“Fine,” I tell them. “Let’s go steal my boat back.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
—NOA
Just inside the Surf Shackoffice is the key box, and I pluck off the key ring for theSweet Caroline.I hand it to Jamie, and he glances at it as if he’s just found his lost puppy. And I can’t help it—I wish I could kiss him again. That moment was… well, it was everything.
An ending to the past. A step into the future.
For the first time in a while, there wasn’t pain hiding just below the surface. There was us. Simply us. And, of course, his lips, because he’s still the fucking best at that.
“We’ve got to go,” I say, grabbing his hand to pull him out into the fading sunlight.
“I brought some snacks,” Shawn announces as she arrives at the dock. She has a piece of licorice between her teeth, and she tugs on the red candy until it snaps. She nods to Jamie. “Nice to see you, Captain,” she tells him.
“You, too,” he replies. “And thanks again for bailing me out.”
She grins. “Not me,” she says. “You can thank one of your own for that.”
Jamie looks confused, as we haven’t had time to discuss the Jordan situation with him yet. Actually, we have a lot to stay about Jordan, but for now, we have to get moving.
Tech walks up, putting his arms around both of them. “Let’s go before the boss gets back,” he says, motioning to my father out onThe Tarpon.
He’s been at it for a while, cleaning out some of the gear. I’m sure my father has heard about the fight at the resort by now, but I also think he’s avoiding me. He has been since the detectives came by to talk about my brother. Or maybe I’m the one avoiding him.
We all get in Jamie’s boat, our course plotted for Keewaydin Island. As we push away from the dock, I see Jamie looking up at the resort, as if waiting for someone. He doesn’t look scared; he looks sad. Like he’s hoping someone will eventually come looking for him.
In a way, I hope they do, just so he can feel vindicated. But either way, he deserves better than how his parents have treated him. And I don’t have to tell him that.
The sun has long set by the time we reach Naples, the sky still holding hints of an orange-and-yellow glow on the horizon. I stand next to Jamie, the boat gliding slowly this close to the shallows. He leans into me and we watch the sky, contented by it. Peaceful, despite everything going on in our lives.
Jamie glances down at me, a flash of attraction in his eyes. Confidence. “Do we need to talk about earlier?” he asks.
I bite back my smile. “I’m good. Doyouneed to talk about it?”
“Oh, no. I think I was pretty clear.”
I laugh, getting on my tiptoes as I put my hand on his chest to move closer. “You definitely were,” I murmur as he leans down to kiss me.
“Ah, so we’re doing this again?” Shawn calls to us from across the boat.
“We are so surprised,” Tech responds flatly.
“Shocked,” Shawn adds.
Both Jamie and I laugh, and he gives me another quick kiss before focusing again on the water. I wrap my arm around his, leaning intohim as we head toward Keewaydin Island. The wind in our hair. The past behind us.
It’s just after nine p.m. when we arrive at the dock.
“You said your great-aunt is, like, eighty years old?” Jamie asks Tech as he ties off the boat. “Do you think she’ll be up this late?”
“I’ve never met her,” Tech says. “But if she’s anything like my grandma, I’m sure she’s still up watching her shows. I’m thinking we walk by her place and see if the lights are on. Otherwise, maybe we stay the night on the boat and visit in the morning.”
Keewaydin Island is very small, about eight miles. Luckily for us, the dock is only a few blocks from Tech’s great-aunt’s home. As we approach the property, I’m struck by its charm.
Compared to some of the large, grand-scale homes, this is a modest ranch. Beautiful, exotic plants line the small porch, two rocking chairs set there. It’s relaxing. Serene.
There is a light on in the living room, the glow of the TV reflected in the window.
