Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

In the middle of greeting our guests, my phone rang. Again . I waited until we were out of earshot before complaining, "What the hell is going on?"

Cass sighed wearily. "I don't know, but that's the fourth call today. My damn phone is ringing off the hook."

"I'm about to chuck mine overboard."

"It better be about business because if I find out the boys signed us up for a dating app to prank us, I'm gonna throw them overboard instead of my phone," Cass threatened.

Nicky brushed by me, balancing a tray of drinks and appetizers for our guests. "Hey, do you know anything about this?"

"About what, Uncle Sam?"

"About why my phone is ringing off the hook."

"It's probably that article that came out this weekend in the travel blog. Mattie mentioned our business name. He also put it in Salt Life magazine, but it doesn't get published until later this week."

"Holy shit," I breathed. "We're gonna need a bigger boat." It was never too early in the day for a Jaws quote.

The calls kept coming, one after the next, people inquiring about our rates and charter packages. We were booked solid, even several weeks out after our usual September deadline when the tourist season usually came to an end.

As we crossed the Atlantic on our way to Bimini, Cass and I talked shop, spitballing ideas to expand the business.

"We're gonna have to buy another boat. Hire some more crew."

"We have enough in savings for a down payment," Cass pointed out.

Now was a great time to test the waters. "We do. Or…I could sell my house."

"And then what?"

"You could sell yours."

"They're nearly paid off; why would we do that?"

"So we could buy a place together that's big enough for the boys. Two primary bedrooms. A huge walk-in shower. A massive sectional."

Cass's eyes got big. "Damn, that's a beautiful dream."

"It doesn't have to be a dream. We would have money left over. We could buy the boat outright and not have to touch our savings, at least not much of it."

He definitely looked interested. "Fuck. Do you think?"

"Nicky could help you run this boat, and Mattie could help me run the Harlowe Three. We could make twice as much money over the summer."

"Shit. I could see that."

Fuck yes. "Think about it."

Cass grinned hugely. "I don't have to think about it. I already know that's what I want. Let's do it."

"Yeah? You wanna shack up with me?" I joked, sliding my arm around his waist to pull him closer.

Cass teased my lips with quick kisses that were mostly tongue. "‘Bout fucking time. I've only been fucking you for twenty-five years."

"Twenty-six, and I've been fucking you ."

He smiled against my lips. "I feel like we're just getting started."

"We are. This is the beginning of everything."

"We're going to be able to retire in two years if that phone don't quit ringing."

Cass sat beside me on the back deck, sprawled out on the sunbed as we stared up at the night sky. "It's my sister," I cursed, checking my phone.

His eyes grew round. "Answer it."

"Hey, Allison," I greeted cooly.

"Hey Sam," she returned tentatively. "I was calling to check on Matt and see how things were going."

"And you're suddenly so concerned why?"

"I never wanted him to leave," she defended. "That was all his father."

"Right, the man you chose to marry."

"Sam, please tell me he's doing alright."

Snorting, I answered, "I would, but that would be a lie. He's doing better than alright. He's doing fan-fucking-tastic."

"Really?" She sounded surprised, and my first instinct was to dress her down, but I caught myself. Not so long ago, I was one of those people that had underestimated him. I would never make that mistake again.

"Is there anything else you need to know?"

"Could you… maybe tell him I asked after him?"

"Sure, I bet he'll be thrilled," I replied sarcastically.

"I asked John to move out. I can't stay married to a man who thinks so little of the people I love." She laughed without humor. "I probably should have seen all those red flags right from the beginning instead of closing my eyes and running past them."

"So why did you?" I asked.

"So many reasons. Of course, they were all the wrong ones. When the summer is over, and you're done chartering for the season, I want Matt to know that he still has a home here with me if he wants to come back."

Her offer went a long way to soothing some of my anger. And though I knew it wasn't what Mattie wanted, I had no doubt it would heal some of his hurts.

"Thank you. I'll pass that on to him."

"I thought…maybe he would spend the summer with you and get his head on straight and then start college."

"That's your dream, Allison, not Mattie's dream. As long as you continue to force your expectations on him, you're going to be disappointed. But the fault lies with you, not him."

"You're sticking up for him? Are you condoning this behavior?"

"Which behavior is that, preferring men, or wanting to follow his own dreams?"

"I'm talking about college. I'm talking about his future. He can't work as a cashier for the rest of his life."

