Page 36 of Until Presley

As I walk out of Flo’s pool house with the medication she forgot, I’m stopped when I see Clara sitting on one of the loungers.

“How long do you think you can keep him from realizing you’re a clingy bitch, Elvis?”

I didn’t always hate that nickname, now I do. I have for a long time, but she makes it worse.

“I’m not clingy.” My voice doesn’t sound as confident as I wish it did.

“Yes, you are. You’re staying here to make sure no other girl is coming home with him.”

“No, she’s staying here because this is her home. She is staying here because I want her here. And,Clara, don’t ever call her Elvis again. She’s not the clingy one; I am.” Ham’s voice comes from the darkness, and I see him step out of the bathroom by the outdoor shower. He walks right over to me and pulls me into his body. “Walker, Hanna, and their crew are getting ready to leave.”

“Okay.” I tip my head up to look at him, and he leans down to kiss me. He turns to walk into the house. “Give me a moment,” I tell him and watch as Clara walks toward me. I hold up my hand to stop her. “Clara, please don’t mess this up for me,” I beg her.

“You’re such a spoiled bitch.” She pushes past me, and I decide to let it go.

We say goodbye to everyone, and I head for the kitchen to help Flo clean up. I notice my phone sitting on the counter near Clara, and she’s looking at stuff on her phone.

“I was wondering where I left that.” I pick up the phone and slip it into my back pocket.

“Well, I’m going to bed,” Clara announces and heads for the spare room Ham said she could stay in.

Part of me hates that she’s staying here. She’s already cornered me once after Ham got mad at her. She squeezed the crap out of my arm and told me she’s pissed I made her look like an idiot. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her she didn’t need my help to do that.

I need to learn to stand up to her, but I can’t. It’s just so hard. Even after all these years and all the pain she’s caused me, I still can’t do it. Besides, I don’t want to upset my parents, not when they already are mad that Griff is staying here with us. I want to point out that they got pregnant with Griff before they gotmarried, so they can’t judge me. But again, I don’t want to rock the boat more than it already is swaying.

Ham

Having Griff stay with us for the two weeks was a lot of fun. He’s a cute kid and loves his big sister a lot. I noticed at Thanksgiving he’s not as close to Clara as he is with Presley.

I pull Presley into my side as we wave goodbye to Griff. He takes the flight attendant’s hand, and we watch them walk down the jetway toward the plane.

“He’ll be back for another visit after his second term.” I kiss the top of her head as she looks up at me.

“I’m going to miss him.”

“Yeah, me too.”

We took him to my dive school and started scuba lessons with him. He’s a natural, like his sister, and loves to be in the water. He also went with us to visit Winslow after Thanksgiving. The kid just craves being around family. I wonder if after Presley gets her doctorate, she’d like him to come stay with us on a more regular basis.

We return to the Jeep, and I kiss her long and deep after getting her into her seat. We head home, where I proceed to lead her upstairs and make love to her before we head over to Walker and Hanna’s for dinner.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

PRESLEY

Ilook down at the most perfect gift he could have gotten me. I’ve been collecting unique compasses for years, and this beautiful box, with an old nautical map etched into the top, is a perfect addition. The compass inside resembles an old pocket watch. When I push the latch and the top opens, there is a picture of Ham and me from one of our many day trips snorkeling.

“It’s so you always find your way home to me,” he says before kissing me.

Between the compass and the beautiful compass necklace with“I’d be lost without you”engraved on the back, I’m worried what I got him isn’t as personal. He smiles and begins to unwrap the gift I got for him.

I had to contact an antiques dealer on the island to search for it, but I thought it was a good gift. He opens the wooden box, similar to the one with my compass, and looks inside. Nestled inside is an antique sextant. Just like I collect compasses, he collects sextants and other antique nautical items. I watch hislong fingers brush over the surface, and he looks over his shoulder at me. He sets it down and pulls me into his lap.

“I love it, sprite. It’s the best thing ever. I can’t believe you found it.”

“It’s a replica of an original J. Scott London. I tried to get you an original.”

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