Page 78 of Diving In

“I was wondering if it would be okay to ask Mom about staying with you next summer? If you’ll be here?” His nervousness was apparent in his shaky voice, but I didn’t even have to consider my answer.

“Of course. I’m here for you, from now until forever.”I smiled.

“Thanks!” He looked ecstatic before turning on his heel and walking out.

I turned to face Cal with a smile that could’ve spread happiness through the entire restaurant. “I’m an aunt.”

“And a damn good one, at that.” He beamed, planting a kiss on top of my head as we headed for the door.

CHAPTER 29

“Hand over the keys!” I demanded, a smile plastered on my face as we stepped out of the café. “I’m driving.”

I thought Cal might protest, but instead he tossed over his keys without complaint, a wide grin across his face. “Goddamn, you’re sexy when you tell me what to do.”

I shot him a look and then pulled myself into the driver’s seat. I had one more surprise up my sleeve, and I couldn’t wait to see Cal’s reaction.

“Any chance you’re going to tell me where we’re headed?” Cal asked from the passenger’s seat, one hand on my thigh and the other gripping the “oh shit” handle.

“If I remember correctly, you once told me you loved surprises.” I winked.

He squeezed my thigh a few times before grabbing for his sunglasses and facing the window. I was pretty sure I caught a glimpse of a smirk dancing across his face just as his head was turning, and his smile made me smile.

Here I was, choosing to stay in the place I’d spent the majority of my life avoiding. As the familiar surroundings breezed by, I realized that everything that had happened to me—the good, the bad, and the absolutely fucking ugly—had led me here. It had led me home.

I pulled onto the gravel road that led to the dock of the Sand Dollar Cove Marina. I picked the parking spot closest to the water, and then wondered if I was really about to go through with this.

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?” Cal finally asked after a few moments, his voice deep, teetering between nervousness and curiosity.

“Not yet, but I am going to need your help with something. First, I’m going to run into the bathroom and change into my swimsuit really quickly. Wait here for me?” I asked.

“I’ll wait for as long as you need me to.”

Before we grabbed brunch, I threw my swimsuit in my bag just in case I worked up the courage to actually go through with this harebrained idea. And thankfully, Cal had opted for a pair of teal boardshorts that were decorated with dark blue palm trees, so he was unknowingly ready for what I had in mind.

I changed quickly so I didn’t have time to back out, and when I walked out front, Cal greeted me with a casual lick of his lips.

Even when he wasn’t trying, he made me feel good, confident, like a woman who deserved to be celebrated.

With a little help from him, my confidence was boosted just enough to continue on this journey. I snatched his hand while making my way towardThe Naomi.

“Want me to untie her?” Cal questioned.

“Please.”

He untied the boat, and then we were pulling out of the slip, headed back to the spot marked with that infamous buoy. Cal and I didn’t say much to one another for the duration of the trip, both just enjoying the warmth dancing across our skin.

About halfway through our ride, Cal casually pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it under the seat. If I were a normal human being, this wouldn’t have been an issue, but I wasn’t normal.

So, I pretended like my insides weren’t growing warm, doing my best to hide the fact that him simply removing his shirt had me all kinds of hot and bothered. But I was also 100% sure my mouth had been ajar for the last couple seconds as I admired that sun-kissed body of his that was toned in all the right places.

Rein it in, Georgia.

I finally spotted the buoy dancing on top of the water, marking both the spot that had changed my life all those years ago and our destination right now. As we got closer, I cut the throttle and idled.

“Are we anchoring?” Cal asked.

I nodded, my words stolen by the uneasiness creeping in, slowly and then all at once. I was tense, but I also knew that if I didn’t do this now, I likely never would.

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