Page 55 of Sail Away with Me

Sail smiled. “This is a local hangout.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning most of the people in here, live here,” Dune added.

“And the tourists go to the Sea Shanty,” Caroline said. She reached across the table and put her hand on Galvin’s. “If you love pina coladas, go to the Sea Shanty.”

“Bite your tongue, woman,” Dune said.

“Okay, Captain Blue Balls.”

Everyone, except for Dune, bust out laughing.

“Anyway,” Sail said, getting Galvin’s attention. “As legend had it, some pirates built Diego’s and the Sea Shanty in the early 1700s as places to meet and conduct business. Seaport had its fair share of pirates back in the day.” Sail pointed to the thatched roof. “This thing is a bitch when it rains and can take days to dry out.”

“Why don’t they layer it with something else?”

Sail and Dune shrugged.

“Saturday night, we’ll go to the Sea Shanty, and I’ll sit at the bar and watch you drink a pina colada,” Caroline said to Galvin, with a sigh.

“Deal,” Galvin said faster than Sail cared for.

“I don’t want to get into a fight on Saturday night,” Dune said, exasperated.

“Same,” Sail added.

“Wait, why are you fighting?” Galvin asked, her eyes going from brother to brother.

Caroline sighed heavily. “Because they’re macho and the guys at the Sea Shanty aren’t from here. The Carter men have egos.”

Galvin nodded in understanding.

“I’m beginning to regret this,” Sail said to his brother.

Dune laughed and leaned forward. “Tell me, Galvin, how do you feel about sailing?”

This time, Sail sighed and shook his head. He motioned for the waiter to come to the table, and thought about getting a rum and Coke, but opted for water and along with Caroline, encouraged Galvin to try one of the daiquiris.

He’d yet to see Galvin let loose but was very much looking forward to it. She glanced at the menu and then ordered some fruity concoction with blue curaçao in it.

Sail leaned over and whispered, “I wonder if your tongue will turn blue?”

Galvin giggled. “I guess we’ll find out.”

“Yeah, we will,” he growled.

galvin

. . .

After dinner and dessert, the four of them left Diego’s. Caroline took Galvin by the arm and led her away from Dune and Sail.

“I’m so happy you came out to dinner tonight. I really haven’t made any friends, other than Ana,” Caroline said. “Working for Pearl and being engaged to Dune has made it hard. Most of the employees won’t really talk to me and the women around here can be standoffish. Especially the ones who know him and he rebuffed.” Caroline rolled her eyes.

“This is where you’re lucky,” she continued. “Sail doesn’t have the rep Dune does.” Caroline looked at Galvin. “Can you believe the nickname he has? Captain Blue Balls,” she said in a mocking tone. “There’s nothing blue about his balls.”

Galvin snickered. “I think that’s very TMI.”

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