June 10. He left Doug's downtown apartment with the last of his belongings he was bringing with him and walked down to the waterfront, heading for the docks. On his way there, he stopped at the bank and took out some cash from the ATM. The Pacey Witter Savings Account had done well, despite the money used to purchase and restore the True Love. Taking the summer off work would hurt a little, but maybe he could find an odd job or two while in Key West. He suspected he'd probably end up needing something to keep his mind occupied.

Once the last of his belongings were all stowed away inside the sailboat, and he double checked there was enough diesel in the fuel tank and the ham radio was in working order, he went up to the corner store to get a cold drink for the road. As he made his way back, he suddenly glimpsed Joey sprinting down the dock, no longer in her bridesmaid dress, clad in a red top and dark blue jeans. And then she was calling his name over and over. He wasn't sure whether he even wanted to know what this was about, and could feel his defenses going up.

"You want something, Jo?" he asked, turning onto the dock. She was on the boat, looking down into the cabin.

"I want to talk to you," she said, hopping down and onto the dock.

He'd already made up his mind. "No, no. A bit late for this now. I'm leaving. You can't stop me, so don't even try."

"That's not why I'm here."

"So, why are you here? You wanna say goodbye again? Maybe you wanted to rub it in a little bit, huh?" The last thing he needed right now was for her to give him another lecture about giving up. He started unmooring the boat.

Joey's heart was beating like mad inside her chest and then in a rush she started making a speech about not wanting to stop him or Dawson or be stopped by him or Dawson, about how they'd spent the past year trying to stop each other from growing up. She knew she'd done the same to Dawson. From freaking out over that Matt Caufield party, to giving him a hard time about dropping film class and taking the movie posters down from his walls, to the whole thing with Eve—she'd held Dawson back just as much. And Dawson wanted things to stay the same as they'd always been, wanted her to stay the same, wanted her to still cling to childish ideals like magic and destiny and soulmates, wanted to prevent her from moving forward beyond him.

"But… But not you," she told him. Pacey was the exact opposite, always pushing her to grow up and face reality, encouraging her to confront her fears and overcome her self-doubt. Yet he didn't leave her on her own. He stood right by her side, cheering her on and supporting her through it all. "I mean, you're different, and… you've challenged me every step of the way and you've been there every step of the way."

He didn't know what she was getting at. What was this, a more heartfelt goodbye? A kind explanation of how much she appreciated their brief time together but why she still stood by her choice? How she still wanted to be friends? He untied another rope. "Jo, departure time is in T-minus thirty seconds, so if there's a point, I suggest you get to it." He stepped around her and onto the boat, putting his back to her, protecting himself as best he could from whatever she was about to say.

Joey knew he hadn't exactly said those three little words to her. The thought of saying them first was scary, and she wasn't sure whether saying the words would be enough, but she knew he felt the same way. She knew it in her bones. "I think I'm in love with you."

He froze; he hadn't been expecting that. A sense of relief sparked inside, and hope rose in his chest, but think wasn't enough, not enough to make him change his mind and stay. He needed her to be sure. "You think or you know?"

She loved him like she had never loved anyone else, needed him like she had never needed anyone else. She had never been so sure of anything in her life. "I know."

Like a landslide, his defenses came down. He turned and gazed at her, his eyes locking on hers, months of hurt melting away. Her brown eyes were just as bright and soulful as the day he first met her, eyes that told him her words were true—she loved him. Butterflies came to life in his stomach. His heart pounded. His pulse ricocheted.

"I've known it since the moment you kissed me and maybe even before that. And…" She sighed, smiling. "As scary as it is, I don't want to deny it anymore, Pacey. I don't want to run from it, and I don't want to let it run from me."

He'd told her the decision to be together or not to be together had always been hers to make. If she asked him to stay and be with her, he would. "So… what are we gonna do here, Jo?"

"I wanna come with you."

That was the last thing he'd ever expected her to say. A breathy laugh of disbelief escaped him. "What? You crazy?" Joey Potter? Run away with him to the Florida Keys for the summer?

She shook her head, still smiling. "Mm-mmm. I wanna stop standing still. I wanna move forward. I wanna come with you."

He saw the elation in her face, her happy smile, and almost rapturous determination. But how could she just take off from all her responsibilities? That wasn't like her. "What about Bessie and the B&B? They need you."

Joey moved closer to the boat, not taking her eyes off him. "Not as much as I need you, Pacey."

The words he'd most longed to hear. Emotion rose within him and he melted inside. A sweet thrill of joy surged through his entire body, a feeling like he'd never known before. He couldn't speak. She must've seen it all in his face because she beamed at him and made to step onto the boat.

"Ah-ah-ah!" he exclaimed, wagging his finger teasingly.

Joey chuckled, and then raised out her hand, just like she'd done the first time, way back in October. "Permission to come aboard?"

He filled with happiness, and his heart swelled with love for her, opening so wide it should have hurt. His hand reached out, taking hers. "Permission granted."

Helping Joey into the boat, she was then in his arms. They clasped each other in a warm, close embrace, and their lips met in a sweet, long, thrilling kiss; a kiss of love. It seemed as if they had never known what happiness was before, so completely overjoyed were they now.

"You can swim, can't ya?" he joked, stepping down into the cockpit.

"Of course," she said, stepping down after him. "I'm just kinda worried about the next change of clothes."

"That's nothing to worry about," he reassured her. "We're gonna hit the next port in a few days."

"Few days?"

He unmoored the last rope, tossing it into the water. "Yeah! Or a few days after that."

