Chapter 19

Kenna

"Security combed through my entire bag," Liz hissed into the phone like a psychopath. "They found the copy of the book I'm bringing you!"

I frowned, knee-deep in paperwork at the boat club on how to get a liquor license for one of our boats. I had grand plans to turn one of our largest rental boats into a booze cruise. The projected numbers were certainly enticing. I wanted to get all my ducks in a row before presenting my idea to Dec.

"What book?"

I could hear the announcers in the background calling out gate changes and last calls for flights. Liz's voice was a harsh whisper over the noise. "The book. It's the first mock-up of the book Ashley proposed."

The groan was involuntary. "Please don't tell me they moved forward with bear genitals."

"They didn't. Chris got Ashley to put pants on the bears, but this is easily the lamest book we've ever published. It literally says B is for bougie, Kenna. Bougie! In a children's book! I can't bear—and that's not a pun—to be associated with this monstrosity!"

I couldn't help myself. I started giggling so hard, Irene poked her head in the door to see what the fuss was about and voluntarily cut her smoke break short. By the time I caught my breath and explained the history of the book to Irene, Liz was sitting at her gate. It felt really good to have let all that shit go. I didn't trust Ashley further than I could throw her, but I wasn't seething in anger any longer.

"How do you feel about moving to Florida? You can live with me until you find a job."

Liz sighed. "I'd love nothing more, but isn't your mom already living with you?"

I grimaced while Irene cackled a smoker's laugh that had me worried about her lungs. Irene had met my mom earlier this week when I brought her into work with me. Big mistake. Mom supplied the weed and both women had been high off their asses, mooning every boat that came into our marina, like some kind of twisted geriatric Mardi Gras. That was not how I envisioned increasing business.

Leaving the desk to Irene, I stepped outside, pulling my hair off my neck and wondering when fall would hit Florida. Did fall hit Florida? Or did it go straight from summer into winter?

"Yeah, there's no end in sight yet, but Dec's father has been keeping her occupied."

Liz made a suggestive noise. "Forget about my troubles. I want to hear about you getting laid again."

I rolled my eyes and walked out onto the dock. The water was so clear here you could see several feet down to the sand. "Sadly, there hasn't been a repeat. I've been too busy with Mom, the house renovation, and the boat club. Dec came over last night after Mom had gone to bed and we barely kissed before Mom came downstairs for water and ended up talking Dec's ears off. The poor guy barely got a word in before he gave up and went home."

"Parents. The original cockblockers," Liz lamented.

"I know," I sighed. "But I'm all she has, and I can't kick her out."

"Well, just wait 'til I get there. I'll keep Mona so occupied you can sneak over to Dec's and defile a pantry or something. Quickies can be super satisfying."

"I would love that." I scuffed the toe of my shoe against the dock, tracing the natural lines in the wood. "I actually miss him. We were spending every single day together and then a few nights, and now it's just a glance across the shrubs or a stolen kiss here and there."

Not a cloud in the sky, I turned back toward the boat club. I needed to get home so I could shower and then Dec could take me to the airport to pick up Liz. "I realized last night I never felt that way about Justin. Is that weird?"

"Not at all, babe. You were barely an adult when you met Justin."

I thought back on that time, having to reach far into the recesses of my brain to remember how I'd felt about him. "I remember wanting to be around him, but it was more of an attempt to have his status rub off on me. I desperately wanted to be associated with the big man on campus. As if that meant I was something special too."

"You always were something special, Kens. You. Not your association with the douchebag."

I heard the announcement of Liz's flight boarding in the background. "I love you, Lizzie."

"Love you too, sweetie. See you in a few hours."

We hung up and I eyed the rusty bike leaning against the side wall of the boat club office.

"I gotta get some wheels," I said out loud. And by wheels, I meant a car, not a rusty men's bike that left my tailbone bruised after a few measly miles of riding. But today was not that day, so I got my leg over the bike and headed for home, cursing the whole way under my breath.

