Rocking the Boat, Drowning Our Love
In this canal town, if a guy wants to woo his sweetheart, he needs to build a boat with his own hands and make it his wedding boat.
On my seventh year dating anniversary, my boyfriend, Declan Johnson, hosts a launch ceremony for his new boat.
Those who are present at the ceremony cheer loudly. I can feel my heart beating wildly in my chest.
When I'm about to board the boat, I hear Declan's friend murmuring to him, "Are you seriously giving the boat to Paige? Aren't you worried that Raelynn might pick a fight with you?"
"Precisely! Raelynn is a temperamental one! What if you crossed a line?"
The next moment, Declan's voice rings out—casual yet confident.
"No way. Raelynn is completely wrapped around my finger. After all, she's madly in love with me. Besides, in this town, the fact that a woman doesn't get married by the age of 28 makes her a hag. There's no way she has the guts to start anything.
"At the end of the day, I'm giving Raelynn a marriage certificate and Paige a wedding boat. This is a fair decision. In a way, it… it helps me to put an old regret to rest."
So, Declan still has regrets just by marrying me, huh?
Apparently, I'm also wrapped around his finger, and I'll become a hag soon.
Those words hurt my ears.
My throat closes up slightly, but I don't cry at all. Instead, I pull out my phone and send a text.
"I'll listen to you, Mom. Since I'm already 28 years old, I'm no longer waiting for him."