Chapter 9

Everyone was having a great time, laughing and dancing to an instrumental version of the Jason Mraz song 'Lucky'.

Killian was standing in a small group a few feet away from me. Catching my eye, he made a face that looked like someone had stood on his foot with a heavy boot.

I smiled into my glass and went for a stroll around the deck to take in the sights of the evening.

Smiling and waving at people as I made my way to the other side of the boat I realized I felt calm and happy.

It was a nice change from my usual state over the past weeks, months, heck let's be honest. Years.

Killian came up to me smirking like he knew a secret and I didn't. "Are ye having a nice time tonight love?' He asked me while he took my hand and swirled me under the twinkle lights that looked like bright stars in the clear night sky.

"I am actually" I smiled back him. " Thank you for inviting me"

"Aah well…" He gazed at me but didn't finish his sentence. I thought he was a little drunk but he just smiled and shrugged.

"To be completely honest with you love, I have wanted this party to hurry up and be done with since It started. I am very happy to see everyone here having a good time though, especially you. I'm going to miss the friends I have made here, again, especially you."

He looked directly at me holding eye contact for so long I was waiting for him to say something else, but he turned away and stared out over the side of the boat and sighed deeply.

Reaching my hand over to his on the rail I told him I would miss him too, and I meant it.

In a short space of time Killian had become a very close friend of mine.

In this moment, I didn't want him to go. I wanted to really get to know the real him, all the hidden parts of him that he kept so closed.

We spend time together usually just hanging out and chatting with no pressure to say or expect anything and it has been wonderful, but now I wanted to fully know him.

It was only now sinking in that I would never see him again.

"It's not like anyone is kicking you out of town you know. You could stay." I quietly said, not wanting to ruin his contemplation of the night sea, I could feel how much the ocean meant to him.

"Nor you love, no one is making you stay." He said even more quietly.

I gave his hand a gentle squeeze and let go. " We are the drivers of our own fate" I smiled trying to lighten the mood that had suddenly become somber

"Anything is possible in this world, if you want it,"

He looked at me strangely like I had said something in greek, but let it go and flashed me one of his boyish grins.

"The party is starting to wind up now, fancy at least one proper dance with me before I set sail into the treacherous highs seas?"

"Well, It isn't a party without at least one dance." I agreed as I set my glass down and followed him to the rear deck where a dancefloor had been designated by four poles with festoon lights and bunting hanging between them.

The band had just started playing 'Cool me down' by the Black Seeds and I wanted the song to never end.