Page 81 of Uncharted

“I’ve got a flashlight, Haley, if you’re going to get things in your crew cabin. I’ll come along.” Sam leaves with her.

“I’m not giving up my turn,” Dante says.

Yeah, awkward as fuck. I follow Haley and Sam out, then head to the back deck when they turn down the crew stairs. But then I remember I haven’t told Haley her story for tonight, so I pivot back to the cabin.

Chapter36

Recommissioned

Sam

My stomach is shaking. There’s the possibility that I’m more nervous than when I had my first date at the junior prom. Then again, there weren’t four other guys in the back of the sedan I borrowed from my dad.

I pull the flashlight out of my back pocket. I try not to use them too much. I’ve only got one solar battery bank to recharge them with, so I’m in the habit of fumbling around the ship at night in the dark or just waiting until morning to do whatever it is I need to do. “Can you see?” I smile over at her.

“Yeah, thanks.” Her blue eyes are gray in this light. We’re three steps down the crew stairs when she stumbles into me. I’m holding on to the rail and catch her.

“You would think it’s my first time on a yacht. Thanks for getting me.” She holds on to my arm. Her lips are plump. My heart beats erratically.

“I’ve got you. I’ll catch you anytime you fall.”

“I know you will.” We’re standing still on the stairs.

“We should get going. I like to conserve as much of the flashlight as I can.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“No need for sorry, Haley.” We’re through the crew galley and down to her cabin. “What do you need?”

“I... I don’t know?” She opens a drawer, and I shine the light into it. “I guess a shirt.” She takes one, and a few other things, then grabs her pillow but drops it. “The ones in the guest cabins are a lot better.”

“They are.” I took one a few weeks into my drifting for my nest in the wheelhouse.

“Most of my things are already at the tree house.”

“Including your suitcase.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. There are several things in her suitcase I want to see again. But this time on her, or in her.

“Sam Miller, did you have fun with looking inside of it?” She cocks her head to the side.

I gaze straight into her blue eyes. “Yes, I did. I apologize for invading your privacy. It was wrong.”

“Whoa. I mean, wow.”

My stomach twists. I guess I’m shocked that she’s so upset by it. I honestly didn’t think I was ever going to see her again. Of course I hoped. I dreamed of it. I dreamed of her finding safety, of both rafts being rescued, but?—

I shine the light on her so it illuminates her face more than the dresser in front of us.

“That is the most amazing thing,” she says. “You not only took responsibility for what you did, you apologized.” Her hands wrap around my neck, and she presses a kiss to my collarbone.

I’m taken aback.

“You, Haley Brewster, haven’t been around the right men.”

“Not until now. That’s true.” Her lips hit mine, and I’m lost in her. She pulls back, her eyes wide, and a switch flips. She excitedly shakes her hands. “I didn’t tell you about what we found?—”

Penny jumps up, a paw on my leg and one on Haley’s. Penny whines. “It’s potty time, girl?”

“I’ll tell you about it on the back deck.” Haley takes my hand and walks with me outside—she finishes telling me about the diamonds, and everything else they found, while we wait for Penny. It’s almost domestic, like an after-dinner stroll. Our weird version of normal.

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