Joey looked out over the harbor, the sun low in the sky, soon to set, and shrugged. "Who really cares?"

Beaming, he started the engine and began maneuvering the boat away from the docks. "Goodbye, Capeside," he said. "Hello, first actual fun summer of my life."

"No scrubbing toilets or making beds or doing dishes or waitressing for me," she remarked. "I'm on vacation."

He laughed. "So, uh, anyway, how did you know I'd leave today instead of tomorrow like I said?"

"I didn't," she admitted. "I drove home, changed clothes, and went to your brother's place to talk to you. When Doug told me that you'd changed your mind after getting home from the wedding, and you'd already left, I panicked and ran to try and catch you. I was so scared that I was too late, and I almost was. You'll never know the relief I felt when I saw your boat was still there."

"Well, the important thing is you weren't late." He smiled. "And now you're my first mate."

She chuckled. "Happy to be your first mate." Pursing her lips, she thought for a moment. "I suppose Doug will tell Bessie to come pick up the truck. I left it parked outside his building. He's bound to see it there, right?"

Laughing, he shook his head. "Bessie is gonna flip."

"I should probably call her at the next port… Or maybe email is best. That way I don't have to listen to her yelling at me over the phone. You said the next stop is a few days away? I hope she doesn't worry too much."

"We'll make port in the morning so you can contact Bessie and let her know you're all right. There's no harm in making a short pit stop at the Vineyard." He laughed again. "Wait until everyone finds out we ran off together."

Joey gave him a yikes look, but then shrugged. "Oh well. Let 'em talk."

He smirked. "Speaking of people talking, I renewed the lease on your wall through September."

"Why would you do that?" she asked curiously, amused.

"Well… if you didn't ask me to stay, then I wanted to force you to either paint over it or look at it all summer, and eat your heart out." She thrust her tongue in her cheek, fighting a grin. "And if you did ask me to stay, then I wanted Dawson to eat his heart out all summer."

She tried not to laugh, but then frowned at the memory of leaving Dawson behind on his dock. "I don't think he's going to have a very good summer, Pace, regardless of the wall. I mean, I hope he does, but…"

He nodded, feeling regretful at the way it all went down. "Well, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and maybe in three months' time he'll be… you know… not so angry anymore. At you, anyway. It's possible."

"Maybe, but I'm not entirely sure he thought I'd actually be going with you to Key West."

Once they were out of the harbor, she helped him put the sails up, and they began cruising in a south-westerly direction. "I've never felt so free, Pacey," she said, beaming with giddiness. "I mean, I can't believe I actually did it. I've never done something so impulsive in my whole life. Certainly not with Dawson."

"That's for sure, Potter."

"And the thing is, he spent the past year shirking off every pragmatic, responsible bone in his body. He's done impulsive things, but just not with me. And that's what I finally figured out, Pacey. Me and Dawson? Neither of us would ever grow as people by clinging to something that is long past its expiration date. We just hold each other back, like an anchor keeps a boat tied to the shore. There was a time when my life was in such turmoil that I needed that anchor. But when the storm is over, it's time to set sail, and you won't get anywhere if you refuse to pull the anchor up."

"So, what you're saying is that Dawson is the anchor in this analogy and you're the boat?"

Joey laughed, shrugging. "Yeah."

He thought for a moment. "So, wait… what does that make me?"

"The wind."

He gazed at her, his heart swelling at the tenderness in her eyes. "Beneath your wings?" he grinned.

Joey gave him a half-smile. "I'm a boat, not a bird, in this analogy, Pace."

Two hours later, they were approaching Martha's Vineyard. The sun had already set, and he didn't want to attempt to navigate a strange harbor in the dark. That would only spell disaster. They lowered the sails, dropped anchor outside Oak Bluffs, and retired for the night below deck. "Now, about clothes," he said once they were below. "I think I've got some stuff you can wear."

He opened a cabinet, and pulled out a sweatshirt and some sweatpants. "They're probably too big, but you can sleep in them."

"Probably?" she retorted, arching her brow.

"Definitely," he corrected, clearing his throat. "Anyway, it'll be cold at night until we get further south."

Joey looked around the cabin. "Uh, Pacey… what are the sleeping arrangements?"

He handed over the sweats and then nodded to the area behind her. "Well, there's a forward V-berth bunk. The mattress is pretty comfortable, and there's enough room for the both of us."

"Um… I don't think that's such a good idea."

"I thought I was going to be the only one aboard, Jo. I didn't plan on…"

"I know."

His mouth curved into a half-smile and he shrugged. "Well, it's just to sleep in. You can trust me, Jo. You know that, right?"

She tucked her hair behind her ears. "It's… It's me I don't trust."

"What do you mean? You don't trust yourself about what?"

Joey hesitated, unsure if she should explain her feelings. "You. I don't know if I trust myself with you," she admitted, glancing up at him.

His brows furrowed as he pursed his lips. Did she think he wouldn't be able to restrain his hormonal impulses? That they'd go from hugging to kissing to point of no return without her having time to even think about what was happening and consider the consequences? That he'd expect her to go further than she was ready to? That he'd be upset if she didn't? He was gonna love her no matter what, no matter how long he had to wait. Hell, he had to wait practically the entire school year just to tell her how he felt about her. So, in the big scheme of things, what's another year or more to wait for the physical culmination of that love?

"Jo, you don't need to worry about that with me. I won't—"

"No, that's not it. I know you won't, Pacey." She gazed at him, her eyes again filling with tenderness, and she stepped closer, taking his hands in hers, threading their fingers. "I trust you completely."

