His silliness makes me laugh, and I relax into his embrace. “No, because I’m the captain now.”
Suddenly, Lio’s excited voice interrupts the moment. “Look, look! Whales, Uncle Nash!”
Nash and I turn our attention to the ocean before us. In the distance, magnificent humpback whales breach the surface, their massive bodies gleaming in the sunlight as they gracefully glide through the water. I gasp in amazement, my heart soaring with joy.
This is even better than I imagined.
“Looks like we’ve got company. Good work, Li-Li.” Nash smiles proudly at Lio before his hands come over mine on the wheel to navigate. “Hold on tight, captain,” he whispers, his voice filled with excitement. “We’re getting closer.”
In the distance, a massive plume of water shoots into the air, catching the sunlight and creating a shimmering spectacle. Lio gasps in amazement, his eyes wide with wonder. I can hardly believe my eyes as the magnificent creature breaches the surface, revealing its enormous body, glistening and powerful.
The whale’s tail flukes gracefully, and it dives back into the ocean with a splash, leaving behind a trail of frothy waves. Nash explains the whale’s behavior to Lio, but his words are distant, a mere background hum to the awe that fills my senses.
This is what life’s about.
We watch as more whales appear, their sheer size incredible. They glide through the water with grace, their songs echoing through the air, a haunting melody that resonates deep within my soul.
Nash’s hand on my lower back brings me back to the present. “What do you think, pretty girl?” he asks, smiling. “Amazing, isn’t it?”
I can only nod in agreement, my heart overflowing with gratitude.
He made this possible for me.
We stay a little longer, but after a while, the whales swim out deeper into the ocean, and we agree that it is time to head back to the harbor.
At the beach, Lio wants to collect some sea glass for Hunter, so we take a leisurely stroll down the shoreline. Lio is fully absorbed in searching for the colorful pieces among the pebble stones while Nash and I walk side-by-side behind him.
A chill rushes down my neck once more, and I spot Jessica next to Lio, pointing out sea glass for him, even though he clearly can’t see her. I notice how she avoids making eye contact with me, so I redirect my attention to Nash crouching down to pick up some sea glass himself.
“I should have brought my camera,” I lament, regretting that I forgot it in my excitement.
“We can come out here to photograph them as often as you want, Siren,” Nash reassures me and stands beside me, opening his palm. Inside, he holds a piece of green glass that resembles a marble. He takes my hand and places it inside.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and he smiles at me.
“The waves of green, they shimmer and sway. In your hazel eyes, they come out to play,” he mutters, but his gaze remains fixed on the ground.
I laugh. “What was that?” He just shrugs, but I can’t let it go. “Did you just rhyme? Or was that a rap?”
“Words are my thing,” he shares before he steps closer. I stop, glancing at Lio, who is still a few feet away, sitting on the ground with some sea glass on his lap. “Although you wouldn’t believe that, since around you, I seem to lose the ability to make sense of them.”
“True, because what are you even saying?” I laugh, furrowing my brow.
This doesn’t sound like the friends-with-benefits, no-strings-attached Nash I got last time.
“Here, you need to hold this,” he tells me, holding out his hand curled in a fist, concealing whatever is in it. I assume he wants to give me another piece of sea glass, so I reach out my hand. Instead, he uncurls his fist and interlocks his fingers with mine.
A laugh bursts through my lips.
Saylor would fully approve of this move.
The thought makes me sad, but warmth spreads in my chest when my gaze meets Nash’s again, already grinning mischievously at me.
“You have no shame.” I laugh, secretly enjoying his playful antics a bit too much.
Oh, well. I’m already fucked.
“And that surprises who?” he asks, glancing over at Lio, who is still engrossed in his activity, before stepping in front of me. “I’m sorry for how I talked to you last time, Sloan. That was out of line.”
