Page 35 of Wild Tides
“Are you talking to me or the towel?” I muttered.
“Both.”
By the time we reached the top, my pulse was pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with my ankle. She deposited me in the bathroom with a fresh set of clothes, then turned to go.
“You’re not sticking around to supervise?” I asked.
She paused in the doorway, eyes dancing. “I’m off duty, Murphy. Don’t get into trouble.”
The sound of her laughter lingered after she vanished down the hall. I cranked the shower on, knowing damn well the real trouble was how much I wanted her to stay.
Chapter 18 – Violet
It was nearly eleven by the time the line for pastries at the Salty Pantry dwindled enough for me to check my phone. Swimming in customers was never a bad thing, but I’d been on my feet for hours, dispensing tea and cruffins. Every time my gaze landed on one of Lee’s bouquets, I couldn’t help but grin. They were bright and cheery, bobbing as customers grazed the blooms. Perfectly mirroring my glee that Lee was rising so beautifully to my challenges.
Lee’s selfies in his old Friday Harbor High gear were cute. The online comments were even better.
“Reliving the glory days, huh? Careful, that jacket qualifies as a historical artifact now!”
“The jacket’s still holding up after all these years – unlike your ankle.”
“Does that thing come with a time machine?”
The “I see you peaked in high school and just camped out there,” made me wince on his behalf.
I felt a little guilty he was showering me with flowers, and I was embarrassing him in public.
My second WNFH dare was my last salvo in my covert revenge. I couldn’t keep Lee away from his laptop indefinitely. I had to make this challenge count.
With more time, I would have sent his laptop on a tour of the islands, posting snaps of it at all the local landmarks: Iceberg Point on Lopez, chilling at the Rosario Resort on Orcas, or communing at the monastery on Shaw Island. Alas, I wasn’t mean enough to keep him from working for too long. I could justify a day or two as healing. More than that was just mean.
We hear you used to be quite the performer. Grab a merry band and refresh our memories when the interisland ferry arrives for the evening sailing, and you’ll find me waiting for you.I added a photo of his laptop at the ferry dock.
To the uninitiated, it’d read like cryptic nonsense. For the locals, it was a siren call, dripping with the promise of juicy drama. Once a month, the interisland ferry hosted a floating jam session. Local musicians hopped aboard with guitars and ukuleles to serenade the route between ports. If Lee wanted his laptop back, he’d need to dig up his ukulele and find a way onto that deck before the boat sailed.
To my knowledge, Lee hadn’t picked up an instrument in years. But I’d spotted his ukulele in a corner of his closet. My brothers and Lee used to think they were so cool, hanging around a bonfire on Jackson Beach, singing for their adoring audience.
I’d snuck out once to join them. That night, my brother Cole drew the short straw and had to cart me home. My brothers didn’t want their preteen sister spoiling their fun. Or reporting back to Mom and Dad. Back then, I’d been the annoying tagalong. Tonight, I’d be the audience of one – and he’d be singing for me.
I did steady business at the Salty Pantry, selling cinnamon rolls and coffee before things slowed down near noon.
Vi: Want to meet for lunch at the park?
Anya, Rae, and Lucy each texted a yes, and we made plans to meet up after Anya’s last morning yoga class. I flipped my sign to “closed” and walked the few short blocks to the waterfront park. Rae waved from a spot at one of the picnic tables, and I slid onto the bench across from her.
It was our favorite spot to gather when our work schedules allowed. The covered picnic tables had a view of the marina and harbor. It was close enough to each of our workplaces to make a good central meeting spot. Winter wasn’t the best time of year to eat outdoors, but I’d bundled up enough to make it tolerable, and the gray skies didn’t deter us.
Rae smiled, the mischievous tilt to her lips betraying her excitement. “If Lee picks up your WNFH gauntlet, we’re getting a show tonight.”
Ifwas the key. It’d be just like him to come up with a plot twist of his own instead of creating an impromptu interisland ferry jam band. But if he was sincere about making amends for the past, he’d offer his pound of flesh.
“That’s the plan. Are you going to join me?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said.
Anya and Lucy approached together.
“Where are we watching tonight’s show from?” Anya unpacked her cold cuts and cucumber slices.
