Ryan glances toward the yacht and nudges my shoulder. “Play nice, Dane.”
Tara is already making her way down the dock toward us, blond curls blowing in the wind, smiling like she’s genuinely happy to see us.
She can’t be happy to see me. Not after the fight we had this morning.
“Dad says there are sharks,” Jameson announces, like he hasn’t already mentioned it ten times.
“Oh, there definitely are,” Tara says. “But your dad won’t let anything eat you.”
Jameson throws a couple of punches into the air. “A shark’s not eating me. I’ll just punch it in the nose.”
Ryan and Jameson reach her first. Ryan has a duffel slung over one shoulder, and Jameson’s backpack bounces against his back while he shifts from foot to foot, too excited to stand still.
Tara looks them over and laughs. “That’s it? That’s all y’all brought?”
Ryan shrugs. “We’re on a yacht for two weeks. Not exactly a lot of places to go.”
“I got everything I need,” Jameson says, lifting his backpack like proof.
Tara ruffles his hair. “I’m sure you do.”
Ryan nods toward him. “He just checked his blood sugar. Eighty-nine.”
“Good.” Tara’s attention goes straight to Jameson. “You feeling okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine,” he says, already looking past her toward the yacht.
Her gaze shifts to me. “And you, Dane? Is that all you brought?”
I lift my bag slightly. “All good.”
Ryan snorts. “He brought more books than clothes.”
“It’s a series. I’m not getting halfway through it and then having nothing to read.”
Tara lets out a dramatic sigh. “I’ll be speaking to your father about your choice in books. They’re not appropriate for a boy your age.”
I shrug. “Dad won’t care. If I’m reading, I’m not bothering him.”
“That’s not true at all, Dane. Your dad loves spending time with you.”
I glance at her. “Could’ve fooled me.”
For a second, something flickers across her face. Then she looks back toward the yacht, where crew members move across the deck preparing for departure.
“Your dad’s talking routes with the captain. Why don’t you boys go join him?”
Jameson takes off immediately, sprinting like the yacht might leave without him.
“Hey!” Ryan calls after him. “Don’t fall in before we even get on.”
“I won’t!” Jameson shouts back, already halfway up the gangway.
Ryan shakes his head and follows.
I start after them, but Tara steps a little closer. Not enough to block my path. Just enough that I slow.
“I had them stock the pantry with Tim Tams. And those lemon crisps you like. And some Solo.”