We parked at the furthest corner in the cell phone lot at the airport, barely able to make out like teenagers before Liz texted that her flight had landed. Dec groaned, pulling his hand out from under my shirt. My hair was a mess, but by the time we got to the curb where she was to meet us, we both had ourselves back together again. Pretty sure Liz still knew what we were doing because the second I stepped out of the truck, she burst into laughter before hugging me. She was dressed in black joggers and bright white tennis shoes, a trendy workout top and gold jewelry that looked amazing against her darkly tanned skin.

"Liz, this is Dec Boggs. Dec, this is my best friend, Liz Davis."

The two shook hands and Dec got her bags stowed in the back of the truck like the perfect gentleman. We were zooming down the highway with Liz sitting in the middle of the back seat, leaning between us and hurling questions at Dec. He was doing just fine without my help, his answers seeming to appease my best friend.

"Okay, okay, Liz. Let the man drive without being interrogated," I finally interrupted.

"Hey, I can't be too careful. You hitched your wagon to the head asshole. I'm just making sure you don't do that again."

Dec bit back a smile. "I was never the fraternity president or head asshole of anything. Never went to college, in fact. I'm just a simple fisherman."

"See?" I said. "He's not even close to being a Justin."

"Mhm," Liz said, not quite convinced yet.

Dec told her about Harley, his own best friend who watched his back, and some of the hijinks they'd gotten up to on Dec's boat. By the time we reached the house, Liz was giggling right along with me. Dec's charm, when he wanted to put it to use, was deadly.

Mom ran out of the house, her arms stretched out wide like she was welcoming home a long-lost daughter. She'd met Liz multiple times over the years, of course, but the welcoming-committee act was more for theatrics. The two hugged and walked inside, leaving Dec to bring in Liz's bags.

As soon as he put them down, his hand stole around my waist and he leaned down by my ear, giving me goose bumps. "I'm going to leave you girls alone for tonight, but call me later?" he whispered.

I looked up into those deep brown eyes and wanted to get lost in them. Sadly, there was no time for that. "Absolutely. Thank you for driving us."

His lips tilted up into a grin I wanted to taste. "Anything for you, sunshine."

"Where's the tequila?" Mom asked from the kitchen. "Liz, grab the glasses!"

I dropped my forehead to Dec's chest. "God help me."

His rumbled laughter vibrated my skull. He left after a quick kiss and I went to find Liz and Mom. The house seemed to hum with excitement and life, maybe because Mom had left on every single light in the house, or because laughter rang out rich and genuine when Mom clutched the tequila bottle to her chest while she danced around the kitchen.

There was one thing I could count on when it came to my mother: she knew how to have a good time.

"I'm in Florida!" Liz squealed, grabbing my hands and forcing me to join in on the dancing. "It's only right we make margaritas!"

"Isn't that for when you're in Mexico?" I teased.

Liz pulled me into her arms and then spun me out. "Nah. It's Margaritaville time, baby!"

Mom whooped and somehow let go of the bottle enough to splash a healthy amount into the blender. With some good-natured bickering and Jimmy Buffet now flowing from the speaker on the counter, we danced in the kitchen and made a large batch of margaritas that tasted amazing. The girl party navigated to the back patio, where we sank onto lounge chairs and gazed at the sun dipping into the ocean.

"Ah, now this is what I was missing in San Francisco. Too many clouds to ever see the sun. Too cold to dip a toe in the water." Mom swirled the slush in her glass with a pink crazy straw we'd found in the back of a drawer. "I think I could retire here."

I snorted and Mom glared at me. The tequila had loosened my tongue. "What? You gotta admit that's funny. Retire? Mom, you've never worked!"

"I have too! I worked at that daycare."

"For three whole months," I told Liz, who had taken a paint sample booklet and was using it as a fan. It would take her more than a few days to get acclimated to the weather here.

