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“I’m sorry, I gotta look at this.”
He nods, and I pull out my phone and see the words on the screen:
“Hi, Adalee. Peanut got out.”
I shout, “Already?!”
My mother. I welcomed her back into my life on condition she would stay sober, and if she’s not able to simply go get him—he’s a fat cat and doesn’t run that fast—then something is wrong. I’m worried she may be impaired. Again.
“What’s wrong?”
Hudson’s face is concerned and compassionate. That’s one of the things I love about him. He always puts me first, even though he’s super busy with the marina. And when I say “love,” obviously, I just mean platonic love.
Any other kind of affection between the two of us would only complicate things.
“I’m sorry, I gotta go. Peanut got out.”
He squeezes me tight and pecks me on the forehead, and I inhale his scent of sea air.
I’m reminded that Hudson always has my back, and I’m off to tackle this challenge with a spring in my step.
Chapter 2
Hudson
The sun on my face, the rhythm of the waves, and a good sandwich are all I need to get by.
At least until today. Something feels different with Adalee around, and I don’t know what it is.
She’s my best friend, so of course, I want her around. I’ve secretly pined for her for years, but not until today, if I’m not mistaken, have I ever got the sense that I had a shot.
Something is changing in the air; I can feel it.
Every time she walks away, there’s a void that can’t be filled. Today it’s the same, but there’s an electric charge that goes along with it. When I watch her take off to see what chaos her mother has caused, again, I realize what that electricity means. Hope.
For the first time, I feel like there was a signal from her. Or maybe a whisper of a signal.
If it worked out, I would never let her regret giving me a chance. I think about her when she’s gone, and whenever she returns, she lights up my soul. This morning, for instance, Adalee was only here for about five minutes, but my whole entire mood changed when she walked up the dock. I could hear her footsteps before I saw her. I know her so well; she’s so familiar to me that I can even tell just by listening if it’s her or not.
Her hair was pulled back in that high ponytail that she always wears when she’s on her way to work the Ferris wheel. What was unusual was that I had the urge to reach out and tuck a loose strand behind her ear. Her winged eyeliner has a little bit of sparkle in it today, bringing out the blue in her eyes.
Her lips looked a little pinker, too. She’s adorable no matter what makeup she wears or doesn’t wear, but I feel like she did a little bit extra today for some reason.
Maybe it’s my mind playing tricks on me.
That would be the case if my body wasn’t suddenly reacting to the sight of bare skin below the knot in her button-up shirt. She had it cinched up like she always does with that shirt, but it was just a smidge higher today. I have seen her belly button a million times. Usually, not a big deal, but today the urge was more intense than ever to slip my arms around her waist and feel that skin against mine.
She’s your best friend, for Pete’s sake. Calm down and try not to fuck it up.
She’d probably hit me upside the head if she knew the images floating through my mind right now. She’d be right to hit me upside the head.
We love each other too much to screw up this perfect friendship. I would never want to lose this comfortable vibe between the two of us. She’s a rare jewel, and I wouldn’t want to lose her.
As I resume my work repairing this boat motor, my mind wanders toward all the useless hypotheticals.
How would I feel if Frenchie started dating someone because I didn’t take my shot? The figurative flames that begin shooting from my ears give me all the answer I need. I would immediately find fault and yeet him into the sun.
Well, dummy. You can’t base an entire relationship on how jealous you would feel. That can’t be healthy.
