Page 92 of All The Way Under
“To fate. To timing. And to second chances, if we’re brave enough to ask for them. I love you, Nolan.” I say it out loud for everyone to hear.
The spotlight dims, and I can see my parents smiling. I set the mic down on the table, and I leave the room. Returning to my seat isn’t an option when I’ll have to face her. I grab another beer—a mistake—and head back to the deck and walk down it as far as I can. Past where the lights from the restaurant cascade out. Hidden in the silence. The way I’m intended to be. The ocean hums softly.
I don’t turn when I hear the click of her heels.
Her voice is soft. “So…you want to be my friend, huh?”
I swallow the last of my beer and set the glass on the rail.
“It was either that or pretend that seeing you didn’t wreck my entire emotional stability. I couldn’t even give a damn speech.”
She lets out a laugh. The kind she does when she’s trying not to cry. I don’t dare turn to look at her or risk losing all control.
“You surprised me in there. That wasn’t the Brody from a year ago.”
“The Brody from a year ago let you walk away without a fight.” I pause. “The new improved Brody taught himself how to fight something other than bad guys, and also how to sail.”
She blows a breath from her nose.
“You learned how to sail? Like not pretending to sail so you could get captured and make it look real? Like, sail, sail?”
“I mean, I knew the basics when I got captured, but I still crashed into docks. I figured if I ever met another woman who was obsessed with sailing, I should probably brush up.” Another long pause. “You know?”
She reads through my bullshit jokes easily.
“You didn’t need to change for me. You know that, though. It was me who was required to change because of the family I was born into.”
Now I’m certain she’s crying, and I can’t ignore that. I turn, and her face is illuminated by twinkling fairy lights that someone inside turned on. My family truly did orchestrate an intervention and knew every move I’d take. Got to love them and hate myself for being so predictable, I suppose.
“You never needed to change. I wasn’t brave enough. It’s really that simple. I was always going to worry you only loved me because I saved you. Our time in the jungle wasn’t normal or reality. It fast-tracked our feelings, or that’s what I told myself, anyway.”
God, I missed looking at her face. Her lips. Eyes that scream adoration. Forever.
“I changed because not having you wrecked me in ways I didn’t know were possible. Sailing helped me figure out who I am when I’m not running from what I feel.”
Silence stretches on, and I’m a fool for thinking I could be her friend. I want to kiss her right now and never stop.
Saylor tucks her blonde hair behind her ears. An invitation?
“Here’s me being brave enough to ask for a second chance when I botched the first.” I grab her hand, and I feel it throughout my whole body. “Saylor, will you go on a date with me? A real one. No timelines. Or media. Or guards. Or looking over our shoulders. My boat isn’t as nice as yours, but she’s fucking fast.” I grin. “A sailboat date. No pirates.” I shake my head. “Just us.”
Saylor studies me, really stares. I know she’s looking for a tell, and I know she’d see it if I were trying to hide something. She smiles real and slow.
“Only if you let me captain the boat. You have to be my first mate.”
“Deal,” I say, too eagerly. “But I’m bringing the snacks. Fancy ones. Friendship-level snacks, at least, because that’s what we are.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s what we are,” Saylor says, raising a brow.
She squeezes my hand, and it electrifies me, making my heart knock against my chest and my mind race.
“Good. Good. Nice talk,” I say.
“It’s a date, Brody.”
“I have to know. Did my dad actually pay you ten dollars?” I ask.
Saylor tilts her head and looks up through her lashes, smiling.