A smile spread across his face. Her trust in him made him feel proud, made his blood race through his veins.

She took a deep breath and looked up at him, her eyes twinkling as she let go of his hands and hugged him around his waist. "This is all so new and exciting, Pacey. And I think I'd like to keep some mystery between us for as long as possible. Because, well, not to bring Dawson up again, but for years I had been in the habit of just sleeping in a bed with him and there was just… no mystery left whatsoever. I have no intention of repeating the same old habits with you." Yet totally unlike with Dawson, if she got in the habit of just sleeping in a bed with Pacey, she knew it would only be so long before they weren't just sleeping anymore. She kept that thought to herself.

"Okay, Jo. I'll think of somethin', but for tonight, we really should share. Just because it's going to be cold out here on the water and there's really no other place to sleep than what I've currently got set up. When we get into port tomorrow, I'll figure out separate sleeping arrangements."

Joey smiled. She could handle one night. "Okay, that's fine."

"You go change and I'll fix us something to eat. How does toast and scrambled eggs sound?"

"You got a kitchen on this thing?"

Laughing, he thumbed behind him where there was a small galley. "It's just a mini fridge, a sink, and a gas stovetop with two small burners, but it'll do."

She then disappeared into the back to change out of her clothes, and he pulled the eggs out of the fridge. When Joey reappeared, her face held a scrunched-up expression. "The onboard commode leaves a lot to be desired."

Chuckling, he nodded with wide eyes as he stirred the eggs over the stove. "That it does. It is what it is. We'll make it work." He glanced over his shoulder and gazed at Joey, standing there in his sweats. He liked the sight of her in his clothes, liked it a lot. He liked the sight of her, period. He had to clear his dry throat to find his voice. "They look much better on you."

She blushed and sat down on the cushioned bench in a small eating nook, behind a wooden table that was bolted to the floor. He soon changed into warmer clothing and then dished up their eggs and toast. "So, how long until we reach Key West, do you think?" Joey asked.

He retrieved his map and returned to the table. "The next port after our side trip on the Vineyard is New Jersey, which is over three hundred nautical miles away. The boat will probably keep steady at about twelve miles-per-hour, or maybe fifteen if we get some good wind, unless of course the wind dies down and our speed drops. So, we'll get there in about…"

"Thirty-six hours, more or less. Well, if we don't make any stops."

"I'm glad one of us is good at math," he quipped. "All in all, if the weather is good and the wind is kind and there aren't many hiccups along the way, it'll probably take us about two weeks to reach Key West, maybe three. Longer if we want to make extra stops and check out different places. We could get there in about five days if we made a straight line for it without stopping day or night, but I promised my dad I'd basically hug the shore. Avoiding the gulf stream will be tricky and then when you're that close to land, you gotta navigate around other boats and fishing traps, and then whale sanctuaries once we reach Florida."

"Do you really think we'll see whales, Pacey?" she said excitedly. "Wow. At what port will we stop after New Jersey?"

He smiled, feeling elated at her enthusiasm about the trip. Glancing down at the chart on the table, he followed the map down the coast. "Probably Virginia."

She laughed, feeling giddy. "I can't believe we're doing this. I mean, this is amazing."

"Didn't I tell you to stick with me, Potter? See? You're going places."

With a glowing smile, she leaned over and kissed him. After they finished eating and cleaned the galley, Joey started yawning and then soon was shivering. "You were right," she told him. "It's cold."

"Let's go to bed. It'll be warmer."

They climbed into the bunk and lay on their sides beneath the blankets, facing each other, and continued to talk about their summer plans. "So, tomorrow, you'll call or email Bessie?"

"Yep."

"We should also get you some clothes."

She pursed her lips. "Maybe at a different port. The Vineyard is probably too expensive."

He shrugged. "I've got money. And we might need to get some things for us to do, you know, to keep us occupied. I wasn't expecting to have someone to entertain."

"We could get the books on my summer reading list," she suggested.

"Isn't that homework?" he asked skeptically. "We're on vacation, Jo."

She rolled her eyes. "Technically, it's for AP English next year. But books are books and I like to read stories, whether they're homework or not."

He chuckled. "Okay, Jo. We'll get your books."

Joey gazed at him for a long moment, for the first time her thoughts moving forward beyond this summer, to the unknown future. "Are you as scared as I am about this?" she asked quietly.

"This meaning sleeping in the same bed or sailing to Key West for the summer?" He paused, taking in the look in her eyes. "Or this as in you and me?"

"You and me," she answered.

He let out a heavy sigh. "I'm terrified, Jo."

Her brows rose in surprise. "Really?"

"Right now, everything I've ever wanted is in this boat. Good things rarely happen to me, and so I'm afraid I might jinx it. Every time something good comes into my life, something that's positive and feels right, something happens and takes it away from me. And I don't want to ever lose this feeling. I… I don't want to lose you, Jo."

"I'm scared of the same thing, Pacey," she confessed.

He brushed her hair back from her face, tucking the strands behind her ear. "Well, you're not gonna lose me. I'm not going anywhere. This is it for me. You're it."

Reaching up, Joey caressed his jawline with her fingertips. "Why does falling in love feel like you're jumping off a cliff?"

"Because… Because it means so much. And because you can either fly or crash, and the crash hurts really bad. But when you know in your gut it's right, if you wanna fly then you just gotta go for it, even if there's a chance you could crash so hard everything inside you breaks."

"Yeah," she breathed. Then she shot him a teasing grin. "You know, you still haven't told me."

"Told you what?" he questioned, arching his brow.

