AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think you should do it, since you’re the songwriter.” Blair poked Justyn in the side.
“Songwriter doesn’t equal toast master, but I’ll give it a shot, baby.” He handed a glass to Reid, who stepped away from the fire to join the circle. Justyn held the glass toward the center and watched as the sharp flames from the fire caught the rise of the champagne’s dancing bubbles.
He cleared his throat. “Here it goes.” He looked at Blair and felt his heart swell a little. Then he locked eyes with his cousin, and didn’t know if he could find the words everyone was waiting to hear. This was a moment he never saw coming, even if it was one he always wanted.
“Reid, man, when you asked me to go in with you on this venture, I could have sat down and listed the pros and cons, run the numbers, and consulted every boat builder Down East, but I didn’t. You asked, and I said yes.” He shuffled his feet in the sand. “I said yes, because you asked.”
Blair and Maggie smiled at each other across the circle.
Justyn continued. “And I’m sure as hell glad I did because I wouldn’t be here tonight. None of us would be celebrating our tenth boat and our five-year exclusive contract with Charleston yacht club if it hadn’t been for you. So, tonight, I know we’re christening her”—he nodded at the vessel anchored along the beach—“but this night is about you bringing all of us together. Without these boats, this business, and you as my family, I wouldn’t have my favorite thing on this island.” Justyn winked at Blair. “So, here’s to boats, summer, and never giving up.”
“Here, here!” they all said in unison before drinking a few sips of the bubbly.
“Justyn, that was beautiful.” Maggie hugged him hard.
He blushed. “Thanks, G. I meant it.” He squeezed her again. “Let’s get this party going.” He pulled out his phone and hit play on his beach music playlist.
Reid walked over and slapped his cousin on the back. “I wouldn’t have done this without you. You know that?”
Justyn cracked a smile. “I know. You would have been crazy to try it without me.”
Blair and Maggie locked arms and huddled closer to the fire. “How long do you think the bromance stuff will go on?” Blair asked. “I’m starving and freezing.”
Justyn heard Maggie’s response, “I’m kind of loving it.”
He chuckled. Those two were as tight as he and Reid. They all fit together rather seamlessly, like the boat they were getting ready to launch.
Reid walked over to the fire. “All right, ladies, I think these bad boys are ready.” He grabbed a bucket and started shoveling the hot oysters into the empty barrel. “Who wants the first one?”
“Me!” Maggie raced around the side of the roasting station to join Reid.
He laughed. “Of course you do.” He slipped on a heavy work glove and began separating the shells. “Here you go. First one of the oyster roast. Hot off the fire.”
Maggie smiled at him as he leaned closer, dangling the oyster out of her reach. “Reid, stop.” She squealed as he swooped in for a kiss before releasing the oyster.
Justyn felt Blair’s gaze as he watched her friend and his cousin. She joined Justyn away from th
e fire.
“Nice toast.” She bumped his side with her hip.
“You’re the one who said I should try it.” He sipped on the drink. He was enjoying it more than any glass of wine he had ever tried.
“And it was perfect.” She smiled.
He laughed. “You know I almost didn’t think I was going to make it through it.”
Blair turned toward him, sliding her free hand into his. “I knew you could do it.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “So, what exactly is your favorite thing on this island?”
“You even have to ask?” Justyn brushed his lips across her mouth. “I’ve never been so happy since you moved here.” He felt the familiar sparks Blair’s kisses always stirred.
“You weren’t too happy when you found out you had to lug my boxes down ten flights of stairs or when the moving truck got a flat tire in Alabama. Was it worth it?” She batted her eyes at him.
Justyn ran a hand along her face, and held her chin between his thumb and finger. “Darlin’, nothing was ever more worth it.” He closed the distance between them, and sometime during the kiss, they both lost their champagne glasses.
“Eh-hem. Excuse us!” Maggie called. “We have a boat to christen with champagne.”
“You got it, girl.” Justyn grabbed Blair by the hand and tugged her toward the shoreline.
