Chapter 23

Gina and I waited in the field parking lot after the Sharks' five to one Saturday afternoon victory. I couldn't help noting a group of girls standing by the exit giggling when the players passed by. I tried to keep my look of disgust to a minimum, but the struggle was real.

Cody walked into the parking lot and Gina ran into his arms.

"Great game!" she said.

He laughed. "I need your enthusiasm tomorrow night. Scouts are gonna be here." He looked to me. "Rumor is they're coming to see Crew, but it couldn't hurt to play my best while they're here."

"Does Crew know?" I asked.

"Yeah. That's what Coach is talking to him about right now. He should be out in a minute. They were just wrapping up," Cody said before looking to Gina. "You ready, babe?"

She nodded then looked to me. "Have fun."

I smiled as they walked off.

"Now there's a welcome sight."

I turned to find Crew parting ways with one of his teammates in the parking lot.

"Congratulations," I said as he walked over to me.

"Thanks," he said before pressing his lips to mine. Once he stepped back, his eyes moved to my mom's Jeep behind me. "What's this?"

"I have a surprise for you," I said.

His brows arched. "Did you write me a poem?"

"What? No."

"Will you?" he asked.

"I wrote those when I was a kid."

"Well, they were good. You should write more."

"Maybe one day. But for now, get in." I got behind the wheel while Crew tossed his baseball bag in the backseat and then hopped in the passenger's seat.

It was a short drive through town and almost sunset when we pulled into the marina parking lot. I parked and killed the engine. Crew looked to me like I was going to explain, but I just stepped out. "Come on," I called as I pulled a hoodie from the backseat and took off for the docks.

"Your family owns a boat?" he asked, catching up and keeping pace with me.

"It's obnoxious, isn't it?" I said as we passed by boats of all sizes.

"Not if we're going on it," he said.

"Oh, we're definitely going on it," I assured him.

"You know how to drive a boat?" he asked as we reached the last boat on the dock.

"We're gonna find out," I said, stopping beside the Grand Slam, a twenty-seven-foot Boston Whaler. It wasn't a yacht like some of the massive boats in the marina, but it was in pristine condition given my father didn't usually even take it out.

Crew eyed the sleek boat. "Have you seriously never driven this?"

"There's a first time for everything," I said. "Get on board."

Despite my response, he still climbed aboard. "Just don't kill us."

I laughed. "Fine. I know how to drive it. And, we're not going far."

I stayed on the dock and crouched by the cleat, untying the rope from it. "Catch this," I called to Crew who caught it when I tossed it. I hurried to the bowline and untied it from the cleat and spring line, tossing it to Crew as I climbed onto the boat. I moved behind the wheel and started up the motor. "Once I move away from the dock, pull the buoys onboard."

He nodded and looked over the side of the boat for the buoys. Once I hit the throttle and reversed slowly out of the slip, he pulled the buoys onboard and moved beside me.

The sun had yet to set, so an orange glow lit our way as I steered us away from the marina and out into the bay.

"You look incredibly hot handling this thing," he said.

"If I can handle you, I can handle anything."

"Handle me?" he asked, stepping behind me and linking his arms around my waist. "I think it's the other way around." He pressed soft kisses to my neck as I steered us toward a small island Gina and I had been to many times before to watch fireworks or have bonfires with the locals.

"Am I gonna get to drive on the way back?" he asked.

"Depends."

"On what?" he asked as I circled the island to the dock on the backside of it.

"On whether or not you admit this is better than baseball in the dark."

He laughed. "So, baseball wasn't a hit?"

I stifled a smile. "Kicking your ass was fun, but I think you're gonna like this better." As we neared the dock, Crew made sure the buoys were out. I slowed the boat, pulling us parallel to the dock. I switched off the motor. There were no other boats which meant we had the small island to ourselves, at least for the time being.

I jumped onto the dock. "Okay, throw me that rope."

Crew tossed me the rope, and I tied it to the cleat. I moved to the bowline and he tossed me that rope which I tied.

"You're good at this," Crew said.

I laughed. "It's not that hard." I climbed back on board and went down to the galley where the bed and kitchenette were located.

"Is there seriously a bedroom on this thing?" Crew asked, peeking down from the top of the stairs.

"Only the best for Marty Richmond," I said, as I grabbed a blanket from one of the compartments and came back up. "Come on." I climbed off the boat and onto the dock. "There's a new moon," I said, unable to conceal my excitement.

"What's that mean?" Crew asked as he followed me to the beach.

"It means it'll be darker," I explained, bumping him with my shoulder.

"Does the boat have lights?"

I looked at him, unsure if he was joking or serious. "You're not scared of the dark are you?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you're a big baby hidden in the body of an athlete."

He turned with a devious look in his eyes and swept me up in his arms and over his shoulder like he had on the baseball field. "Could a big baby do this?"

I squealed. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" he asked incredulously. "Could he do this?"

I screeched as he lifted me Dirty Dancing-style over his head. "Put me down!"

