27
BECKETT
Age 19
I felt like I was going to be sick. My stomach was tied up in knots and my palms were shaking. I still wasn’t sure I was making the right choice.
“You’ll be fine,” Tosh said as she pulled me in for a squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”
Ben pressed his lips together in a small smile. He knew the real reason I’d signed my life away. Tosh did too, she just chose to think it was for a more noble reason.
“Will you tell me, if he…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Tosh sighed. It was the same question I’d asked a few times a day. “Yes, Beckett, I’ll let you know if we hear from Riley. But it’s been eight months. I don’t see him coming back now.”
My eyes fell, and I blinked away the tears threatening to come. I still didn’t understand why he hadn’t called or written. Or why he had to leave in the first place. I knew in my heart he’d come back to me if he could.
Ben’s arms were suddenly around me. “If I do see him,” he whispered, “I’m going to kick his ass for breaking your heart and then I’m going to ship him to you in a tiny crate, so you can kick it too. Deal?”
I let out a choked laugh, hugging him back. Out of anyone, he’d been the most supportive and understanding during Riley’s disappearance. Well, anyone besides Tracy and Harold. They missed Riley just as much as I did.
When I turned to get on the bus taking me to boot camp, I was drowning in defeat. I couldn’t help but feel like maybe I should let the trainers use me as target practice. What was the point of living if Riley wasn’t around anymore?
***
I was aching in more ways than one when I pulled onto Ted Summers’ street. My muscles were deliciously sore from making love to Riley several times throughout the night, my shoulder ached from where Riley bit into me to stifle his cries of ecstasy, and my chest… well, my chest hurt for an entirely different reason. It had been so hard to say goodbye to Riley a few hours ago, even though I knew it was only temporary. I’d been like a high schooler, chasing after him not just once but twice for another kiss through his window. Neither of us knew when we’d be able to visit each other before I could move to Reedsport and the unknown timeframe made our separation feel like an eternity. I missed him so much already.
Ted’s large two-story house rested on nearly eight acres of beautifully landscaped property. A fountain rested in the middle of the circular driveway and a set of wide stairs led up to the oversized front door. Ted greeted me when I knocked, leading me through his immaculate home to a casual dining room where another man waited for us. He introduced me to the nearly identical man as his younger brother, Cameron, before offering me a glass of wine.
I set the box and my paperwork on the table in front of me, hoping this wouldn’t take long. I was usually excited to close a case, but all I cared about right now was getting this over with, so I could figure out what I needed to do to pack up my life and move to Reedsport.
“We can’t thank you enough, Beckett,” Ted said. “We are thrilled with your success.”
“Thank you. So am I,” I said with a chuckle. I wasn’t thinking about the box, I was thinking about how this case helped me solve the one mystery I’d been trying to crack since long before I started my P.I. business. This case led me to Riley.
I opened the folder and pulled out what I needed, sliding a piece of paper across the table for Ted to sign. I learned early on in my career as a P.I. when it came to returning personal items, I needed proof that they were indeed returned to the owner’s possession.
Cameron’s eyes gleamed as he reached for the box, delicately holding it between his fingers. “I haven’t seen this since… God, I think I was five.”
“I was seven,” Ted said. “Uncle Ryan’s wedding, do you remember?”
“Oh, that’s right! Grandpa let Ryan and Celeste choose their honeymoon destination.”
They shared a look before glancing back at me with such joy in their face. “Have I told you anything about our family history, Beckett?”
Ted and I met through a mutual acquaintance a few years ago, and outside of knowing about his grandfather’s recent passing, I knew very little about the man. “No, I don’t think so.”
He nodded. “Well, our ancestors were sailors.”
“Pirates, Ted. They were pirates,” Cameron said with a laugh.
Ted gave an exasperated sigh. “Originally, yes, but they formed a strong fleet known as the Summer Shadow Stars. Six ships that sailed the seven seas together, looking for profit. They were quite good at it, too. Tradesman, merchants, you get the idea.”
“Pirates,” Cameron coughed.
“They were the strongest fleet in the world a few hundred years ago and were often trusted to transport prestigious families and other precious cargo in exchange for various treasures, including land. Anyway, what made our fleet different was that it was mostly comprised of three families. Their surnames were Summers, Shadow, and Star. They traveled together for a long time, only breaking up for the occasional job if there was a need for it.”
I sat back in my chair, completely fascinated with the story. I could barely believe what I was hearing. I’d often dreamed of a life on a ship, traveling from place to place and sleeping under the stars. It was one of the reasons I had so many model ships at home. Something about them just spoke freedom to me. I doubted I’d ever actually live on a ship if the chance came up, but it was still a dream I hadn’t been able to let go of.
