“That’s Carson.”
“You were stuck here with him?” she says, unable to take her eyes off him. “Do you want me to go back home and leave you here? I wouldn’t blame you if you do!”
It’s a tempting thought, but I think our time on this island has come to an end.
“I think we’ll go with you,” I say, but I have to ask Carson just to be sure. “Hold on.”
I run over and meet him halfway.
“Who is that?” he asks as he stares at the plane in awe. “Your friend came to find you?”
“I guess she never gave up on hoping I was alive,” I say, feeling a tremendous sense of gratitude toward her. I’ll never say no to another karaoke night as long as I live.
“So,” he says with a gulp. “We’re leaving?”
“Is that okay?” I ask as I stare into his nervous eyes. “I know you love this island…”
“I love you more.”
“Really?”
He nods.
“I know you’re nervous,” I say, “but it will be okay. We’ll be together and that’s all that matters. It’s just another chapter in our adventure. What do you say?”
He grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Let’s go, my love. Home is wherever you are.”
I step on my toes and kiss him softly on the lips. “Thank you.”
Emiko is still staring at Carson’s huge muscular frame in shock when I turn around. “Emiko! Start that plane! We’re out of here!”
EPILOGUE
Bridget
* * *
Two years later…
* * *
“I still can’t believe that’s our place,” I say as I fly over our huge mansion, marveling at the swimming pool, the volleyball court, the massive roof that goes on and on and on. “It looks like a hotel.”
“Just don’t crash into it while you’re busy admiring it,” Carson says with a laugh.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say with a chuckle as I straighten the plane and aim for the runway in the back. I’m flying a little crooked and have to do a loop in order to line up properly. I just can’t get over that freaking view. It always distracts me.
It’s really the perfect place. Right on a white sand beach, turquoise water, jungle all around the meticulously manicured property. It even has a runway for our plane, which is essential since there are no roads leading up to it. We’re as secluded as can be without living on a desert island like the one we met on.
After Emiko rescued us and brought us back to Miami, Carson returned to the company he founded and walked into a board meeting. I was with him and it was quite the sight.
I couldn’t help but giggle at all of the stunned faces and gaping mouths staring at him in horror, shock, and disbelief. It didn’t help that he looked like Jesus himself returning from the grave with his beard hanging down to his chest and the hair on his head nearly down to his ass.
I told him to wear a suit, but after eight years in nothing but a loincloth, he couldn’t take it. He felt like he was being suffocated. Instead, he wore shorts and a t-shirt.
There were a dozen or so men and women in their corporate getups staring at him like they were looking at a ghost. I guess, to them that’s what he was.
It was chaos in the room, but Carson—cool as ever—walked up to the head of the table and told everyone in his deep commanding voice that he was back.
He was legally declared dead, so his company was split up among the executives like vultures tearing at a deserted carcass trying to get any piece they could.
It was a stressful few weeks as Carson battled it out. We discussed it with his lawyers and it was looking like it was going to be a long drawn-out court battle, which neither of us wanted. Instead, the executives offered him a large share of the company that had grown even bigger since Carson left it and that was that.
Let’s just say, we’re billionaires now.
We got married on the beach with just a small reception. Emiko was my maid of honor and even Jeffrey made it to my bachelorette party. I almost died when Emiko pulled him out, half-deflated boner and everything.
I had joked that Wayne should be Carson’s best man since he kept him company for all those long lonely years. I laughed as I pictured the big red ball set up beside the altar wearing a bowtie. Carson said that his brother would be a more appropriate option.
I was shocked. A brother?! He hadn’t even told me he had a brother. I guess I hadn’t asked either. I just always kind of assumed that Carson sprouted right out of the jungle fully formed on the island. It’s always been hard for me to picture this feral island man living in civilization. It nearly gave me a heart attack when we landed back in Miami and he showed me the cover of him on Fortune Magazine, all clean-shaven with a handsome, short, styled haircut, and a suit to boot. I nearly croaked on the spot.