21. Sail

sail

. . .

S ail hated every bit of getting up before the sun. Part of him wanted to say fuck it and crawl back into bed with Galvin. But if he admired Galvin for setting her mind to do something, he would do the same. He wanted to win the competition next week and to even have a chance, he needed to practice.

“I’ll be by after breakfast.” He went to kiss her cheek, but she turned and gave him her lips. “Sneaky,” he said before deepening things between them. It would be so easy for him to undress, lift those blankets, and fall into her waiting arms. It took every ounce of control he had to pull himself away. “Go back to sleep.”

“Impossible.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll stay at my parent’s tonight so you can get some sleep.”

“No thanks. I want you here.”

Her words brought a smile to his lips. This was where he wanted to be as well. Every night until he had no choice but to go back to school.

If you go back to school.

Those words plagued him as he rushed down the stairs and out the gate. Instead of driving to the marina, Sail broke into a jog. Being so early in the morning, he ran on the sidewalk, along the waterfront. Bells chimed with each ripple. He’d always loved the sound of the bells.

Sail veered off and jogged through the wharf. He’d brought Galvin to Diego’s last night, but he hadn’t brought her to any of the stores or to see the pirate ship. He’d do it later because he wanted her to see all of Seaport.

He cut through an alley, between two buildings that housed specialty shops and then turned to run up the slight hill to exit the parking lot. The neon marquee for the arcade flickered. That was another place he wanted to bring Galvin, assuming she liked to play silly carnival games. He thought they were fun and always made for a good time.

The familiar burn began. In his feet, legs, and chest. He needed to build up his stamina, and while some may say having sex was a way to do it, it wouldn’t be enough. Not for what he faced.

Next weekend people who were considered professional sailors would descend on Seaport. They’d be in his waters, on his beaches, and taking up space in his town, all to take a prize purse he wanted. Maybe his thoughts were selfish, but he couldn’t help it. Winning meant he could pay his dad back and not have to worry about seeing the disappointment in Jack’s eyes.

Sail hated that look and he had a chance to change everything.

When Sail arrived in the parking lot of the marina, Jack and Dune were there. Along with a handful of others, getting their boats ready to head. From what he could tell, no one had dinghies, so at least Sail didn’t have to worry about other watching him. Although, they could from the shore if they really wanted.

“Morning,” Jack said. “You ready?”

“Yeah. Where’s Tidal?”

“He’s out there, making an obstacle course,” Dune said. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. Loose.” Sail shook his arms to prove his point. “You?”

Dune cast a look toward their father and then back at Sail. “Remind me to buy the Sea Shanty when I get rich.”

Sail laughed. “Why?”

“Because that damn place makes Caroline happy, and I don’t like it.”

“Speaking of, you said you were opening the night club next weekend?”

Dune nodded. “Celebratory party after you win.”

Sail’s adoration for his brother soared. Dune had exactly the confidence Sail needed. Jack put his hand on Sail’s shoulder.

“The entry list comes later today. As does the bracket,” Jack said. “Crew is going to come out tomorrow with us.”

“Yeah, he told me,” Sail said.

“Tonight, we’ll sit down and research your potential competitors. This will give us a good idea of how to prepare on Saturday for practice.”

“Um . . . okay.” He hadn’t made plans with Galvin but planned to.

“Bring Galvin over,” Jack said, as if reading his son’s mind. “I have pictures from college of her dad that I want to show her. Maybe tell her some stories about her old man.” Jack laughed as he walked back to the dinghy.

“She’ll be fine,” Dune said.

“What?”

“Galvin . . . with Mom. Things will be fine, and Caroline will be there.”

“She’s . . . last night was interesting.”

Dune laughed. “She used to be stuck up, stuffy. I love her madly, but the Caroline you saw last night is the fun Caroline. See her on Monday morning, in her suit and heels and you’ll be like who is this person.”

“So, that was her letting loose?”

“As much as she can all things considered.” Dune picked up a pile of ropes and threw them over his shoulder.

“Are you excited about the baby?” Sail asked, wondering if his brother’s comment had a hidden meaning.

“I’m excited,” Dune said. “This early in our relationship wasn’t ideal, but it doesn’t change how I feel about her. Or how I feel about the baby. Things are just fast tracked.”

“Is there a wedding date?”

“We’re going to wait until after the baby.”

“Because she wants to drink pina coladas at her wedding,” Sail said, laughing.

Dune keeled over with laughter. “You’re not wrong.”

“Let’s go boys,” Jack barked.

Tidal walked toward them and yawned. “You owe me,” he said to Sail.

“I know I do,” he said. “I appreciate you helping me.”

Tidal nodded. “Anything to see the Carter name at the top of the list. If it’s not going to be you, it’ll be Crew. Might as well send the message now.”

“I know I haven’t seen him race in a year. Is he really that good?”

Jack nodded. “If he could enter, it would be you chasing him down.”

“Shit.”

Dune and Tidal laughed.

Until lunch, they sailed, and then sailed some more. Jack changed the course and barked orders. Times were clocked, and then beaten. Sail was soaked, cold, and happy. Each time he went out, his time got getter. When everything went well, he glided like he was a bird in the sky. And when something went wrong, he made a note of it, fixed it on shore, and went back out.

After he showered and picked out errant pieces of seaweed from his hair, he dressed and made his way to the diner. He’d promised Galvin he would come in after breakfast, but it was well past lunch now. During one of his shore visits, he texted her to let her know he’d be later than planned. It took her awhile to text back, which sort of made him happy. He took it to mean she was busy and probably didn’t miss him.