Mom lifted her nose in the air and sucked up more of the margarita. "Don't forget that bead place. And the health food store. Oh! And dog walking!"

I rolled my eyes. The woman had never been able to hold down a job longer than a few months. The exact reason I'd turned myself into a workaholic. I didn't want to repeat the mistakes of my mother. Stability was paramount. Or at least, I used to think so.

"I don't know about you two, but I could use a dip in that water right now." Liz, trying to play peacemaker, had a sheen of sweat on her top lip. "I'm going upstairs to change into a swimsuit."

I stood with her, the world swaying a bit with the sudden altitude change. "Me too!"

Mom slurped loudly, having reached the end of her margarita. "And I'll make more drinks while you young things have a swim."

I made it downstairs first, feeling naked without my charm bracelet around my wrist. Knowing Liz, she was probably unpacking everything in the guest room next door to my room before she came downstairs. She couldn't handle leaving things in a suitcase. I heard the blender running and decided to walk out into the water on my own despite the darkness fast approaching. Dec had said there were rarely sharks out here. You'd have to go much further out to get to the depths where they swam around.

"Wait up!" Liz called and I turned around, seeing my gorgeously curvy best friend stepping through the water to join me. She wore a bright red two-piece that made her look like a swimsuit model. How she was still single was one of life's mysteries.

We held hands and waded into the deeper water, getting up to our waists before we let go of each other and floated. Liz tilted her head back and gazed up at the moon.

"You look happy, Kenna," she said simply.

I looked up at the horizon and thought about it. "I am happy."

Her fingers splashed as she felt around for me and then stilled as we held hands, floating on our backs in the Atlantic together.

"It's like the girl I met in college is back. You have life in you again, not the quiet, angry, meager thing Justin turned you into."

I squeezed her hand. "I'm still finding myself, but I feel more like me every single day." I started giggling. "Who would have thought I'd find myself unemployed, divorced, and living in Florida?"

Liz giggled too. "Florida agrees with you."

"Salt life, baby." And that just made me laugh harder.

"Hey, how much of the sweet stuff do I pour in?" Mom called from the back patio.

I tilted upright, but Liz darted a glance to Dec's patio, where he was seated and watching us in the shadows. "I'll go help your mom make a new batch. You see if that gorgeous man will come visit you."

She went inside and Dec immediately stood up, stripping off his shirt and splashing water as he stalked in my direction. Thank God for moonlight highlighting each dip and valley of his muscular physique. He sank into the warm water and hooked his arm around my waist. My legs went around his hips and he kept us afloat with his strong arms. His mouth crashed down on mine, his tongue claiming me. The desire was instant, flaring to life and burning hot after being restrained. Not a drop of water could come between us as we held each other tight.

"Fuck, Kenna," Dec breathed against my lips. Then we were kissing again and I could feel how much he wanted me when he pressed against the tiny strip of material separating us.

"I'll sneak over," I panted in between kisses.

"I'll leave my back slider unlocked if you can get away."

Dec's hands gripped my ass, rubbing me against him. We almost went underwater, but it was worth it.

"Yoohoo!" Mom's voice echoed over the water. "Margaritas are ready!"

We broke apart and Dec ducked his head under the water to cool off. I felt like a teenager again, sneaking away with a boy and getting caught by my mother. Dec surfaced and practically smoldered as he looked at me.

Liz stood next to Mom on the patio, the new pink flamingo floaty I bought around her waist. "Come get your drink! You too, Dec!"

"They're teaming up against us, you know that, right?"

Dec wiped the water out of his eyes. "Yeah, kinda figured that out. You go ahead. I need a few more minutes in the water before I'm decent."

Maybe it was seeing all the most important people in my life in one place. Maybe it was the moonlight or the gorgeous man treading water next to me, but I tossed my head back and laughed until my stomach ached.

In this moment, in this crazy place…I was happy.