Page 22 of Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends

“You’d be surprised,” she mumbles.

“Surprised or not, can you be ready in ten?” I ask, thinking if I give her too long, she’ll somehow talk herself out of it.

“Yes.” She exhales like she’s thinking this really isn’t a good idea, but I know it is. She closes her laptop, gathers up her things, and then unfolds from the couch. She gives me a once-over, then disappears into her room while I wait.

I’m wearing a pair of shorts, a Tarpons T-shirt, sneakers, and a hat. When she emerges, she’s wearing shorts that show off her legs, a black T-shirt that’s fitted to her chest—I desperately try not to stare at—sneakers, and a sun hat that covers most of her face. She’s matched me, and stupidly, I find it kind of endearing.

“Ready?”

“As much as I’m going to be,” she exhales.

“I promise we’ll have some fun today.”

“I don’t remember the last time I went out for fun.”

“Exactly.”

I grab my keys and my wallet off the counter, and she follows me out into the garage and then into the backyard.

“We’re taking the boat?” she asks, pulling on one edge of the hat to block the sun.

“Absolutely. Any chance I get, I take the boat. Besides, it’s easier to park than the truck,” I tell her as we head down to the dock. Sure enough, just like she said, there’s a rolled-up yoga mat propped between two of the posts.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“I thought we’d head to a place called Armature Works for lunch. This old warehouse was built in 1910 to house Tampa Electric’s streetcars, and now it serves as a venue with restaurants and has space for large events. Since I don’t really know what you like to eat, here you have your choice of everything from sushi to pizza to Greek.”

“That sounds good. I love sushi, and I guess I don’t really know what you like either.”

“I thought it would be obvious.” I smirk at her.

“Just because you like to go fishing doesn’t mean that you actually like to eat the fish too.”

“Well, I do. If there’s fish involved, count me in.”

“I’ve always wanted to learn to make sushi. I suppose I can add that into our dinner rotation.”

Taking her hand, I help her climb onto the boat. It’s weird to hold her hand, even this simple gesture, but it causes an unwanted spike of something up my arm and into my chest. I’m definitely sticking to our no-touching rule.

“You know you don’t have to cook for me,” I tell her, as I drop her hand and move toward the front of the boat to untie the last rope.

“I like to cook. And after sitting all day, it’s good for me to get up and do something else.”

“Well, I’m not complaining, and I’m sure Jonah and Sophie welcome the reprieve. I eat with them a lot.”

“You said they’re fairly new together?”

“Yes, but I think in Jonah’s mind, he’s been with her for years.”

Joining her on the boat, she settles onto a seat next to me, and I fire up the engine. I love that sound.

“There’s a bed on this boat,” she states, surprised.

“Yes, a bathroom too. This is a thirty-four-foot yacht, not just a regular boat,” I tell her proudly.

“Your fish tank and your yacht, now I’m starting to understand you,” she teases.

“I’m really not that complicated.” I back us up into the canal, and we slowly begin to make our way out of the island and into the bay.