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“And what about you, West,” I ask. “Where did you grow up? Before you guys all met in college and tried out for this racing team?”
He wraps an arm around me and leans in for a bite of my icee. “I’m a free spirit, Harlow,” he says in an exaggerated tone. “I go where the wind takes me.”
I elbow him playfully. “Honestly though, what’s your story?”
“Eh, my parents are from a small Alaskan village, and I haven’t seen them in forever. My stepbrother lives there still, and we aren’t exactly best friends.”
“Why?” I ask as we turn left toward the boat dock.
“River is one of those brooding types, kind of my opposite.”
“You should work things out with him. I always wished I had a sibling.”
“Your parents were one and done?” Kai asks.
I bite my bottom lip. Here we go. I take a deep breath and then nervously say, “I actually don’t know my biological parents. My mom and dad found me on the beach when I was a newborn.”
We stop walking, the guys watching me. “You were found on the beach? Like, swept in from the sea?” Eric asks, his gaze is on mine. When he looks at me it’s like he’s searching my soul. What does he see?
“Yeah, basically. My mom still has this little, woven basket they found me in. There was never any record of a missing child, and they were eventually able to adopt me.”
“It’s kinda fucked up that someone left a baby at the beach,” Crew says. His eyes are narrowed, and it’s clear what I’m saying upsets him. “You could have drowned.”
“But I didn’t,” I say as lightheartedly as possible. Truth is, I have thought the same thing so many times.
“Unless...,” Kai starts. “Never mind.”
“Say it,” West insists.
“Unless you were from the sea. Not the land.”
My thigh burns as he speaks. Like the words he says are being heard by a force more powerful than any of us.
“That’s ridiculous,” I say, brushing him off.
“Is it?” Kai presses. “We found you tens of miles from the shore. You were how many feet underwater, able to breathe? You may have spent your life on dry land, but Harlow, it doesn’t take a genius to know you aren’t from here.”
I shake my head. “Stop it, okay? I just want things to go back to normal. To how they were before. I just want...,” I cover my face with my hands, tears filling my eyes.
Eric wraps his arms around me, and they should be comforting, but right now I want to run away. “What is it you want?”
“I want to be alone. Alright?”
I take off toward the marina, knowing I need to get the boat ready for the cruise, but these guys are just too much. Their words, their bodies, and their desire are more than I could have ever imagined.
I want to know where I come from, but I don’t want to lose everything I already have.
My thigh burns and my heart constricts and it’s all too much. The guys call after me, follow me, but I turn and tell them to please let me be.
Eventually, they seem to get the clue, and as I head toward the boat, they stop following me.
When I get to the boat, I see my parents’ other employee, Davis, leaning against our small kiosk where we have people meet us for the tours. We usually run the sunset cruises together. He’s a white guy with dreads who always brings out a drum mid-way through the cruise. He’s a beach bum by day and hippie by night and everything about him is well-intentioned.
“Harlow, my love,” he says. “You okay?”
I wipe my face. “I’m totally fine.”
He frowns, shaking his head. “You sure, girl? I tried calling but your phone goes to voicemail.”
“Yeah, I lost it. What’s up?”
“The group of friends canceled. Guess one of the guys got food poisoning and they decided to stay back. Poor guy.”
“Oh. So, we don’t have to work?”
He shakes his head. “Nope, so I’m off, my lover is waiting. She bought some lube if ya know what I mean.”
“Uh. TMI, Davis.”
“Right, I forget how innocent our sweet Harlow is.” He smiles, raising his hands in apology. “And I already called your parents to let them know the cruise was cancelled.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I think I’ll just chill here for a sec, though.”
“Alright, my girl. Oh, if you’re staying here for a bit, then be sure eat the food in the fridge. I had it all ready for the cruise tonight,” he says as he waves goodbye. “Stay cool.”
I can’t help but smile as he leaves. Davis does that to people, helps them chill out. And right now, I can certainly use all the good vibes he wants to offer.
I don’t know why I freaked out so hard at the guys. The things Kai said made sense.
