Seeing Nash back to his cocky, happy, and healthy self still shoots a warm feeling through me. We were all so worried about him, but he recovered quickly, way faster than we could have hoped for.
He was already awake the day after his near-drowning and went home after just another few nights in the hospital. They kept him in to monitor his lungs, which were irritated from all the salt water he inhaled.
Steven and the greenhorn were pulled out of the ocean withThe Saylor.They hadlanded behind the storm, where they waited until it was safe to return to the harbor. Both are doing fine and still working with Nash because he’s a way tougher cookie than the rest of us.
When the doctor gave him the okay, he was back on the ocean, working the boats like nothing happened. I think I can speak for North, Hunter, and myself when I say we will never set foot on a boat again. I’m not sure about Sloan, but I think she would always return to a nice weather whale-watching adventure with Nash and Lio, given the way she raved about it to me.
“Look who we have here,” Hunter’s voice echoes through the hallway as he catches sight of me.
“Seems like the Jones Four are under one roof again.” North smiles as they step up to me. He grabs the bag from my shoulder, puts it over his, and pulls me into a fierce hug. “Fucking finally,” he whispers in my ear while he squeezes me tightly.
My nose burns as he lets me go, and I can see tears brim in his eyes too. “Thanks, Thundercunt.”
Hunter laughs a belly laugh before he puts a hand on my shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Approaching the exit, I can’t help but try to look through the glass door and see behind it.
“She’s waiting at home. There wasn’t enough room for all of us in the car,” Nash tells me with a grin, and I deflate a little.
Fuck.
I let myself take a deep breath when we make it outside.
It’s fine. She’s waiting at home. She was here every fucking day.
It’s fine that she’s not here to pick me up.
I step up to the passenger door, but Hunter once again puts a hand on my shoulder. “Near-death experiences don’t change the seating order. The youngest get in the back.”
“Hunter, we’re over thirty, at least most of us.” I glance at Nash, who huffs a laugh and gives me the finger. “I was in a fucking coma, just now released from the hospital. And still, youwant to enforce the rules North made when he was sixteen and got his driver’s license?”
North and Hunter glance at each other and nod, voicing in unison, “Yes.”
“I tell you, I’m so fucking happy to have you back. At least it’s not two against one anymore,” Nash mutters as we climb into the back of the BMW, and I lay my crutch down at our feet.
The drive seems shorter than it is while they chatter and laugh. I’m just basking in the fact that I’m around all of them, being seen and heard. Although I’m distracted, my thoughts on her.
Is she not happy to have me back?
I can’t fucking wait to lay in my bed with her, hold her close, snuggle all night.
I hope she still feels the same.
Finally, we drive into Lubec, but North drives straight by our house. I turn to watch it go past us through the window. “I mean, I know I was away for a long time, but did we move?”
Nash cackles, and Hunter snickers in the front when North explains, “No, we didn’t. Your room is waiting for you like you left it. But we have somewhere important to go first.”
I’m ready to push open the door as he slowly drives to the shore and just jump out and walk back to the house myself. I waited so fucking damn long for her. I don’t give a fuck what he thinks is important.
Important is getting to her.
“North,” I grit out through clenched teeth when we stop next to the lighthouse.
I want to tell him to drive me back to the house, but a flicker outside next to the lighthouse catches my eye. When I look out of the window, into the dusk, Van-essa is parked at the beach, a bonfire lit in front of her, some fairy lights strung around her, and Slo is making her way to the BMW, wringing her hands.
“We can’t wait to have you back home, but we’re willing to wait a night longer,” Hunter tells me as he turns in the passenger seat to look at me.
“She missed you and can’t wait to see you, so be good to our girl.” North smiles at me through the rearview mirror.
