Wyatt was on the front porch when we arrived, sipping what looked like iced tea from a glass. He stood to greet us, but I didn’t get out of the car, just rolling down my window to wave at him. He was worn down as he had been earlier in the week and it worried me. Was he not sleeping well? Could he be sick? I wasn’t sure how to ask if he was okay, without making it sound rude. We didn’t have that kind of relationship. At most, I was just his kid’s coach.
“Still coming tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. Your bushes definitely need a good trim. I’ll just need to borrow some tools, but I’ll get them cleaned up for you.”
He smiled. “Anything I have, you’re free to use.”
“Gracias.”
Harrison waved as he came around the car. “Bye, Rey… wait, I mean,adios!”
I waved. “Hasta luego.See you on Saturday, Harris.”
I headed back to the inn to change out of my work clothes before walking the two blocks down to the docks. Jake was already there, leaning against the railing. When he didn’t turn at the sound of my footsteps, I decided to have a little fun, sneaking up behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist. Jake startled, almost dropping whatever it was he was holding, and immediately swung an arm back to disarm me before he saw who it was and stopped.
He heaved a breath. “Shit, Rey! You scared me.”
I laughed. “Sorry. Guess I shouldn’t try to surprise a cop.”
“Definitely not. You were a split second away from a broken nose.”
“Sorry,” I said again, still smiling.
“Jake? You there?”
When Jake glanced back at his hand, I saw he was on a video call with his mom. I made an apologetic look and started to step away, but he pulled me back to him. “Better say hi, or she’ll just call again.”
When he held the phone out for both of us to fit in the screen, I took it as an invitation to step in behind him. It was completely instinctual to slide my arms around Jake, and I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved when he settled back into my embrace.
“Sorry, Mom. Bad timing on Rey’s part,” he said with an accusatory look over his shoulder. “He startled me just as I answered.”
“That’s okay. Hi, boys!”
“Hi, Mom!” I teased, waving a hand in front of the camera. I’d always loved to video chat but could never get my family to sit still long enough to stay on the screen when we tried.
Katheryn grinned at me. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your time together. I can let you go.”
“No, you’re fine. Is there a reason you called?” Jake asked.
She looked like she was about to say something and changed her mind. “I just wanted to say hi. I’ll talk to you in a couple days though. Have fun, you two.” Her mischievous smile reminded me so much of Jake’s.
“Okay. Bye. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too.”
I waved at her again before they disconnected.
“Sorry. I literally just hit answer when you got here and scared the shit out of me,” he said with a playful jab.
I kissed his neck. “You should never apologize for talking to her. At least she talks to you.”
Jake turned his head to look at me with sadness in his eyes. “Your family has no idea what they’re missing out on, Rey. Have they always been that way?”
I sighed and began walking down the street toward the hot dog vendor. Jake followed. “Not this bad, no. It’s only been since I left for Mexico.”
“So they blame you for leaving? That hardly seems fair. It was your dream to play professionally.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked anywhere but at him, even though I could feel Jake’s eyes on me. It was so easy, trusting him with the things I’d never been able to talk about before. “It’s not that they blame me, I don’t think. I think they see it more as I’m the one who forgot them when I left.”