"What I told you back on the dock," she said with a challenging look. "You've never once said it to me."

His eyes drank her in, his mouth curved into a smile. "I'm in love with you, Joey," he said quietly. "I have been for a long time."

She smiled brightly. "Yeah, I know."

He blinked. "That's all you have to say, Potter? I know?"

She gave him a thousand-watt smile, her eyes laughing, and slid closer. Then she kissed him, sweet and slow, a cocoon of warmth enveloping them, his scent mixed with hers intoxicating as they breathed each other in. They broke apart before the kiss could become something else, and then he kissed the tip of her nose and then her brow. She breathed a contented sigh and kissed his chin, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Joey inched closer and tucked herself against him, nuzzling against his chest. She didn't say anything, but uttered a soft sound that revealed her pleasure in volumes. He pulled the blankets up higher over them both, and tucked them over her shoulder and around her back, inching closer. She pushed one knee forward, and he parted his legs around her, tangling them together. They were quiet for a long time.

"You okay?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Fine." He rested his chin on top of her head and stroked her silky hair. "You?"

"Better than fine, Pace."

He laughed. What had he done to deserve a beautiful woman like Joey? Was he even allowed this happiness? Oh, well. To hell with it. He'd steal it, if he wasn't. Then thoughts of Dawson suddenly flashed in his mind. Maybe he did steal it…

"Pace?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong?"

He closed his eyes for a second and then leaned back to look at her. "What makes you think something is wrong?"

"You tensed."

"It's nothin', Jo."

She shook her head adamantly. "No, Pacey. You and me? We're going to be completely honest with each other. We're going to tell each other everything. So, tell me."

He wanted them to be open and honest, too. He didn't want to hide anything from her. "Okay. I was thinking about Dawson." His last memory of his best friend went round his head, from earlier that day at the wedding. Had that really only been hours ago? It felt longer. "I'm happy as hell right now that you're with me, Joey. And I have no regrets at all where you're concerned. I just wish what happened between us hadn't hurt him as much as it did. I wish he was still my friend. I feel bad that he's not, and that it's my fault. Things are never gonna be the same between me and Dawson."

"You don't know that, Pacey. And it's not your fault. If Dawson isn't your friend anymore, that's a choice he made. You're not the one who gave up on your friendship. If Dawson doesn't want you for a friend, then that's his loss, and one he might regret dearly in time."

"Yeah, in time, he might not be so angry anymore, but he's never gonna be my friend again, Jo. That's not easy to accept. There were times in my life when no one in my family was there for me, but Dawson was. Times when no one else would be my friend, but he was. Even if he never speaks to me again, he'll still be the best friend I ever had."

"Maybe this summer apart will help, Pace. He needs to move on from what happened just as much as we do. Some time and distance apart are probably what the three of us need more than anything."

His hand went to her face, his fingers tenderly brushing her cheek. "You're right. Well, except between you and me."

Joey smiled and again tucked herself against him, snuggling into his warmth. He could feel her breath on the nape of his neck. Would writing Dawson and asking him for forgiveness just be adding major insult to painful injury now that Joey had run off with him on a sailing trip down to Florida? He honestly didn't know what to do about Dawson. Maybe he didn't care. Maybe he didn't want to think about Dawson anymore. Maybe he just wanted him and Joey to enjoy this summer on their own terms, instead of playing supporting roles in whatever movie Dawson had decided to make over the summer.

His eyes soon drifted closed, and with Joey in his arms, he fell asleep a happy man.

In the morning, they carefully navigated the small, tightly enclosed harbor of Oak Bluffs. They found an empty spot in the marina on the east side of the harbor, near the seasonal passenger ferries that bring visitors to and from Cape Cod and Nantucket, and moored True Love to the dock. An attendant came out to greet them, a middle-aged man with graying brown hair, wearing a dark blue button down with a patch of the marina's logo on the upper left chest. "Welcome, folks," the man asked. "How long you here for?"

"Just a few hours, probably," he replied, glancing at the watch Bodie had gotten him for Christmas. It was just past eight o'clock.

"The half-day mooring fee is fourteen dollars, and I also need to see proof of vessel registration and a current insurance policy."

He nodded, handing over the papers and the cash, inwardly groaning at the expense. If he didn't want to pay these fees all the way down the coast, he'd have to think of something.

"If you stay past noon, you'll incur the full dock fee," the attendant told them, handing back the registration and insurance papers. "The marina has gas, diesel, water, and electrical services. There are showers and restrooms, laundromat, a bait and tackle shop, and pump-out service for your waste. And there are medical facilities within five miles, if you're in need."

"Thanks a lot. Can you point us to a place to buy some clothes in town? Nothing too expensive. And an Internet café?"

Joey smiled appreciatively. He winked at her.

"Uh, yeah, over on Circuit Avenue there are plenty of small clothing stores. You'll find cafes and restaurants down there, too. So, walk out of the marina, pass the Harbormaster's office, and you'll find yourselves on Lake Avenue. Cross Lake and Circuit Ave is right there."

"Thank you, sir."

They soon stepped off the boat and made their way out of the marina. Across the street, they saw the sign for Circuit Avenue. Standing in front of the crosswalk, waiting for traffic to clear, Joey slipped her hand inside his palm, weaving her slender fingers through his until he wasn't sure where her touch ended and his began. It sent a thrill surging through him. His heart beat faster as he gazed down at her, the blood heating in his veins. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled sweetly.

