Page 21 of Sail Away with Me

In the bathroom, she gripped the porcelain sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Pink cheeks, sweat pooling at her hairline, and a rapidly beating heart. Sail had gotten to her. Theproblem, with the exception to the obvious, was she wasn’t sure she even liked him. Yes, he was nice to look at, but he was a bit too cocky for her liking, and she had a feeling he had plenty of women falling at his feet.

All but her.

She would never.

Galvin washed her hands and wetted a paper towel to dab at her face. Her shift was almost over and then she’d head upstairs, heat up some leftovers and watch one of the streaming apps her father graciously paid for.

Back in the diner, she served her other tables, refilled drinks, and cleared tables as people finished their meals. Some ordered dessert, while most paid their check and left.

The Carter boys did not leave.

Even after they ate dessert.

The four of them sat there, chatting like they hadn’t seen each other in years. From what Sail told her, he’d been away at college, but certainly he came home to visit.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said when she approached their table. “My shift is over and wanted to let you know Rhianna will get you gentlemen whatever you need.”

“Can you get us our check?” Sail asked.

She must’ve looked at him like he had three heads because he repeated himself and then said, “You know the paper thing we use to pay our bill.”

“Oh. I . . . uh . . .”

Dune shook his head. “No, ma’am. We pay for our food here.”

“Oh, okay. Give me a minute.”

Galvin went behind the counter and rang in their order and printed a copy of their receipt. She put it in the booklet and carried it over, pausing halfway to question whether they each needed their own or what. She hadn’t thought to ask.

“I put everything on one ticket. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” Dune said as he took the black booklet from her, wrote a total, and handed her a credit card.

Anxiety filled her as she carried everything back to the cash register. With Dune’s credit card in her hand, she pulled the receipt and looked at the total at the bottom. Her eyes widened when she saw the tip amount and then she did a double take. He or they had tipped her over one hundred percent, which was more than enough to buy her groceries for the week.

Trying not to call attention to her excitement, she finished the transaction and went back to the table. She set Dune’s card and receipt down in front of him. “Thank you,” she said to all of them. “It was great meeting you.”

“See ya,” Crew and Tidal said.

“If you see me out and about, say hi. We’re all family now,” Dune said as he stood with Tidal following him.

Sail stood as well, followed by Crew. Galvin smiled and headed toward the back, clocking out, and walking toward the backdoor.

“Galvin,” Sail’s voice carried over the din of the kitchen. She turned as he came through the door. “Would you like go to down to the bar for a drink?”

As much as she wanted to say yes, she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sail. Have a good night.” Galvin climbed the stairs to her apartment and slipped her key into the lock and turned the knob, fighting the urge to look over the railing at Sail.

sail

. . .

The sun rises over the harbor, not that anyone could see the sun. The thick gray clouds screamed doom and gloom. Fishing vessels motor out of the marina and head toward the ocean. All determined to bring in as much as they could before high winds brought them back to land. Sail looked at the sky and frowned. It was going to rain. It was just a matter of time when the storm would roll in.

After sighing, he walked toward the diner. Last night, he’d asked Galvin to go get a drink with him, only to be shot down. Shot down was probably harsh, but still she told him no. Not many told him no and it caught him off guard. He didn’t have a handy retort for the rejection and stood there in the courtyard looking at her apartment door, expecting her to return and tell him she was joking.

She hadn’t.

He’d met his brothers outside and endured relentless teasing about the schoolboy crush he had on the new waitress. Most of the ribbing came from Tidal and Crew. Dune was far to mature—and annoyed—to engage with his brothers.

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