I just had thisinkling—
“Hey!” Connor appeared in the kitchen, in swim trunks and sunglasses. “We ready?”
I’vebeenready, I thought, but bit my tongue. Why was I so bothered by this? He was late, big deal. We weren’t operating on a tight schedule. Everything was on “island time,” as Peggy called it. It was all about going with the flow.
We sat in a comfortable silence as Connor drove into Edgartown, listening to his Spotify. “You like Taylor Swift?” I asked when a sign readingCHAPPYFERRYtold Connor to turn left. “Cruel Summer” pulsed in the Jeep.
“Not particularly,” he said. “This is a playlist coauthored by Liam and Mads.”
“Mmm,” I replied.
“Uh-oh…” Connor chuckled. “Am I in trouble?”
“Why do you say that?”
“I got themmm.”
Flushing, I looked out the windshield to focus on the road. Instead of several lanes, the Chappy Ferry appeared to only have one. Minutes and minutes and more minutes passed before we rolled into the harbor, which in no way compared to the massive Steamship Authority back on the mainland or even in Oak Bluffs. This road was so narrow.
Then I noticed the signs. Off to the right, streetlamps highlighted easy FAQs like operating hours and ticket rates.
I raised an eyebrow at Connor. “We have to pay? I thought you said the ride is five minutes?”
“Less,” he told me, then he put the Jeep in park and unbuckled his seat belt to pay cash-only for our ticket. I followed his lead. There were probably a few more trips before we made the cut.
“Seriously?” I muttered when he selected the “car and driver” option. It was fifteen bucks for a round trip!
Connor gave me a wry look, lips turned up at the corners. “Have you always been this grouchy?”
The ferry could only transport three cars at a time, so it was another wait after we buckled up again. We found ourselves sandwiched between a forest-green Subaru and a silver Range Rover.ALLPASSENGERSMUSTBESEATEDWHILEUNDERWAY,a sign read, appropriate since a pack of people had boarded and were squeezing onto the foot passenger benches.
Three and a half minutes later we pulled off the ferry to see the beach parking lot off to the left; it looked full, but after two laps, a sandy Suburban started backing out of its spot. “Thank you!” Connor chirped, then he swiftly pulled in between the two faded lines. Dike Bridge was a bit of a drive, so we’d decided to lounge on the beach and have lunch first. Sage had mentioned it was her favorite one.
I quickly understood why, with its breathtaking view. Little Chappaquiddick had a front-row seat to the show that was Edgartown Harbor. Sailboats of all sizes glided by, speedboats filled with tourists chugged along, and even celebrity-worthy yachts were anchored in the blue water. I could finally see Edgartown’s historic homes from the waterside. Flowers bloomed in sprawling green backyards, American flags waved in the breeze, and I couldn’t fumble for my phone fast enough. Ihadto take a picture.
Families had set up camp in the sand, the water calm enough that plenty of children splashed around in the shallows. It looked like gentle waves only washed ashore when a boat sailed by, its wake rolling across the harbor. Connor and I walked along the beach until we reached a stretch of unoccupied sand. Farther down, I squinted to see a row of red-white-and-blue cabanas. Some type of beach club, I guessed.
After spreading out our beach towels, we traded a bottle of Sun Bum and lay back at the same time, letting it soak in. I let my eyes drift shut, but they flicked back open when Connor spoke. “I’m sorry I was late,” he said. “You know, earlier. My dad called. He was on his way to work and wanted to catch up.”
“Oh,” I said, then for no particular reason, asked, “Didn’t you talk to him the other day?”
“Yes.”
I swallowed. “You’re really close to your family.”
Connor reached for my hand. I let my eyelids flutter again, let my heart float. “And you’re not?”
I opened my mouth, but then I considered. My dad and I were close, being an older sister was one of my favorite things ever, and, oddly enough, Erica had been pretty okay the past couple weeks.
What made me hesitate about saying we were close was that I could imagine my family without me in it. I didn’t like that. I couldn’t shake this nagging feeling of displacement.
Connor let the subject trail off, and several beats later, we both hummed with happiness when the sun captured us in its crosshairs. The light felt decadent against my skin, and it slowed my heart rate…until Connor moved to wrap his arm around me. Everything in me leaped then melted once he tucked me into his side.
Shining in a sunbeam, I thought.But warm because of Connor.
* * *
We baked in the sun for an hour, then we decided to take a dip in the harbor. “Not too bad,” Connor commented, letting the water lap up over his feet. His hair shined in the sunlight, almost rose gold. He winked at me. “Should we race?”
