I blink a few times, not having realized it’d gotten so bright out here. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Thank you for telling me.” I beam up at him and loop my arm through his. With a tug, I have him stumbling a step. I press my cheek to his bicep and point at the twinkling city lights. “You should buy a boat. We could keep it parked down there at a marina.”
He laughs so loud it hurts my eardrums. “You don’t park a boat. You tie it up.”
“If you don’t park it, how does it stop moving?”
“Oh, fuck, maybe you do park it.”
I gasp, dropping my head back to stare at him. “You should date a fisherman! He’d know!”
“I hate fish,” he groans in disgust.
“Okay, fine. Maybe a boat mechanic?”
“Then he’d smell like fish.”
I huff, returning my cheek to his arm. “Fine.”
“A pirate?”
“A pirate!” I cheer, shoving my hand out in front of us, my finger curled like a hook.
“Dad would shit a brick.”
“He’s going to shit two when he learns I’m dating a man fifteen years older than me.”
Wes howls into the night and pulls his arm away from my face to drape it over my shoulder instead. He pulls me tight against him, and I smile, laughing alongside him.
Whether it’s from the pot or just having my big brother standing here with me, smiling and happy, I feel clear-headed. Like if I just closed my eyes, I’d be able to see every day of the rest of my life.
And when I do let them fall shut, I finally know what I want.
44
ROMAN
Evie’s voicedrifts from my phone’s speaker as I sit at the hotel bar and nurse my beer.
It’s warm now, but I’ve brushed the bartender off the last two times he’s tried to offer me another, having recognized me the moment I sat down. The same can be said of the two players sitting at a dimly lit table a few feet to my left. Finn and Wes played exceptionally well today, and while I don’t like to favour one player over another after a win, it’s obvious to both them and the entire fan base that they stole the show. The dynamic duo rarely stumbles when they play together. Tonight, it was magic.
Wes wasn’t nearly as distracted as he has been these last few weeks, and Finn fed off that clarity, leading to a twelve-strikeout night to close the series. I’ve got a list of things to praise them both for once we’re home and I’ve taken care of what’s been keeping me on edge all week.
“I’ve never thought about that, Uncle. But that might . . . I think that might possibly be the most brilliant idea you’ve ever had.”
I pull my focus in and stare at the dewy beer glass. “I could be overstepping.”
That’s an understatement.
“It’s worth it, isn’t it? If you don’t try, then you risk losing her, and that’s not only going to suck for you, butroyallysuck for me. Not to mention, I’ll absolutely hold a grudge against you for it.”
“That’s not entirely motivational, Evie.”
“You don’t need motivation.”
“What, then?”
