Mr. Neely hid a little smile.
“I did not abandon my child,” Captain Jansen finally bit out.
“It’s cool, Dad,” Seb said. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and you’ve actually set a good example for me to follow. Because I know one day in the future, when I become a father, and I’m unsure about what to do? I’ll think, ‘What would my father have done?’ And then I’ll do the exact opposite.”
Captain Jansen blanched. He glanced around the table, then he blinked at me and Seb with a look of revulsion. He asked his son in a low, indignant voice, “Have you gotten this girl pregnant?”
“What?”
Seb stood up from the table. “Nobody’s pregnant, for the love of God. But I’ll tell you this much. One day I’m going to marry this girl, and we’re going to have a dozen happy kids that you’ll never lay eyes on. Maybe then you’ll finally wake up and realize you’re an even bigger fuckup than I am.”
I sat back, stunned. “Um,” I said under my breath, looking up at him. “Maybe let me finish my degree first before we start repopulating the planet?”
Benny snickered. Someone across the table muttered lasciviously. But Seb just looked down at me, all his quick anger fadingas a look of wonder began filling his face, as if he reallyhadjust popped the question, and I’d really just said yes.
He held out his hand to me. I wiped my mouth on my napkin and stood up with him.
“Mr. and Mrs. Neely,” he said. “I’m sorry if this spoiled your brunch. It was delicious, and I appreciate you inviting us. Katie, you seem like a nice woman, and I’m sorry you had to witness all this drama.” He slid his arm around me, placing his hand on the small of my back. “Anyway, I do have a shift that starts in less than hour, and I need to get back home and change. Probably best that we go.”
“Us, too,” Benny said, giving Captain Jansen a dark look as he stood up. “Right, Jaz?”
Jazmine threw her napkin down next to her plate. “Probably best, Mama. Daddy, I’ll help you and Patty clean up later.”
A little chaos broke out at the table, with everyone talking at once. The Neelys assured Seb that all was well, and Patty tried to argue in favor of us staying. Even Katie looked upset and was trying to smooth things over. But it was too late.
Captain Jansen sat at the foot of the table with a blank expression on his face, as if someone had just informed him of a tragic death in the family.
In a way, maybe that wasn’t too far off from reality.
Chapter 27
“A dozen babies?” Benny said, howling with laughter when the four Wags were standing in the private parking lot down the stairs from the Neelys’ front door. “Sounds like the title of a horror movie.”
Seb groaned and glanced down at me with regret. “I don’t know why I said any of that shit, Paige. I’m sorry I embarrassed you.”
I shrugged as if I understood completely. “I mean, haven’t we all made a shocking declaration about marriage and kids in front of our families, only to regret it later?”
“He just gets me so worked up!” Seb argued. “I can’t think straight when he’s scowling at me. Why was that fucker even here?”
Jazmine held up both hands. “Swear to God, I didn’t know he was coming. I would’ve warned you—you know that.”
He nodded. “I know. But damn... What was your mom thinking?”
Mr. Neely strolled up to us, catching us off guard. “She was thinking that with the captain getting serious about Katie, it might make him sentimental and want to repair things with you, Seb. I’m sorry he wasn’t ready. But you shouldn’t let that slow you down. You’ve done good, and the job isn’t a handout. Sure, maybe I gave you a chance when Jaz begged, but you’ve proven yourself, and I honestly need you here at the marina.”
Seb swallowed hard and nodded rapidly. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry about all that back there. Honestly some of it’s my fault. I let him get to me and can’t keep my mouth shut. We’re just oil and water, you know?”
“I know,” Mr. Neely said with a little smile. “Now y’all better clear out because he’s coming down. Seb, just take the afternoon off. Raj came in today, so we’ve got extra coverage. And I’d rather have you working on the motor of that pontoon tomorrow. Go home and rest... or whatever it is that y’all have been doing over there.” He muttered under his breath, “Both look like you’ve been wrestling wildcats.”
“Daddy,” Jazmine groaned.
He raised his hands in the air. “See you tomorrow bright and early, Jansen.”
“You’re a real human being, Mr. Neely,” Seb told him. “A real human being.”
It was easy to forget about Pretty Paul’s impending threat against the Wags when you were too busy being blissfully happy. And for a few days, Seb and I were exactly that.
In a state of bliss.
