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“Or you can take him up on his offer and have some fun before he leaves.” She tilted her
head to the side. “Aren’t you a little bit curious?”
I’d be lying if I said no, but I’m not sure the risk would be worth the reward. There’s too
much history and too many feelings there.
I’ll just have to avoid him for a few weeks.
* * *
Adam
Today's chartergroup consists of corporate salesmen and their customers. They started off as a lively bunch and have been drinking beer most of the day, so now they're bordering on rowdy. Not that I'm surprised by that. I've worked in corporate America long enough to know what happens at these kinds of get-togethers. But they have managed to catch a shit-ton of fish so it was a busy day. And it’s been even busier since we docked and I’ve had to clean it all.
“You almost done?”
My father’s gruff voice sounded behind me.
“I just have two more.”
I’m actually pretty impressed with myself. I got into a nice rhythm and cleaned the fish in what I consider record time, considering the size of the haul. It would have been nice if my dad offered to help, but he’s been extra grumpy today. To me anyway. He’s always nice to our passengers and since we docked, he’s been hanging out with them at the pavilion just off the dock. Until now.
“Their ride just pulled in,” he said.
Without stopping what I was doing, I said, “It’d speed things up if you started bagging.”
He grunted, and I expected him to walk away, but he surprised me and did what I asked. Once I cleaned the last fish, I washed my hands then joined him and we were done in no time.
I picked up the bin we’d put the bagged fish in and carried it over to the group. They’d agreed to split what they caught evenly, so handing out the bags was easy.
The guys were asking for some places where they could continue the party and my father suggested a couple bars on their way home. While he did that, I walked back to the cleaning station and hosed it off then headed back to the boat to do the same to the deck. There’s been a lot of beer and soda spilled and it was pretty sticky so I gave it a quick mopping too.
I finished and grabbed the mop head then threw it in a bag to bring home to wash. As I made my way off the boat, I noticed my father on the deck watching me. I have no idea what his issue is today and haven’t wasted my time trying to figure it out. It’s not worth the mental effort.
“I think we’re all set,” I said as I approached him.
When I was a teenager, I’d answer my father’s gruffness with my own. Eventually I realized that only made things worse. So now I keep my temper even, if not cheerful, when talking to him.
“You in a hurry to get home?” I raised my brows. “So you can sit on the porch and look for Summer.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, so I just shook my head and walked toward the truck.
“Don’t try to deny it,” he said as he followed me.
I can’t, which is why I’m not saying anything.
It’s been over a week since I’ve seen Summer. And like my dad said, I’ve been looking. I’m guessing she’s ghosting me because she doesn’t want to accept my dinner invitation. I haven’t even seen Thea outside, which is even more strange. Summer must really want to avoid me.
We drove halfway home in silence. Unfortunately it hadn’t lasted the entire way, because when my father finally spoke, he just pissed me off.
“Stay away from Summer,” he said. “No good can come from you sniffing around her again. You left her before and you’re leaving again. Don’t leave destruction in your wake this time.”
“I’m notsniffingaround anyone,” I said. “And you don’t have any idea what happened between Summer and me.”
“I know you left and never came back. And for what?”
“For what?”
