Page 65 of Sail Away with Me

Tidal and Pearl busted out laughing, with Pearl heaving and bending over at her waist.

“Oh boy, that was the best thing I’ve heard all day,” Pearl said, much to Sail’s displeasure.

“Why are we all laughing?” Jack came into the kitchen. He greeted Galvin, patted two of his sons on their shoulders, and asked if Galvin had met Crew yet.

“Yes, we met at the diner.”

“Oh, honey. Sail told Galvin he’s a good boy and does what he’s told.”

Hearing it come from Pearl was even funnier, especially when Jack started laughing.

Sail rolled his eyes. “All right, I’m going to take Galvin on a tour.”

He linked his hand with hers and all but yanked her out of the house.

“I’m sorry your mom teased you,” she said as they went down the stairs.

“It’s fine. I knew they would.” They started walking toward the back of the property. The sound of the ocean sang, and the scent of sea salt air settled over them.

“I wish it wasn’t so dark,” Sail said as they reached the rock wall. “This place is magical.”

“Hearing the ocean like this is so calming.”

“It is,” he agreed. “Come on, we’ll go down there.” He directed her to the lit staircase. Sail went first, with her one step behind him.

The bottom step led to a small sandy beach, with a dock not far away. “It’s enough for a couple of people. Mostly, my mom comes down here to wait for us when we’ve gone to get their boat, or she’ll come down here to read.”

“Does she ever go to the beach you took me too on our tour?”

Sail nodded. “Or my dad will motor her to Nantucket for the day.”

“Wow. Can you sail there?”

“Of course, but not in the type of sailboat I’ll compete in.” Sail bumped his shoulder with hers. “Wanna sail to Nantucket?”

She shook her head. “But maybe around Seaport?”

“That’s probably for the best until you get your sea legs. Yacking over the side of a boat isn’t fun.”

“Puking in general isn’t fun.”

“Nope, but when you’re in the water, fish think you’re feeding them.”

“Yeah, okay, I’m never going on a boat.”

Sail laughed and pulled her into his arms. He cupped her cheek and kissed her lightly. “Are we moving too fast?”

Galvin wrapped her arms around his waist and started swaying, almost in tune with the ebb and flow of the waves.

“Part of me wants to say yes. We barely know each other, but in the same vein, I feel like I’ve known you for many months. I tried to fight this thing between us, but we feel natural.”

“I just want you to be sure.”

Galvin studied his features. “How are you so mature?”

Sail shrugged and shook his head. “In September, I wasn’t. I was hungover, still drunk and had no idea where I was supposed to be. And then, I got suspended. Facing my dad with that news was the scariest thing in my life. But before I could tell him, I metyou and figured you were my second chance at getting my life right before I really fucked it up.”

“I’m glad I was there the night you came in.”

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