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We may as well be returning to land with an old, soggy boot. Royal, Lally, and Harley wait by the dock as CJ slows to adhere to the no-wake zone for Lola’s benefit.
The wind ruffles Harley’s long blond hair. Dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a T-shirt, she looks so much like she did in high school, yet small next to my twin. Being of even larger stature than him, I imagine I hulk over her.
Years ago, Brando warned me against dating his cousin, but maybe it wasn’t only her heart that he was protecting. The treasure hunt could get dangerous and I don’t want to see anything happen to her by being involved. She has a life and Luke to think about. What about me? All I can claim as my own is an ice cream shop and hardly that.
In the end, do my football stats, MVP status, and Super Bowl wins really matter? And if not, how can I make a life that does?
“McGregor,” Magnus barks, reminding me to help tie off the lines to CJ’s boat.
Isla hops onto the dock, as bouncy as ever, but then she stumbles, needing to regain her land legs. Royal catches her in his arms, steadying her. Am I able to catch Harley if she falls? Does she want me to?
“So?” Royal asks.
CJ scowls. “Nothing. Not a thing. There was no boat, no wreckage. No evidence.”
“Maybe we had the wrong coordinates.”
“I contacted Robyn to check and double-check. Unless the captain made a mistake, we were in the right spot,” Magnus says.
“But the barque must be out there somewhere,” Harley says.
“But where? There’s a lot of ocean.” I shake my head with disappointment, feeling defeated.
“How about you guys, find out anything?” Magnus asks.
“Not much. We should take cover.” Royal points to the sky.
A nasty cloud looms to the west and lightning leaps toward the water like it’s warning us to get inside.
“Anyone order this weather?” I ask.
“We’d better get home to the dogs.” Lally is already halfway down the dock.
“What did I say about red sky in morning?” Magnus mutters, trailing her.
“Should we be worried about our Sip & Scoop progress being ruined?” Harley looks down the street.
“I doubt this is worse than Hurricane Howie. The rain might do us a favor and wash away the remaining grime.”
CJ unties the boat and starts it back up.
“Where are you going?” I holler over the combined roar of the engine and the wind.
“Home. I’ll catch up with you guys later,” he calls.
“Home? Where’s that?” I ask.
“This island isn’t that big, but we’ve never quite figured that out,” my twin mutters.
“Does he dock at the resort?” They have a small boat lift over there.
He shakes his head and I can’t help but wonder about my baby brother’s mysterious life, living on the edge during a lightning storm.
Clasping Harley’s hand with mine, we all race toward Beans &Books which is closest. Only moments after we get inside, the sky opens up with a drenching downpour.
“That storm came out of nowhere.” Thunder shakes the old beach shack converted to a coffee shop as if punctuating my statement.
“I got a notification about it twenty minutes ago. But no updates from you guys.” Robyn jiggles her phone.