He laughed. "I could do this all night."

"You're such a liar. Put me down!" I kicked my legs, but it didn't stop him. Instead, he began trudging unsteadily through the sand with me over his head. "Crew! Put me down!"

"Why? I'm havin' the time of my life," he taunted, even though his steps in the sand didn't feel stable.

"Jesus, Crew. You're not a baby," I cried in one nervous breath. "Now, put me down!"

"I think I missed what you said." He stopped with me balanced above his head. "Could you repeat that?"

"I said you're not a baby. You're the strongest guy I know."

"Will you write me a poem?"

"Yes! Now, please put me down."

He swiftly dropped me into his arms, cradling me like a baby.

I gasped with the sudden movement, but I was relieved to be down. Once he lowered me to my feet, I glared at him. "Not funny."

"Oh, I think it was really funny."

I led us along the beach, and since it was nearing eight-thirty, darkness almost cloaked the island. We reached a perfect spot on the beach, so I spread out the blanket and sat down, knowing the tide wouldn't come up that high.

Crew sat down beside me, looking out at the horizon. "We missed the sunset."

"Well, lucky for you, that's not why we're here," I said, slipping off my flip-flops.

He hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. "Did you have something else in mind?"

"Yeah. I've got something to show you that's gonna blow you away."

He looked around the beach. "Well, where is it?"

"It's not something that you can rush," I explained.

"Well, then, while we've got this whole deserted island to ourselves…" He lay us back so we both stared up at the stars filling the sky. This night sky was even more exceptional given the sliver of moon gave off minimal light. "Maybe we'll see a shooting star."

"So I can make a wish that won't come true?"

"You're breaking my heart," he said.

"Why?"

"Because if you never wish for anything, what's the point?"

"What'll you wish for?" I asked, turning it on him.

His head fell to the side. I met his gaze. "Getting drafted top ten in next year's draft."

"Cody said there are scouts coming to see you play tomorrow night."

He shrugged.

"That's a big deal," I assured him.

"Only if I deliver."

"I'm probably gonna regret saying this, but…"

"But what?" he pried.

"You're one of the best players I've seen come out of the Cape League since I've been going to games."

"You don't have to say that," he said.

"I'm serious. Your coach was right about the type of player you are. You have this quiet intensity and this innate athletic ability that not everyone's born with."

His eyes flashed away as if I was embarrassing him.

"You better not change when you're a famous baseball player. Or, forget me."

He closed the distance between us and captured my lips. I let him kiss me. Let him show me that he heard me and believed me—and wouldn't forget me. Without breaking the kiss, I climbed on top of him, straddling his hips. I deepened the kiss, taking charge and grinding on him. He grabbed for the hem of my shirt, but I stopped him. I pulled back, and we were both breathless. "Not right now," I chided.

"Seriously? You can't just take advantage of me like that and then pump the breaks."

"Why not?"

"Because you're being a tease."

I laughed but didn't give in, rolling off of him instead. I looked out at the water and shrieked, "Oh my God!" I jumped to my feet.

"What?" Crew asked, jumping up beside me.

I pointed out at the water. "Look." I rushed to the water's edge. A swirling blue iridescent glow ran the length of the shoreline.

"What is it?" Crew asked, stepping up beside me and staring at the beautiful glow.

"It's bioluminescence. Isn't it beautiful?"

"It's amazing," he said, awed by the otherworldly display. "It's like the Northern Lights in the water."

"It's plankton. They produce light through a chemical reaction." I walked knee deep into the water. "Come on."

Crew shucked his sneakers and socks and rushed into the water, creating more swirling blue light.

"When you stir up the ground," I explained, "it reveals more of them."

"This is the coolest thing I've ever seen."

I smiled, loving that I could share this experience with him. "Best date ever?" I asked.

"Close second to baseball in the dark."

I reached down and splashed a handful of water at him. "Liar."

He retaliated, splashing me with even more water.

I tried to get away but he lunged forward, hooking his arm around my stomach. I laughed as he pulled my back to his chest. I spun to face him, and before I knew it, he'd scooped me up in his arms. I wrapped my legs around his hips and draped my arms over his shoulders. He stared into my eyes as the iridescent glow swirled all around us.

"You're so pretty when you laugh like that."

"I laugh all the time."

He shook his head. "Not like this."

"Maybe I'm happy."

He stifled a smile. "I'm glad."

"Aren't you?" I asked.

"Very."

My eyes narrowed. "What aren't you saying?"

"Don't you know?" he said, a shyness sweeping over him.

"Know what?"

A shy smile swept across his face. "That I'm done."

I tipped my head. "Done with what?"

"Ever looking at another girl again."

"Right," I said, knowing he always had the best lines.

"I'm serious. No matter where we are, all I can see is you."

My heart flipped over in my chest as I assessed the seriousness in his eyes. There was no trace of it being a line. No trace of him being insincere. My lips crashed to his. And he made sure to show me, right there in the bioluminescence, that all he could see was me.