Page 84 of Teach Me Your Ways

33

GRADY

It had been two days since the pizza party. Was it a pizza party? I had not been able to stop thinking about Cece and her daughter.

I had a feeling her mom was still trying to decide where I fit in the picture. She wasn’t the only one. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I understood why Cece wanted me to see their dynamic. She wanted me to see her family made her stronger, not weaker.

I sat in my office, staring at the weather report on my computer screen. The storm was still a possibility, though the models were inconsistent. My fingers drummed against the desk as I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Cece and her family.

She was strong—stronger than I’d given her credit for. Watching her with Sophie, seeing the way she balanced motherhood with her ambitions, had been a revelation. And her mom, Maggie, was a force of nature. A pilot, a single mother, a woman who’d carved out a life for herself and her daughter without apology. Cece had clearly inherited that strength, that determination to live life on her own terms.

But still, the dive loomed in my mind like a dark cloud. I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my gut every time I thought about it. It wasn’t just about the storm—though that was part of it. It was about Cece. About Sophie. About the weight of responsibility that came with putting someone else’s life in your hands.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. I’d spent most of my life avoiding attachments, convincing myself that caring too much would only lead to pain. But Cece had shattered that illusion with just a single day out with her family.

And yet, the thought of something happening to her on this dive made my chest tighten. I’d seen enough accidents in my career to know how quickly things could go sideways. All I could do was be careful. Insist all of us were careful. We’d pay attention to the weather. If I got a bad feeling, I’d listen and call the whole thing off. That was all I could do.

I shut down the computer and collected my bag. It was go time. There was some apprehension, but it was tamped down by my excitement. I loved exploring. I couldn’t wait to do it with Cece. She was a good diver and I knew she loved diving as much as I did. It wasn’t my professional focus, but I dove often. Seeing the shipwreck with her would make it all the better.

I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder and walked outside. The van was already packed with gear, ready for the drive to the dive facility. I was about to toss my bag in when I spotted Cece climbing out of her mom’s car, her red hair catching the sunlight like a flame. Sophie was in the back seat, her little face pressed against the window as she waved enthusiastically.

I hesitated for a moment, then walked over to say hello. Cece turned as I approached, her blue eyes widening slightly in surprise. She looked effortlessly beautiful in a simple tank top and cargo pants.

“Morning,” I said, my voice a little gruff after getting very little sleep. I’d been up most of the night going over dive plans and weather reports.

“Morning,” she replied with a smile. She glanced back at Sophie, who was now bouncing in her seat, clearly excited about something.

“Granny says I can have ice cream for breakfast if I’m good!” Sophie announced through the open window.

Maggie chuckled from the driver’s seat, shaking her head. “I said maybe ice cream for dessert tonight if you’re good.”

Sophie pouted dramatically, but her attention quickly shifted to me. “Are you going diving with Mommy?”

“I am,” I said, crouching down to her level. “We’re going to explore some really cool stuff underwater.”

Her eyes lit up. “Like treasure?”

“I hope so,” I said. “I’ll take good care of her.”

Maggie frowned and then looked confused. I realized what I said and quickly took a step back. I couldn’t help it. I did feel responsible for Cece. I wanted her mom and daughter to know she was going to be safe. But they didn’t need me to tell them that. They trusted her. They knew her and what she could do.

I cleared my throat. “I’ll see you at the van.” I quickly walked away feeling like an idiot.

Felix and Lina showed up a few minutes later. We loaded up and set off. The facility right on the coast was run by the university. It had dorms big enough to hold twenty people, for expeditions like ours. There was a little store nearby where we’d be able to pick up groceries and other essentials. The property had a firepit, grill, and plenty of outdoor seating. From there, it was a quick walk down to the docks where the university boats were moored.

It was a research facility, but going out there always felt a bit like a vacation. If only there were more opportunities to use it. Unfortunately, that required money. Money to pay for the gas. Money to pay for the time and everything else. It wasn’t always a huge expense, but a few grand was a few grand. My department had to fight for every penny.

I adjusted the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Lina and Felix in the back seat. Lina was scrolling through her phone, while Felix was leaning forward, his arms resting on the back of my seat. Cece sat shotgun, a travel mug of coffee cradled in her hands. She looked relaxed, but I could feel the tension radiating off her—or maybe that was just me projecting.

“So, what’s the plan when we get there?” Felix asked. “Dive straight in or do we get to enjoy the scenic route first?”

I glanced at him in the mirror. “We’ll check the equipment first. Make sure everything’s in order. Then dinner. We’ll dive first thing in the morning. Water should be calm.”

“What are our chances of finding something cool down there?” Felix asked.

“There’s always a chance,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road. “But we know a ship is down there. The question is whose ship was it and if there’s anything interesting worth bringing up.”

“Still cool,” Felix said, leaning back in his seat. “A shipwreck is a shipwreck.”