“I’m not dying,” I mutter, moving to return his embrace.
But I understand the gesture. The panic that lingers from our grandmother’s passing and how the hurt bleeds into worry about the mortality of others.
Suddenly, I’m the one holding on to him tighter.
If I die, Dash will have Paige to hold him through the pain.
But I don’t have that.
Without my brother, I’m alone.
CHAPTER 3
CHARLIE
When I get married, I will require all aspects of the ceremony take place on dry land. Nothing better than solid ground under your feet when making any kind of commitment. Or when doing anything for that matter.
For instance, this yacht is doing its best to hinder my ability to perform the simplest of tasks. Like walking.
The instant I stepped from the relative security of the dock onto this luxurious watercraft, my legs forgot how to stay steady. Perpetual sea legs. Or land legs. Whatever the problem is, I know it won’t go away.
I stumble to the closest seat I can find in the boat’s interior, which turns out to be a booth near the buffet.
“Hey!” Paige settles beside me. My best friend brushes aside a stray blonde curl as she stares into my eyes. “How are you doing? Have you been falling over? Do you have bruises yet? I’m sorry about the boat. Since this party is mainly for all Mom and Dad’s friends I didn’t want to invite to the actual wedding, I figured I’d let my parents choose the place. I never thought they’d pick a boat. Mom and Dad wanted to surprise me with thelocation, and they must not know what these things do to your inner ear.”
No, they wouldn’t know. I love Paige’s parents like an aunt and uncle, but most of the time, Mrs. Herbert has her head buried in a car engine, and Mr. Herbert doesn’t give off a warm, cuddly air. They care about me, and I know they always wished Paige and I had ended up together. Still, I’ve never had a heart-to-heart with them about my vulnerabilities.
Including my aversion to boats.
“It’s fine. Seriously. My balance has improved.”
Under other circumstances, I’d be honest with Paige, letting her know I’m worried I might tumble out of this seat at any second. But today, we’re all here to celebrate her engagement. None of this party should focus on me.
Still, my friend gives me a skeptical look. “Charlie?—”
“Miss Herbert, there you are.” A woman with a fancy camera hanging around her neck approaches our table. “I thought now would be a good time for pictures of you and your fiancé. Wedding party too? The view off the bow is magnificent! Will make for a perfect background.” The bearer of bad ideas grins down at the two of us.
Paige glances my way. “I don’t?—”
“Sounds like a plan!” I wave my friend out of the booth so we can both stand. No way am I going to let my unsteadiness hinder any part of this party. With a strategic grip on the tabletop and locking my knees, I’m able to stand, making the move appear almost smooth.
From the way her brows dip, I can tell Paige is readying to mount a protest, but I spot the best distraction.
“Dash!”
My shout catches the attention of the dark-haired man who just passed by our window. His head swivels toward us, and then he backtracks, grinning wide through the glass. He gives me anod of hello, then smirks at his fiancée as she waves and tries to mime taking pictures at the front of the boat.
Dash feigns confusion, giving an exaggerated shrug, then points at his ear and mouths,I can’t hear you.
“I know you can’t hear me, you impossible man,” Paige huffs. “That’s obviously why I’m doing charades.” She turns to the photographer. “I’ll round him and the best woman up, and we’ll meet you at the bow in five minutes.” Paige steps away, then glances back at me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Promise. I’ll meet you out there.”
Finally, she and the photographer leave.
Five minutes. I utilize every second to shuffle my way to the front of the boat, grabbing on to anything that appears to be welded to the yacht in the process.
This is not my first time on the wild sea rodeo. When I was ten, my family went on a cruise, and for an entire week, I stumbled around that ship like I’d broken into the all-you-can-drink bar. We were supposed to ride the cruise for an entire month while my mother worked as a musical act. I tried to white-knuckle my way into walking a straight line, but just couldn’t manage it. When my parents realized my balance was an unsolvable problem, my dad and I disembarked in the Bahamas, and we flew home to New Orleans.