He never thought he'd be able to do this: hold hands with Joey while they walked down the street in broad daylight like a real couple. The simple act of holding her hand felt more meaningful than he ever could've imagined. It filled him with a sense of quiet contentment. Nothing had ever felt so good, felt so right. He loved the warmth of her smooth palm against his, the delicate softness of her fingers. As they crossed the street, his hold on her hand tightened, a feeling of protectiveness rising up inside him.

The street was lined with stores on both sides, and they passed by a bakery with a separate donut shop, a nail salon, wine and cheese shop, several restaurants of varying cuisine, an ice cream shop, and pet food store. Joey had never been to the Vineyard, although her sister came on occasion when visiting Bodie's family. She soaked in everything: the sun-lit trees and busy street, the smell of freshly baked bread, the feel of Pacey's hand holding hers, and in her head over and over again I am in love with you.

They soon came upon Circuit Cyber Café and stepped inside. The place was busy; a long line of patrons reached almost to the door. The counter at the back wall looked like it could be inside any coffee shop, cookies and cakes and pastries on display behind a glass case. At the front of the café were two small coffee tables, armchairs in varying colors of fabric, a leather couch against the wall, and five desks with computers.

"I'll get us something to eat while you email Bessie," Pacey said.

"Okay."

"Do you want coffee?"

She bobbed her head and sighed as she stared at one of the desks. Then she let go of his hand and walked over to one of the available computers. After sitting down in the leather chair and logging on, she signed in to her email. She opened a new message, selected the Potter B&B email address, wrote "Don't Kill Me" in the subject line, and then proceeded to confess to Bessie:

"I'm sure you're going out of your mind with worry and wondering where I am and why I didn't come home last night with the truck. Unless you've already talked to Doug Witter? Anyway, I kind of did something crazy yesterday. You'll laugh actually. OK… probably you won't. I'm writing you from Bodie's hometown on the Vineyard. That's right. I'm in Oak Bluffs… for the next few hours, anyway. See, well, it's kind of a long story and I hadn't told you about this before because it was too upsetting to talk about, but Pacey was leaving for the summer on his boat. He was about to pull anchor and sail down to Key West and back by himself and I just knew… I just knew I had to go with him. I knew that if I didn't, I'd always regret not knowing what would've happened. I'd never be able to live with myself if I didn't go. So, I did the most impulsive and irresponsible thing I've ever done in my entire existence. I got on the boat and went with him. He's not planning on coming back until right before school starts, so I'll be gone all summer.

I know I should've talked to you first, but there was no time for a discussion or even a phone call. I had to get to the dock right away or he would've left without ever knowing how I really feel about him. I'm so sorry for leaving you without my help with the B&B this summer. I know how busy you're going to be. But I've worked every summer since I was 13 years old and I'll probably work every summer for the rest of my life. I just know this is my one and only chance to actually enjoy being young and free. I promise that if you let me back in the house in September, I'll never abandon you like this again. But this is something I have to do now. I'm sorry, Bessie. I hope you won't be too mad and that you'll forgive me even though I'm sure you're wishing you could throttle me right now.

Give my love to Alexander and Bodie. Tell them I promise to make it back home in one piece.

Write back if you can. I can check my email at the next port, which is Atlantic City, New Jersey, but it'll probably be a few days before we arrive. I had wanted to stop at New York City but Pacey says it's too expensive to dock there.

Love,

Joey

P.S. I know I'm in no position to ask you to do me any favors, but could you email my summer reading list? There's a copy of it on the desk in my room."

She clicked the Send button and sighed, feeling a huge sense of relief. Pacey then dropped into the chair next to her and handed her a cup of coffee and a small plate with a warm cinnamon roll dripping with icing. "Thanks."

"So, you emailed Bessie?"

"Yep."

"Anybody else?"

She shook her head as she took a sip of her hot coffee. "I don't feel the need to explain myself to anyone else right now." But then Jen floated through her mind. She'd like to talk to Jen about stuff. Maybe next time. "Do you wanna email anybody?"

He thought for a second. "Nope. But I'm gonna send postcards to Doug and Gretchen and Buzz when we get further on with our travels." He paused, thinking it over again. "And well… I honestly had planned on writing Andie occasionally, but now that you've come with me, I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"I understand," she said. "It'd be like writing Dawson. 'Hey buddy! Sorry about everything, but I'm loving life on my romantic summer cruise with your erstwhile best friend!' He'd love that, I'm sure."

Pacey snorted, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "Yeah." Then he was gazing at her, his blue eyes going all warm and soft as his mouth curved into a smirk. "Romantic, huh?"

She suddenly felt all tingly inside and pursed her lips to fight a stupid grin from forming on her face. God, he was irresistible. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to resist. "Um, so about those separate sleeping arrangements…"

"Right. There's gotta be a hardware store around here we can check out. I could try to make another bunk… Possibly. That could take a while, though. Or a sporting goods store? I could get an air mattress, maybe. We could set it up in the main cabin."

A feeling that she was putting him out welled up inside. "I don't think it'll be easy to create two separate sleeping quarters. I mean, there's not a ton of room. I don't want to impose, or mess up your whole layout down there. And after you worked so hard, Pacey. I know I'm a last-minute stowaway, basically, and you weren't planning on…"

He reached over and took her hand. Before she realized what he intended, he lifted her fingers and pressed his mouth to the back of her hand. "I want you to impose on me, Jo. I want you to impose on me for the rest of my life."

Joey let out a shaky breath, her insides melting to pure mush. Without thought or care, she leaned over and pressed her lips to his. He tasted like cinnamon and sugar. The warmth of the innocent kiss spread through her body like lightning. "I love you," she murmured against his mouth.

