.’ They hug briefly, and Kalin joins me for the rest of dinner. “Talk about strange coincidences,” he says. “My old college buddy getting a position at my own company. I am out of touch.”
“Doesn’t the board have to approve the stock transfer?”
“Yes, they do. I can tell you it won’t be mine. Or yours. If you ever decide to take it, that is.” His gaze flicks to me and he takes a sip of water.
“Do you trust them?”
“I don’t trust anyone right now. Except you.”
I give him a soft smile, and the waiter brings us our dinners.
After dinner Kalin takes me dancing on the patio in the moonlight. I take in the distant rumble of the ocean and the smell of the salty air with a deep, satisfying breath. I lean my head on Kalin’s chest as we gently sway under the clear summer sky.
“How long do you plan on living in that apartment?” he asks.
“I don’t know. I’m still hesitant to move because I would miss Lia. And now, after all that’s happened, I wouldn’t want to leave her.”
“Annabelle, you can afford to buy her a secure condo in the city if you ever take the job.”
“I know.”
“But?”
“I would still miss us hanging out. It would be sad to say goodbye.”
“You might have to soon.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to move in with me.”
I press my hands on his chest and look up at him with hopeful gaze. “Do I have to sign anything?”
Kalin smiles at me and pulls my hand over his chest. He looks up into the ocean air, and a wave of his hair flutters in the warm breeze. He looks so sexy right now, and I feel desire rushing through me. “I just want this moment with you right now, Annabelle. Don’t ruin it with your legal talk,” he teases.
I playfully pound my small fist into his broad chest. “Okay, Mr. Contract.”
Kalin takes my fist and kisses the knuckles on my hand. His warm soft, lips caress the tender skin between my knuckles, and a shock of heat surges through me. “I’m just claiming what’s mine.”
I exhale and lean my head into his chest, glancing up at his strong profile against the beautiful starry sky, and I think this is the closest thing to heaven on earth.
The valet brings Kalin his SUV to end a perfect evening. On the way back, he flicks the stereo on and a band of colorful lights comes to life. The sound is rich and crisp and powerful. I smile and sing with “Eternal Flame” by the Bangles. Kalin gives me a playful smile that washes all my self-consciousness away. I sway in my seat and sing to the sweet music, my eyes wide and glowing like a teenager’s on a Saturday night. Kalin presses his hand over mine when I sing the lyrics “give me your hand, darlin.’” I giggle and he sings with me. We both laugh at our goofy display, and he leans in to harmonize with me.
I sway in my seat again and Kalin chuckles. His eyes are aglow with playfulness as he presses his hand over mine. We both laugh together. Suddenly, a loud smash causes the SUV to swerve and screech into the opposite lane. “Oh, my God!” I scream.
“What the fuck was that!” Kalin regains control of the vehicle and steers it into the right lane when another smash causes the vehicle to careen and spin to the side. A third loud smash against the side breaks the windows out of Kalin’s driver’s side window. I am screaming as Kalin tries to regain control, and yet another loud smash causes the SUV to careen and twist toward the embankment.
“Oh, my God! Kalin!”
The SUV rolls in one violent smash after another, and I watch the world crashing and spinning around me. The motion slows, and I am sure we are both about to die. The SUV spins and rolls down a steep embankment, and comes crashing hard onto the roof. We are both upside down, and I turn my head to Kalin to see that he is bleeding badly. “Kalin!” I scream in a state of hysteria. My body weight strains against the seatbelt, holding me upside down, and I click the button but my weight against the belt keeps it from unbuckling. My heart races in my chest and a feeling of terror pounds from my chest, to my lungs, to my throat. My hands are trembling, and I press the seat belt release again as hard as I can. It clicks open, and I fall hard on my shoulder onto the roof of the vehicle.