Page 16 of Sail Away with Me

“This is me asking.”

“I’m from California.”

“Ah,” he said, laughing. “What brings you to New England? Specifically, Seaport?”

“Well,” she paused and took a deep inhale. “I moved out here to go to law school, but I need to save some money first so I don’t struggle, which is how I ended up in Seaport.”

“And my dad had a now hiring sign in the window?”

“Not exactly. Our fathers went to college together. When I said I was moving out here, my dad emailed your dad, who then offered me the job.”

Sail nodded. “Sounds like something my dad would do.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Do you like it here?”

Galvin smiled and nodded. “I love it. I thought I would miss the heat from home, but I don’t. Waking up to this view.” She pointed toward the water. “The sunrise and sunset are so vivid. I feel like I’ve only read about them in books. To see them in person is magical.”

“You sure I can’t take you out on the boat?”

“For what purpose?”

“Because seeing the sunset away from the harbor and town lights, away from the traffic, is a sight to behold.”

He piqued Galvin’s interest, but she shook her head. “We just met.”

Sail nodded. “Technically we met before, at the diner, but I get it.” He stood and stretched. The hem of his shirt rose, giving Galvin an opportunity to ogle the fine line running along the inside of his hip. She’d only seen models in magazines who had a defined V. Her mouth watered, forcing her to swallow.

“I’ll see you around, Galvin.”

When?

“Oh, yeah. Okay. Have a fun time out on the water,” she stammered and racked her brain to find a way to keep him sitting there next to her.

Her mind failed her.

He saluted her and walked toward the marina, where he bro hugged the guy standing at The Blue Lobster Adventures kiosk. She watched as Sail chatted with the employee and then made his way down the metal ramp, where she lost sight of him.

Against her better judgment, Galvin sat there until his boat left.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Sail waved at her.

Sheepishly, she waved back and then dropped her hand before someone noticed her waving.

The one thing she told herself she wouldn’t do when she arrived in Seaport was get involved with anyone.

When she met Sail, she added she wouldn’t get involved with the owner’s son.

She never said anything about being attracted to anyone.

Including the owner’s son.

sail

. . .

Sail floated. Well, technically, his sailboat floated. And bobbed back and forth while he stared at the sky, watching the clouds move over head into odd shapes and forms. Each one sparking some type of visualizing moment for him. Was that an elephant? Flower? An archer? His imagination ran wild with ideas. This had been a game for him and his brothers, anytime they went out on their boat as a family. His mother would have the boys lie down, by age, and tell her what they saw. He supposed it wasn’t a game after all but a way to keep their minds occupied when the boat was anchored.

The alarm on his phone sounded. His body shook. Startled from the screeching sound that interrupted his calm. Blindly, Sail reached for phone and brought it over his face, blocking his view of the clouds, to shut off the alarm. He then dropped the phone to his side and sighed heavily.

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