He stroked her hair, a Cheshire-cat smile on his face. "I know."

Laughing, she rolled her eyes and sat back up, ripping off a piece of her own gooey cinnamon roll and popping it in her mouth.

When they finished their coffee, they walked out of the café hand-in-hand and continued down the street. She loved the feel of his hand holding hers, the safety and warmth of him. A drug store soon came into her view. "We should stop there," she said, pointing towards it.

"Okay, but we gotta be back in the marina before it's too late, remember. And you still need to get some clothes."

"Trust me, Pace. You want me to buy a toothbrush and deodorant."

Minutes later they were walking through the doors of Ocean Park Pharmacy. Her mind quickly ran down a list of items she would need over the next several months. "Um, Pacey?"

He turned his head and looked at her.

"Do you mind if I shop by myself?" she asked hesitantly, feeling her cheeks redden. "I can meet you here at the door in a few minutes."

"Why?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

"Well… I just need to get some personal stuff. You know…" She lowered her gaze from his and could feel her face getting redder, inwardly chiding herself for her own silly embarrassment. "Girl stuff."

Pacey smiled knowingly. "Sure. There's a patio and outdoor furniture place across the street. I'll go check that out while you shop."

He let go of her hand and started walking away. She smiled as she watched him, her heart full. He hadn't made it to the door when he turned back around. "Jo? You really don't need to be embarrassed about this stuff. I have three sisters."

"Exactly, Pace. Remember what I said about keeping the mystery alive?"

He laughed and turned away.

She smiled, and then when he disappeared from view, grabbed a shopping basket. Walking up and down aisles, she collected a new toothbrush along with toothpaste and mouthwash, a stick of deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, hairbrush, razor and shaving cream, and SPF thirty sunscreen. Then she went in search of tampons. She quickly found what she needed. Placing a box in her basket and turning, she suddenly found herself facing a large display of condoms.

Joey stared, before quickly glancing around, not wanting anyone to catch her looking, as if what she was doing was wrong, somehow. She could almost hear Jen's voice, cursing society and the patriarchy. Glancing back at the display, she began to read. Good lord, there were so many. Plain ones, gold ones, lambskin ones, and ribbed ones in various sizes. She didn't know which size Pacey would need, but he was six-foot-two and his hands and feet were big, she mused, chewing her lip to stop herself from smiling.

Yet that was all the attention she planned on giving the subject because thinking about Pacey putting on a condom made her face burn, her stomach flutter, and her center spasm. And it was not helping her goal, which was… what? To wait for the right time, she supposed. But when was the right time? She didn't know—she just knew it wasn't right now.

When her gaze fell on glow-in-the-dark condoms, she couldn't help giggling. She quickly threw her hand over her mouth. From somewhere behind her towards the front of the store, Pacey called out, "Is that you laughing, Potter?"

Oh, my God. She bolted from the aisle.

His hand on the tiller, he kept the True Love's direction steady as they sailed through the Vineyard Sound. As promised, he had to make sure the boat veered no farther out than five miles from shore, although that was currently not much of a problem as Martha's Vineyard was only seven miles from the mainland. But he remembered his dad on many a fishing trip talking about how notorious the cross-current was in the Sound, and kept one hand firm on the tiller and the other on the taut rope that went to the boom. Up ahead, land came into view, and he changing their direction to sail by it instead of straight at it.

"Is that the Cape?" Joey asked. "Or probably not? I don't see the Nobska Lighthouse."

"No, we're past the Cape. It's one of the Elizabeth Islands. We're gonna sail around them and make for the Rhode Island coast. I think this one on our right here is the largest—Naushon Island."

She gazed out ahead. "The Elizabeth Islands, huh? You think the Forbes family would let us look around?"

He chuckled. "Doubtful." A memory stirred, something he hadn't thought about in years. "You know, my dad used to threaten to send me to the Penikese Island School for Boys all the time."

"The reform school for delinquents?" She threw him a look of wide-eyed disbelief.

"Yep. Also, fun fact: Penikese Island was home to the one and only leper colony in Massachusetts. My dad loved telling me all about it. It'd give me nightmares when I was a kid."

She frowned, gazing out at the island's shoreline. "Your dad's a jerk."

Heaving a sigh, he nodded. "You don't know the half of it," he muttered under his breath. Seeing the look of concern spread across her face, her eyes saddening with worry, he gave her an easy smile. "So, uh, the last time we were in the state of Rhode Island, we had to go to a mental health facility. I think this time around will be a lot more fun, don't you think?"

Joey shook her head, smiling, the sparkle in her eyes returning. "Perhaps Rhode Island is best seen sailing right by it."

He laughed, thoughts of his father fading away.

For the next few hours they sailed under the sun. Connected with each other, body and soul, their hearts beat a little faster whenever they touched and quicker still when they gazed adoringly into each other's eyes. He never wanted to see the light fade from her eyes. Those fiery, passionate eyes that told him she loved him.

Earlier in the day, after they'd finished the rest of their shopping and returned to the boat, Pacey sure had been thankful they'd made it back in the nick of time to avoid another dock fee, and Joey wondered just how much money he had to sponsor this summer voyage. He had used the diesel motor until they were out of the harbor and in sight of open waters, and then she helped him raise the sails. The wind was favorable, and they had soon made their way out of the Vineyard Sound.

"Time to put up the Bimini," he said once they were in the open waters heading for Rhode Island.

She had been covering her arms and shoulders with sunscreen. Her brows knitted. "Um… the what?" she laughed.

