They introduced themselves and handed us wetsuits, which we struggled into before climbing aboard. John pushed off the dock and we drifted for a few seconds before the engine purred to life. Bones and I sat in the center bench seat with Markie between us. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as the engine revved and the boat picked up speed. A smile spread across her face, and her hair whipping back in the wind. She laughed.
"What's so funny?" I yelled over the sound of the motor.
"The salty air. It feels like a million kisses on my face. I love it!"
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her. She squeezed my hand but didn't open her eyes. The boat slowed and came to a stop beside a marker in the water. Tom killed the engine and John stood.
John gave us a quick lesson on the equipment, and then John, Bones, Markie, and I splashed into the water. We followed John down to a world of kelp and coral, surrounded by brightly colored fish, where the rest of the world ceased to exist. Markie's eyes were bright and big in her mask as she reached out to touch a passing fish. Sea lions appeared. One nipped at the tip of Markie's flipper before swimming away. She pointed to it and gave me a dramatic thumbs up.
Even Bones had a good time. Head on a swivel, he seemed determined to see everything. We watched fish and sea lions for a while and even managed to catch sight of a couple stingrays before John motioned for us to head up. By the time I breached the surface, Bones was already climbing back into the boat. The sun was high over the city, its reflection dancing across the waves.
I waited for Markie and John to pop up, but they didn't. Bones had removed his mask and was scanning the water from the boat. Worried something had happened, I dove back down to search for them. Finally, I spotted John holding Markie by the arm as they slowly crept toward the surface. Markie had both hands on her head. My heart lurched in my chest as they drew closer.
As soon as we surfaced I pulled the regulator out of my mouth and asked what happened.
She freed her mouth. "Headache. It's fine. I'm fine."
But she wasn't. I could see it in her eyes. John and I helped her into the back of the boat. Then she leaned over the side and got sick. Multiple times. I didn't know if I should look away and give her privacy or hold her hair. In the end, I patted her back.
When she was done, she apologized and slid down to the seat, hands still on her head. Her face was pale. Eerily pale.
"Nothing to be sorry about. What's going on? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just a migraine. I get them, sometimes. Will you please hand me my purse?" She pointed in the direction of her bag.
I passed it to her and she reached in and pulled out a prescription pill bottle. She popped a pill into her mouth and Tom handed her a bottle of water. Then Bones offered her a mint.
She accepted both before leaning against me and closing her eyes. "It's not a big deal. It'll pass. I just need a minute. The change of pressure must have just been too much."
Bones and John shed their gear and wet suits, while I draped my arm over Markie's shoulders and pulled her closer. Tom started up the boat and took us back to shore. I could tell he was trying to be careful, but every time the boat hit a wave, Markie winced.
Back at the dock, she and I climbed into the backseat of the Hummer while Bones got behind the wheel. We were almost to the hotel when my phone buzzed. Father was calling to find out about the deal.
With Markie leaning against me, and my decision to wait to call him weighing on my mind, I felt like I was navigating through a minefield. I needed to tread carefully. "I was just opening my phone to call you," I told the old man. "Deal's off. They got a better offer."
"A better offer?" Father swore. "Who?"
"He didn't say."
"I trust that you and Bones are on your way home?" Father asked.
"Almost. We're stopping by the hotel to grab our stuff. We'll be on the road in ten, maybe fifteen minutes max."
"I have a bad feeling about this, Angel. You guys be careful and hurry your asses home."
"Yessir."
He disconnected the call.
I pocketed my phone and squeezed Markie a little closer, knowing our precious moments together were slipping away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Angel
WE MADE IT back to the suite. Markie crashed on the sofa with a pillow over her head while Bones and I packed our things and collected her bag. My phone rang again, this time with an anonymous number. Wondering who it could be, I closed the door to my room before answering so as not to wake up Markie.
"D'Angelo."
