Page 9 of Stolen Kisses
Noah continued to drive. He didn’t ask again, but he took Joey back to his place for drinks. “You gonna buy a new cab then?”
Joey shrugged as they sat on the deck of Noah’s houseboat. “Truthfully, it might be time I get a paying job. Most of my passengers ride for free because I’m a sucker.”
Noah glanced over. “Everyone’s been telling you that for years.”
“I know. But I can’t charge my sister and her friends. I can’t charge the nice old lady who works the register at the food mart. She can barely afford to feed her dog. And then the hot chicks always get a free ride with me. What’s a guy to do?” Joey shrugged his big shoulders and pulled Beauty under his arm.
“So you need work?” Noah asked, feeling a little prickle of excitement at his friend’s misfortune.
“Maybe the food mart is hiring a bagger,” Joey said dryly, casting his gaze out on the water.
“Well, I’m hiring a co-captain for theSummerly. Your dad was in the business and you’ve got a lifetime of experience. What do you say?”
Joey scratched his chin. “I got out of fishing because I was sick of spending my days on the high sea. But I guess I do miss it a little. And I don’t have many options at the moment. So, yeah. I’ll work with you. Thanks for the offer, man.”
Noah punched a fist into the air. “All right. Looks like Friday the thirteenth is lucky for both of us.”
“Krista will flip if we work together, you know,” Joey noted. “She’s always been a little jealous of your time.”
Noah laughed. “That’s an understatement. She’ll be fine, though, as long as I don’t bring you along to Wednesday Wings.”
Joey shook his head. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“Not one of my finer moments.”
They both laughed, then spent the next few hours drinking beer and celebrating their new arrangement. Joey was one of the best fishermen in Blushing Bay. Everyone knew it. He’d worked a boat with his dad for a while and had given the Sawyers a run for their money at times. He, Noah, and Beauty would be the perfect crew for theSummerly, even if Noah knew that Joey was right about Krista’s reaction. She’d never liked it when Joey had tried to be a third wheel with them growing up. Noah was her best friend, not Joey’s, and, even though they were grown now and this was work, Noah suspected she might not be thrilled about the idea of Joey joining his crew. He guessed he’d have to buy her another ice cream cone from Mr. Plumly at the pier to smooth things over.