Although he missed her.

“You look ragged,” Penny said when he walked into the diner.

“Thanks.” He chose the stool in the middle. For some reason, it’s the one he always gravitated toward.

“How’s it going out there?” Penny set a Coke in front of him.

“Productive. I think dad is having fun.”

“That’s what Auntie said when I saw her this morning.”

“Was Galvin working when she came in?”

Penny’s eyes widened and she pointed her finger at her cousin. “You are dating! I knew it. Andy owes me twenty.”

Sail couldn’t hide his smile if he tried, but then it faltered when the last part of her statement registered with him. “You bet on my dating life?”

She nodded. “As soon as I knew you were back in town.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist her. She’s freaking adorable and smart, and nothing like the girls here that chase after you and your brothers.”

“Does she know?”

Penny laughed. “Hell no. And don’t tell her. I’ll deny it and so will Andy.”

“Is Galvin here?”

Penny nodded. “She took some stuff to the back. We’re down a dishwasher so she offered to help the guys out a bit.”

Sail frowned. If anything, Penny should be the one washing dishes. She was the manager and made a shit ton more than any of the staff. Not to mention, the whole point of Galvin working was to bank and much money as she could to offset her loans for law school. Washing dishes wasn’t going to earn her any tips.

“What?” Penny asked.

“You should be the one back there,” he stated, knowing full well he was overstepping. He didn’t care. His parents could be as pissed as they wanted at him, but Jack knew as well that Galvin needed the tips.

“Okay, just because you’re dating?—”

“It’s not that, Penny. You’re the manager and making three times what the staff is making. You don’t need the damn money. They do.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, pressed the button for his dad, and then got up. His dad answered on the second ring.

“Hey,” Sail said. “I know we never get involved in the dynamics of business.”

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

“Full disclosure, Dad. Galvin and me . . . we’re a thing, and you know she’s here to make money for law school, so I find it a bit unsettling that Penny is taking customers while Galvin is in the back washing dishes.”

Sail inhaled deeply, quelling the surge of anger he felt toward his cousin. It was a bit irrational because he shouldn’t care, and if he wasn’t with Galvin, he might not. But the fact remained, Penny should be the one picking up the slack. Not the employees.

“I’m on my way down,” Jack said as he hung up.

Sail pocketed his phone and went back into the diner, ready to face the wrath of his cousin. He didn’t care if she was going to pissed at him. Penny was in the wrong, and she knew it. She likely didn’t expect to get caught.

He opened the door to the diner harder than he needed and had to catch the glass door before it slammed into something. Sail strode back to his stool, sat, and reached for his Coke, then thought better of it. His cousin had played nasty truck on him when he was younger and wouldn’t put it past her to do something now.

Galvin came out from the back just as Sail stood. “Hey.”

“Hi.” She smiled. “Do you need a refill?”

Sail handed her the tall red, plastic cup. “I had to leave it alone.” He grimaced.

Galvin took it from him, dumped the contents into the sink and then set the empty cup in the gray bin. She took a fresh cup from the shelf, filled it with ice, and then held it under the nozzle for Coke.

“Did you order food?”

Sail shook his head.

“Everything okay?” she asked as she set his Coke in front of him. “Training go well?”

He reached for her hand, linking his fingers between hers briefly. He would respect the no PDA while inside the diner, but he still wanted her to know he cared.

“Everything’s great and training went really well. Tomorrow morning I’m going to race Crew. I guess he’s better than I was at his age.”

Galvin rested her hip against the counter. “If one wanted to watch, where would they go?”

His smile stretched across his lips. “The easiest would be to go out on one of the boats, but since you haven’t done that yet . . .” Sail leaned close. “I really want to be the first one to take you out on the water.” He winked and sat back on the stool. “I could show you where you’ll be able to watch.”

“I’d like that.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

Sail fist pumped in the air. “As soon as the competition is over, we’re going sailing.”

She nodded and then looked at the door when it opened. Sail knew it was his father by the way Galvin righted herself and moved away from the counter. He shook his head. The fear she had when his father was even mentioned drove Sail batty.

Jack passed by Sail, patted him on the shoulder and went right to Galvin. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” she told him, although the confident woman Sail had the pleasure of being with seemed to shrink inside herself.

“Did Sail invite you over tonight?”

Galvin looked at Sail, with sheer terror in her eyes. He shook his head. “Haven’t had a chance to mention tonight.”

Jack laughed, as if he was completely unaware of how scared Galvin was of him. “I dug out some old photos of your dad and me. I can’t wait to show you. See you later.” He sidestepped and went into the back and barked out, “Penny, my office.”

Sail smirked and took a drink of his Coke.

“What the hell?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“Sorry, I didn’t have time to mention it,” he said in defense. “Dad wants us to come over and hang out. Super informal. Caroline will be there.”

“And dinner on Sunday?”

Sail nodded and reached for her hand. “If you come over, I’ll show you my bedroom.”

Galvin rolled her eyes. “I’m not going into your bedroom.”

“Why not?” he winked. “You’d be the first girl I ever allowed in there besides family.”

Galvin eyed him warily. “I’m starting to think you didn’t have any girlfriends growing up.”

Sail shrugged. “I did, but I rarely brought them home to hang with my parents. What about you? Did you bring boys home to watch football with your dad?”

Galvin leaned as close as she could to Sail. “Yes, and at halftime we played our own game.”

Sail cleared his throat and muttered, “You’re evil and I am so taking you upstairs to my room.”