He smiled and stepped over to the cabintop and began unfolding a large white canvas cloth fitted over a metal frame. "Biminis are to a sailboat cockpit what air-conditioning is to a house in Florida. It'll give us shade from the sun and protection from UV rays. Otherwise, we'd never be able to be out here all day long and actually enjoy it, and sunburns are no picnic. It was expensive, but worth it."

She looked up at the makeshift awning that was now over her head. "There goes the sun," she said glumly.

"You'll thank me in July and August, Jo, believe me."

The sun would surely be much hotter once they were in Key West. "I'm sure I will."

"Okay, First Mate," he announced, excitedly rubbing his palms together. "I'm heading below deck to work on the new sleeping arrangements. You keep watch. Holler if you need me."

"Are you going to tell me what those arrangements are now?"

He grinned, said, "Just wait and see," and then disappeared below.

Earlier when she'd stood at the register and paid for her items at the drug store, he had waited for her near the door, carrying a large white plastic bag with a blue Vineyard Patio & Spa logo etched across the side. When she asked what was in the bag, he had said it was a surprise. Then he'd sat on a bench with the bag between his legs while she picked out clothes at the Pequot Second Hand Shop, and still wouldn't tell her what was in it. When she'd asked him if they were going to look for a hardware or sporting goods store, he had said they no longer needed to, and her curiosity about the bag piqued even more.

While he was below, Joey sat back and relaxed under the Bimini top. The sun rose high in the sky, casting its beautiful rays on the ocean. She gazed at the red and orange hues reflected on the surface as the boat moved across the water. It was so tranquil and peaceful. She felt happy and content. Today her life was perfect.

He emerged carrying a package wrapped in brown paper, grinning from ear to ear. He set it on her lap. "For you," he said.

Her eyes went wide with surprise. "You got me something?" He only smiled in reply, and she tore open the package. She discarded the paper, revealing a sketch pad, pencils, watercolor paper, paints, and brushes. "Oh, Pacey," she breathed, staring down at her gifts. She couldn't remember seeing anything like this in the stores they shopped in. "When did you get this?"

"I snuck out while you were trying on clothes," he explained. "There's only so much sitting and waiting a guy can do, ya know? I asked one of the shop girls if there was a place nearby where I could get some art supplies and she told me A.C. Moore was just around the corner."

Joey smiled, touched by his thoughtful gift. "Thank you, Pacey."

He shrugged. "It was nothing. There's no TV, although I do have a radio-slash-CD-player, but I figured you'd like to have something to do in the long hours we'll be spending on the boat. Well, whenever the inclination strikes you."

She set the art supplies aside and stood up, reaching for him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, the solid feel of him making heat spread up from her core to add to her joy. Joey ran her fingers through the short hair above his ears, tugged his head down to hers and poured out everything she felt for him in a kiss full of happiness and desire and the rush of emotion that no longer had to be denied.

And then he took her hand. "Come and see," he invited. "I wanna show you where we'll be sleeping."

Her eyes widened with excitement and she followed him down into the cabin. She saw two hammocks hanging from the rafters, one on top of the other, and she laughed in disbelief, her mouth falling open. "Oh, my goodness."

"Do you like it?" he asked hesitantly, unsure of her reaction.

"Like it? This is genius, Pacey. I mean… the way your mind works. Never in a million years would I have thought of something like this." Her heart filled with love for him. "Thank you for doing this."

Averting his eyes from hers, he shrugged. "You don't need to thank me. It was nothing."

Joey shook her head, moving closer to him, her hands gripping his waist. "You're amazing," she said softly. "You need to know that, Pace. I can't stand the thought of you thinking you don't deserve to be thanked for everything you do for me. You need to know in your heart that you're an amazing person. There's no one like you."

He gazed at her, his heart swelling, beating louder. He brushed her lips with his fingertips. He moved his hand gently down her neck, over her collarbone, onto the soft skin below. He could barely breathe. "I love you," he whispered.

He kissed her, as if to punctuate the emotion he was feeling. He kissed her, because she felt like his other half, as though all the missing pieces of him had fallen into place, making him whole for the first time in his life. He kissed her, because, even if he had nothing else, he had her. None of the rest mattered. Just her. Just her and him, together.

With a soft sigh, she melted into his kiss. Her hands ran up his back as she pressed closer, his arms going around her. His kiss was tender and passionate, but there was an aching sweetness in this kiss that hadn't been there before. For a brief moment, she relished being that close to him, yet it wasn't close enough. The desire he was stirring within her was undeniable and it felt so good. She didn't want it to end.

But she had to pull away, her heart racing, more thankful than ever for the new separate sleeping arrangements.

In the late afternoon, Joey laid out on the deck of the forward bow, letting the sun warm her skin and lull her to sleep. She dreamt that Pacey had changed, had grown older and more serious, but still the man she loved, and he arrived right before her wedding to a stranger, picked her up on his white horse and carried her away to a white castle in the clouds. She woke up to waves crashing against the hull as they sailed into Narragansett Bay beneath the setting sun.

Except for the occasional change of course to avoid a fishing boat or a yacht, little correction was needed to stay on course. When Rhode Island came into his view on the horizon, he knew he was just over three miles from the coast. He maintained a steady south-westerly direction while Joey napped in the sun. That evening, they anchored outside Newport.

With his help, Joey got into the top hammock on the second attempt. He covered her with a thin blanket and then nudged the hammock until it began to rock as she yawned and closed her eyes. He got into the hammock beneath her. Quietly they swung in their hammocks, enjoying the gentle sway of the boat. The sound of the ocean. The happiness and peace of being together. And being in love.

