Page 54 of By The Book
Claire ran through the list she’d made on her phone. She wasn’t sure what to bring other than towels, sunscreen, lip balm, and the like, but she’d tossed in a few other items just in case. Earphones seemed to be rude when on a boat with other people, but she grabbed a set for Tommy in case he got bored with the adults.
She checked her watch and headed for the door, spotting Denz descending from the apartment. He hadn’t worn his shoulder sling since before the wedding, yet another sign of his healing and the fact he would be leaving sooner rather than later. He’d continued with his PT and she knew he was making progress.
“Hey, you. Good morning.”
“Morning,” she said. “I hope we didn’t keep you waiting?”
“Not at all. Got everything you need?” he asked, unlocking his SUV and tossing a backpack into the rear compartment.
“I think so. I packed a cooler for us, just in case.”
“I’m sure they’ll have plenty but it’s a nice gesture. Tommy, you ready for some fun?”
Twenty minutes later,they were on the boat and heading up the Intercoastal toward Masonboro Island. The guys were gathered around Lincoln as he captained them, Tommy included, and Claire was thankful that the men were making an effort to include her son in the conversation. Lincoln’s son from his first marriage had joined them today as well, and though he was eighteen and in college, Claire noticed he shared a love of music and games with Tommy, and the two talked freely.
“Tommy is fine. Stop staring,” Marsali said.
“Sorry. Can’t help it.” The ladies sat on the lower level, sunning themselves as the boat trolled along the waterway.
“I wish Breanne would’ve come today but she said she’d rather babysit,” Amelia added. “She’s saving up for a trip to New York City with her friends and is more interested in earning money than a day on the water.”
“Good for her. A trip sounds like a great goal. Cute suit, Claire,” Eliza said. “I like that.”
“Thanks. Yours, too,” Claire said, smiling.
“So?” Marsali asked, leaning toward Claire. “How’s things going?”
Claire laughed at the question. “I’m good.”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking,” Marsali said. “I saw you and Denz kissing quite a bit at the wedding and you’ve been quietly MIA since.”
“Wait, what?” Eliza asked. “How did I miss that?”
“You were busy,” Marsali said to her friend.
“I noticed, too,” Amelia added, tilting her head to one side. “Looked to be as hot as the kisses you shared on camera.”
Claire took the teasing in stride and simply shook her head and pulled her floppy hat from the bag beside her. “We’re friends.”
“Kissing friends,” Marsali added. “Oliver has tracked with Denz this whole time because of the security project, and you’ve been a busy girl with all of those dates.”
“We’re…having fun,” Claire said, fixing the brim so that it shaded her eyes.
“What’s that mean?” Eliza asked.
“It means we’re spending time together while he’s in town,” she told them, “but we’re just friends.”
“Can men and women be friends?” Eliza asked. “I’ve never known that to be true. It seems like one or the other always develops feelings.”
“Well, either way, he’s not been entirely friend-zoned,” Amelia added with a smile.
“Can we talk about something else?” Claire asked, feeling more than a little self-conscious.
“Things are going well, though?” Marsali asked. “Just tell us that and we’ll drop it. For now.”
Claire thought of all the dates and fun and kissing she’d shared and nodded. “Things are going very well.”
She didn’t want to think about the time when Denz would leave town, so she forced herself to compartmentalize that to be dealt with later. She was on a mission to live in the moment, one moment at a time.
