Tate rolls the gummy between two fingers. “He knows I don’t have another option, so yeah.”
No, I realize, Tate’s uncle may not have another option, but Tate does, and it’s so clear and obvious to me that I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before now. “You know what I think? I think you should go to your uncle one last time and tell him either he sells you his boat now or he can find someone else to captain and take care of it for him.”
Tate starts shaking his head. “I can’t do that. What about you guys and the mermaid tour? McCleave’s needs that boat as much as I do.”
“No,” I say. “We don’t. We’re putting a pause on the mermaid tour.”
Tate’s brows climb halfway up his forehead. “Since when?”
“Since right now. I can’t make Eryn do the Nerissa act for me anymore, and, no offense, but I don’t want to give up leading the tour. If we lose theSiren’s Calltoo, then my dad won’t have a choice but to start over with it from the ground up. And this time, I won’t let him do it alone.”
Slowly, Tate nods. “Yeah, I mean, that makes sense for you guys.” He looks up at me. “You know I was never going to take the tour from you. And I’ll help however I can with the new one.”
“I know, and thanks. But you’re still going to get your boat.”
Tate’s smile is forced. “Yeah. Someday.”
“No, today. If he won’t sell you theSiren’s Call, then go buy a different one, a better one. And don’t tell me they’re too expensive, because I am officially offering to be the first investor in your charter company.”
He’s already shaking his head. “Wren, man. I can’t let you—”
I cut him off. “Tate,man, yes, you can. I’m not saving for anything in particular, so let me invest in something I already know is going to be a win.”
He stares at me; I stare right back.
Finally, he stands up, suddenly energized. “Yeah, maybe I will go see my uncle. Tell him it’s now or never because I’m done waiting for him.” His voice is low, determined, and then he half tackles me in a hug, his fist thudding against my back until I grunt in surprise. He pulls away, grinning wide. “Hell yeah, we’re going to be a win, you and me and theSalty Snack.”
I can’t help but grin as he punches the air. “Of course you’d name it after food.”
“You don’t like? I could always go with the SSCrumbsor maybe theConfectioner. No wait,Cheddar Buoy!”
I laugh.
“It’s going to be so great. And you will have a permanent spot right by the captain’s seat anytime you want it. I’ll even get you a skipper’s cap.”
“Yeah, I’m not going to wear that.”
His excitement is still radiating off him in waves but he sobers as he looks at me.
“Maybe you’ll even come with me to Paris sometime.”
“That depends,” I say, matching his tone. “You coming back?”
He looks offended that I have to ask. “Always and forever.”
That, at least, is one good thing I still have. “Then maybe I will.”
Tate upends the rest of the Sour Patch Kids into his mouth, shaking the bag to make sure he doesn’t miss any of the sugar crystals at the bottom. Then he takes a deep breath and looks at me. “So what are we gonna do about you?”
“I have to finish clearing out the FeeJee mermaid exhibit, then figure out the rest of Nereus’s discovery story and run that by my dad, then I get to work on the copy for the website.” My voice grows wearier with every word.
He makes a face. “Do you actually want to do any of that?”
Not really, but I don’t have a choice. “I’ll catch up with you later. And thanks for—”For talking to me again, for making me feel like I have my friend back when I really haven’t done anything to deserve that.“—you know, for sharing your Sour Patch Kids with me.”
I start to head back to the FeeJee exhibit.
“Wait, that’s it?” Tate lunges around in front of me. “We haven’t talked for over a week, and you think you can just help me buy my dream boat and forget the fact that you haven’t said a thing about what you’re going to do about your tourist girl?”
