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“Are you just saying that because it would be hilarious to watch me flop around like a seal in the water?” Alissa asked.
“Of course not.” Dane laughed. “I just like to be near you when you’re in your adventurous mode."
Alissa softened at that. Dane would always support her no matter what she did, but she wished he would dive in with her every once in a while. Maybe someday they could surf together.
* * *
Luke adjusted his backpack on his back as the ferry pulled into the port at Blueberry Bay. It was a perfect summer day, sunny with just a few clouds drifting across the sun to give them relief from the heat. The ocean was a rich, beautiful blue that made him want to dive right in, small islands breaking up the blue in the distance. He made his way toward the exit of the ferry, excitement building in his chest.
Blueberry Bay had the same small town charm that he remembered—everything seemed more intimate, like everyone, everywhere had each other’s backs. The small tourists’ station near the parking lot was overflowing with people, but he didn’t need to go there today. He looked around the parking lot until he found his aunt Sandy Ryan and her husband, Daniel.
They were impossible to miss. Sandy was so petite that she barely reached her husband’s shoulder, her blonde hair back in its usual braid. Daniel had his arm around her, his strong, broad frame a sharp contrast from his wife’s. They both smiled when they spotted him.
“Hey!” Luke said when he got close enough.
“Hey!” Sandy pulled him into a hug. “Have you gotten taller since I saw you last?”
Luke snorted, then gave Daniel a hug. “No. I stopped growing a few years back, I think.”
“I’m just shrinking then.” Sandy sighed, a smile still on her face. It was an old running joke between them—Luke had been taller than Sandy since he was fourteen. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah. I’m wiped.”
They walked to Daniel’s SUV and piled inside, pulling off toward their home just outside of town. Luke rolled down the window a few inches to enjoy the salty ocean breeze on his face.
“Do you miss school yet?” Sandy asked, turning to look at him.
“Sort of.” He had always loved school, which was why going to business school was a no brainer after he finished undergrad. “I miss learning and talking to my classmates. But I’m excited to finish my final year and finally have time to start my business.”
His dream of starting his own electronics repair store had been nothing but a strong desire up until he was in undergrad, where it cemented in his brain as something he could actively start working toward. When people thought about technology, their minds instantly went to software and apps, but so many people gave up on fixing their gadgets, opting to buy new ones when theirs would be perfectly fine with a little tweaking.
His classes were the perfect opportunity to hone his skills. Every project was an opportunity to think of something he wanted his business to do, and his classmates were great sounding boards for his ideas. He couldn’t wait for his final year so he could start the last stretch of his education and the beginning leg of building his business for real.
“Definitely. It takes a lot of time,” Sandy said. “You’re smart for not trying to do it all and burn yourself out in the process.”
Luke nodded. He had watched Sandy build her store from the ground up over the years. Now it was so popular that they needed a lot more help than they had. That was where he came in.
“You should take a look at the laptop we use at the store,” Daniel said, looking at his wife for a brief moment. “It’s been glitchy. And yes, Sandy, it’s my fault.”
“I didn’t say anything!” Sandy chuckled.
“What happened?” Luke asked.
“I bumped it with my hip and it fell. Luckily it only hit a rug and it worked just fine after that. But there’s some software updates and whatnot that might be the culprit.” Daniel shrugged his wide shoulders.
“Sure, I’d be happy to help,” Luke said. Dropped laptops and other gadgets were pretty common fixes. And if it was a software issue, he could help them with that too—he’d learned a lot about it to keep himself well-rounded. “It’s the least I can do since you guys are letting me stay with you this summer. I’m the one who owes you guys a favor.”
* * *
“Look, Pearl,” Caitlin said to her daughter, pulling her a bit closer. “The otters are holding hands!”
Pearl gasped in delight as she watched the otters floating across the pool on their backs in their enclosure. The otters were new to the Denver Aquarium, and were by far the most popular attraction of the day. Plus, it was a new addition. Visiting the aquarium was always one of Caitlin’s favorite things to do with Pearl and her husband, James.
Except James wasn’t there, at least not yet.
“So cute!” Pearl went on her tiptoes to see better.
“Aren’t they?”