Mitch Leery was right, he thought, remembering a long ago conversation as he closed his eyes. Home is what a man feels in his heart.

And his home was with Joey.

The next day, traffic on the water soon increased once Rhode Island was behind them. Like an autumn jam of leaves on the creek, the ocean became clogged with boats and vessels. It had been about fourteen hours since they'd lifted anchor outside Newport, and he knew they must be approaching New York City. Joey then helped him maneuver the boat to get safely around the flow of traffic.

They soon found themselves sailing by the Long Island coastline. "Do you think we could get closer to shore?" Joey suddenly asked.

"Yeah, sure."

It wasn't very long until he'd closed the distance between the True Love and Long Island to about half a mile. As they sailed by beachfront property that bespoke of wealth and luxury, he watched Joey pull out her sketch pad and pencils. His heart swelled as he watched her draw, frowning and biting on the end of a pencil. She was bent over the sketch pad, her hand moving across the page as she split her attention between the coastline and what she was creating. He noticed she was able to draw perfectly straight lines without using a ruler, which impressed him. Watching her at work doing something she loved, something she was incredibly good at, he found the sight of her like this very moving.

"Are you gonna let me see it when you're done?" he asked.

"Perhaps," she replied teasingly, pulling out some colored pencils. "What do you think it would be like to live in the Hamptons?"

He gazed over at the shore as they sailed by yet another mansion. "Other than the close proximity to Manhattan, life is probably not much different than on the Cape. You'd be surrounded by uptight, rich white people."

Joey gazed down at her drawing. "Better to be rich than poor."

"Maybe in some ways," he admitted. "Others… probably not."

"I'm sure their lives are way easier, Pace."

"Easier, sure, but not necessarily happier."

She chewed on her lip and said nothing more, and then bent over the sketch pad to continue drawing.

The traffic became even more congested as they neared New York Harbor, and he took the boat further out from the coastline to avoid it. They crossed state lines into New Jersey just as the sun began to set, and he decided to drop anchor two miles off-shore from Highlands Beach. Then he took out his fishing pole, baited the hook, and cast the reel over the side of the boat. "I'm gonna catch us some dinner."

When they retired inside the cabin, Joey revealed her finished drawing of the Long Island coastline featuring a Hamptons beach house and its landscaping. His eyes widened as she offered it over, and he took it into his hands. It looked so alive, so real, and wondered how that was even possible to do just with pencils. "This is great. You are so talented, Jo."

She averted her eyes, embarrassed. "Thanks, Pace."

"I know I'm a tad biased here, Jo, but you could sell this. It's that good."

"Well, I don't know about that. I'm just happy I drew something at all. This is the first time I've been inspired to do anything even remotely artistic in months."

An indescribable feeling welled up inside him. She was an amazing woman. He took the drawing and propped it up against the wall of the cabin. After taking the prepared fish fillets over to the galley, he heated up the frying pan and cooked their supper. They spoke excitedly about their next port of call while they ate, anticipating what new sights lay in store for them in Atlantic City.

"I wonder if Bessie emailed me back," Joey commented after eating the last bite of her fish.

"Hopefully she didn't have a stroke," he snarked.

"I really hope she's not upset, but if she is, then… Well, she'll get over it." Her hand reached across the table, meeting his fingers in a sensual twining, and she gazed at him with a warm smile. "Thank you for the meal. It was delicious."

He beamed at her praise. She was looking at him with such pride and love, it made his chest swell.

The pans and dishes were soon washed and put away. After brushing his teeth over the sink and changing into a tank top and sweats, he returned to the cabin and sat down in the nook on the bench beside Joey, now wearing pajamas. She slid closer, her arms going around his shoulders, and kissed him. He held onto her and kissed her back, passionate and possessive. Her mouth was soft and yielding and full of promises. They kissed like that for some time, and when they finally came up for air, they looked into one another's eyes with such emotion that he couldn't stand it.

"I'm gonna go up and do one last check before bed," he told her before escaping above deck for a breather.

Lights dotted the shoreline. The night was cool, and he enjoyed the sting of air on his overheated skin. God, she was beautiful. He liked her pajamas. He liked her bare feet. He liked the smile she wore for him. He liked her mouth on his. Liked watching her eyes flutter closed. Liked hearing the sounds she made at the back of her throat. Liked the feel of her palms on his chest and how her body leaned into his. He liked it all way too much. Spending three months in an enclosed space alone with her was going to be a challenge.

He had wanted no other woman as much as he wanted Joey, but he was bound and determined not to screw this up. When he'd been infatuated with Tamara, he had rushed into sex at the first opportunity. And with Andie, he thought they had waited until the right time, but they honestly didn't wait that long. Judging by that success rate, he didn't want to do anything too fast, too soon with Joey. He knew she wasn't ready for that either, and he wanted things to be different with her. He wanted this to last forever.

Later, after he helped Joey climb into her hammock, he got into his own below her and stared over at her drawing. Being with him on the boat had inspired her. He felt the same way. She inspired him like no one, like nothing ever had before. He was starting to realize why he'd built this boat. When he started back in the fall, he didn't have any real idea. It was just something to throw himself into so he could get his mind off his heartbreak. It was something to get him out of the house.

Looking back, he should've realized the real reason behind it when he had chosen the name True Love and she had been the first person he'd thought of to include in his plans to build the boat, just like laying tracks down long before a train would ever come. As Joey's hand dropped down from her hammock and he reached up to hold it, entwining their fingers, he knew exactly why he had built this boat.

He built it for her.