Page 12 of Sail Away
“I really don’t understand her industry or how it works. And why the hell is she living on a boat?” Troy said. “I mean, really, who lives on a boat?”
“You’re a sailor. Don’t you live on a dinghy that floats sometimes?” Ziggy asked.
“That’s different. And I don’t think you can call a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier a dinghy. Not to mention, I’m a pilot. I spend more time in the air than I do on the water. Besides, isn’t our baby sister living on like a fifty-foot sailboat? Is that like a tiny house thing?”
“Not sure it matters where she lives since she’s never home,” her father said. “And it’s worse since she and Reid broke up. I really thought he was the one. I don’t know what she’s so afraid of. As soon as she gets close to someone and things are going good, she runs. And now she’s not giving herself any breaks between ships. She goes right from one charter season to the next. We’re just lucky she got a job here for the summer.”
“I wonder what Reid is up to these days,” her mother said. “He was the one, but he had his own demons and those two souls couldn’t get their shit together.”
“I miss that boy,” her father said. “Best thing that ever happened to Darcie, and she just tossed him away. Much like she did college and that opportunity she had at that sales job.”
Her mother laughed. “You thought Reid was too old and wild for her when she started dating him.”
“He had Jag run a background check,” Albert said.
“I changed my mind. He was perfect for her, and if I had his number, I’d call him and tell him,” her father said.
Shit. Her father would reach out to Reid because her dad, God love the man, was a meddler. Worse than her mother.
“We don’t know what went on behind closed doors,” Ziggy said. “And let’s not forget they broke up in part because he demanded she give up something important to her. That’s a pretty uncool thing to expect of someone.”
Darcie pinched the bridge of her nose. While she wasn’t going to go chasing after Reid—that ship had sailed—shewascontemplating her career choice in a long-term sense. She was tired of the traveling. Tired of the drama. Tired of dealing with childish deckhands who only wanted to get wasted and laid when they were off duty.
Simply put, she was just plain fucking tired, and she didn’t have it in her to live the life of a yachtie anymore. She could get a job as captain of one of the ferries. She’d be on the water doing what she loved.
It was an option.
She groaned. Okay. Perhaps not. She’d rather teach sailing. But truth be told, she still wanted to captain a superyacht for maybe a year—or two.
But then she was done.
Her family had a point, and perhaps it was time she listened.
About her career.
Not Reid.
It was also time to shut them up. They’d had their gossip fun.
She inhaled sharply and let the breath out slowly as she plastered a smile on her face and entered the family room. “Hello, family. Sorry I’m late. Hope you enjoyed talking about me.”
“It wouldn’t be a family gathering if you didn’t show up last,” her sister, Ziggy, said with a big kiss and hug. “And if you mention the fact that I’m dateless, I will scratch your eyes out,” she whispered.
“Ziggy. What? No date? Again?” Darcie did a little curtsy.
“I’ll get you for that,” Ziggy said, holding up the plate of cookies. “I think these are all for me.”
“Not.” Laughing, Darcie stretched out her arm and snagged a couple of the cookies.
“You know, I brought another box.” Crystal waved her hand toward the kitchen.
“I think we better go get them.” Albert took his wife by the hand and led her through the maze of family and close personal friends.
“Look at you.” Darcie took her sister-in-law, Callie, by the hands. “You actually look pregnant.”
“Better than looking fat,” Callie said.
Darcie kissed Jag. “Are you ready to be a dad?”
