Page 15 of Hooked

To be honest, I didn’t feel great about that. Every word of what I said is true, but the timing was poor. Something had happened between her and Danny too. I’m not sure what, but I could tell when I dropped off that stupid bag.

I know what pain looks like, even if she smiles through it.

Which is maybe how I ended up watching her open that box and hold the ornaments so they’d glisten in the light from the windows Kieran and I installed. She’d looked beautiful in that moment, cross-legged on the floor, caught up in simple wonder. It’s so different from the bubbly perfection she projects, and it made me laugh.

Not the best move, probably, but it brought both of us back to earth.

She’s defensive about her materialism, and that’s not my problem. I’m not sentimental, but even I can recognize the value of handmade art over whatever garbage she lost in the storm.

Not my fault that she took offense.

Time to head over to the marina. While I didn’t participate in the salvage operation, I’m curious about how the Ivy Bay held up.

My timing is perfect, and the tow has just finished. A dockworker is mooring the Ivy Bay to a slip, Oscar standing nearby. I jog over to see how he’s doing.

“Vinny,” he says, patting me on the back. Big black stitches stand out on the side of his head. “Thanks for the rescue. I owe you one.”

“Your brother tarped my roof,” I reply. “We’re even. How are you feeling?”

“Stupid,” he sighs. “You know, Vinny, when you’ve done this as long as I have, you start thinking you’re invincible. Like you’re smarter than the ocean.”

“I was wondering why you went out.”

“Well, you’re not the only one. I thought it’d be fine, that we could outrun the storm. I wanted to get home to my grandkids. Eli’s birthday is today.” He smiles ruefully. “Would’ve left that kid with a pile of guilt thinking I’d killed myself trying to get home to him. Stupid.”

We stare out at the water for a few minutes. I don’t know what to say. I wish I could understand what drove him to make that choice, but the only reason I know my birthday is because it’s written on a certificate.

Never seemed like something worth celebrating.

“I’m sorry about Danny’s niece,” he says, finally. “She was so desperate to get to him, and I was so desperate to get to Eli. Felt wrong to leave her behind. She said it was fate. Didn’t hurt that she’s a real good-looking girl.”

He laughs. “But I could’ve taken her down with me too. And she ends up keeping me alive until you three get there.”

“She’s fine, Oscar. And it looks like your boat is too?”

“She’s a fighter. Danny’s niece and the Ivy Bay, I’d venture.” He laughs at his own joke and touches his stitches. “She’ll need some repairs, mostly to the bilge. But nothing too bad.”

A loud thumping draws our attention back to the boat. Kristi is coming up the gang plank with two giant bags. Sven follows her with one more.

“Oscar,” she yells. “You tie one hell of a knot.”

“That I do,” he says, clapping his hands. “Aw, kiddo, you saved them for me. Thank you.”

“Saved is probably too strong of a word. They were underwater a long time.”

“I know, but I have to try to clean her things up. She deserves it.”

“Does she really need more things?” I ask with a laugh. “Seems like she picked up a few more this afternoon.”

“She did that so I could go to the salvage operation, dumbass,” Kristi says. “She spent enough that I could close down the store and not face the wrath of Mama Haydee.”

Damn. That was kind of her. Guilt pulls at the edges of my mind. Being on the water means a lot to Kristi, and I know her family has struggled to keep their businesses in the black. Maybe Sia’s motivations aren’t exactly what I think they are.

Sven smiles at Kristi. He’s got one hell of a crush.

“Why don’t I help then,” I offer. It’ll make Oscar feel less guilty, and frankly I feel oddly proprietary about him going through her clothes.

Especially since my mind keeps playing back the image of her in her bra and panties.

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