"You've mapped out the life you want him to have or his father wants, but nobody ever asked Mattie what he wanted."

"And you did?" She huffed.

"Have you ever talked to him and just listened? Have you ever asked him what he dreams of? You might be surprised by what he has to say."

She was silent for long minutes before adding, "And what would he say, Sam?"

"He doesn't want to come home, Allison."

"So, he's just going to move in with you from now on? Two bachelors bunking it up? Hitting all the gay clubs together? Life isn't a perpetual party."

Gazing up at the stars, I sighed, feeling inexplicably exhausted. Cass squeezed my hand for comfort. "I find it ironic that my life choices were good enough for you and your husband when you wanted me to be a role model for your son, but now, suddenly, you find fault with my lifestyle."

"I'm not faulting you. I'm just… I'm scared for him. I worry about him."

"Allison? Have you ever heard of the saying, ‘too little, too late'? Maybe you should have worried about him months ago, or even a year ago. But not now, not when he's finally moving in the right direction. I've got to let you go. Thanks for calling."

Cass one-arm-hugged me to his side. He chuffed, and I felt his body shake with silent laughter. "You sounded so mature and responsible. I know you held back what you really wanted to say. I'm proud of you."

I snorted. "Yeah, can you imagine? Allison, you and your douchey husband made terrible fucking decisions. I'm glad you never had kids of your own. By the way, I'm fucking your son, and I'm going to buy him a house and the four of us are going to live together and shack up like gay bachelors, hitting the clubs every night."

He dissolved into a bout of laughter, his head falling into my lap. "It's not too late to call her back," he wheezed.

"Fuck no. You're just bitter because Brian gave you a fat lip when he found out you were fucking his son and you think I deserve a matching one."

"You're right. I would definitely feel better if someone hit you. Maybe I could do it?"

Bending over his head, I brought my lips down to his. The kiss started off slow, just a brush of lips. He parted them for me and I slipped inside. He tasted faintly sour from the beer he'd finished over an hour ago. Delicious .

"Let's go find our boys. It's time for bed."

We were up the following morning with the sun, watching it rise from the back deck, along with our guests. "That sunrise is worth every penny we spent," Sharon vowed.

"Just wait till you see the sunset tonight," I promised, collecting her empty mimosa glass. "As soon as you're ready to get going, I'll take you ashore. I believe your excursion starts in an hour and forty-five minutes."

They were meeting up with a tour group for a glass-bottom boat ride and a barbecue on the beach, which meant I had the entire day in Bimini alone with my boys.

Speaking of my boys, I went below deck, dropped the empty glasses in the sink, and went to wake the sleeping lazy asses. Today was the day. The big one we'd all been waiting for, namely, Nicky.

Everyone knew how many punches he'd earned on his card, because every time he earned one, he made a point to let each of us know. He only had one left to go before he got his big prize, and I was fairly certain he would make sure it happened today.

Gently, I shook him awake. "Wake up, sleepyhead. Time to start your day."

He opened his eyes, one at a time, rubbing the sleep from them, and then, as if some internal clock set off an alarm in his head, he sat straight up, eyes popping wide-open. "Morning Uncle Sam!"

"It's going to be a good day, little one."

"It's going to be a great day," he stressed.

Mattie sat up, scratching his head and rubbing his eyes. I gave him a knowing smile that he returned. We all knew what today was.

Nicky threw back the covers and climbed down the ladder. "Do you need me to make breakfast?" he volunteered .

"Nope, already taken care of."

"How about the laundry?"

"None yet," I replied.

Nicky frowned. "Oh, I could shave you!"

"You know what? I think I'll just go with the scruff today."

I spared a glance at Mattie, who wasn't even trying to hide his smile.

"Uh, um… why don't we take a nice hot shower and I can wash you?"

I made a point to sniff under my arms. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm just gonna go up on deck and sweat all day. I'll shower before bed tonight."

He looked visibly deflated, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

"Mattie, I could?—"

"I'm good Nicky." Damn, he shot him down without even giving him a chance.

Nicky rebounded like the eternal optimist he was. "I'll go see what Daddy needs!"

When he disappeared, Mattie and I shared a good laugh. "How long are you going to thwart him?"

"Just until the panic sets in." I straightened, finger combing my hair into order. "Come on, let's go up and watch as he drives Cass crazy. I wonder if he'll earn a spanking instead of a reward." Mattie's laughter followed me up the ladder.