Page 80 of Smooth Sailing

“You’re Suzette, Hug, in a different way. Just livin’ until you die.”

That hit so close to the bone, he could feel the blade scraping.

“We gotta talk about it,” Big Petey announced.

He found his breath on that because he knew what Pete wanted to talk about.

And that wasn’t going to happen.

“No, we don’t.”

“I’ve left it too long. I’m too old. Slowin’ down. I need to sort this for Jackie before I kick it.”

He didn’t like Pete talking about kicking it either.

“Pete—”

“Not now. Too much happening now. Later,” Pete said as Hugger heard the sliding glass door open behind him.

He twisted to see Diana back in her loose shorts and Diamondbacks tee. The mess of hair on her head was listing off to one side. Her eyes were sleepy. Her gait was shuffling as she made her way to him.

And she was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

He froze solid as she came right in, fit herself to his back, and he felt her press her cheek there as she wound her arms around his middle.

It was the sweetest touch he’d ever had.

Good Christ.

“Hug?” Big Petey called.

“Diana’s up,” he grunted.

“Right. We’ll leave it there. Though, warning, we’re picking it up later. See you in a few.”

“See you,” he pushed out, and the call ended.

He put his mug on the railing and carefully turned in Diana’s arms.

She allowed this, then pressed to his front.

“It’s super early and you’ve obviously been up awhile,” she mumbled, even her voice sweet and sleepy. “We need to go out and get an air mattress for you.”

He shoved his phone in his back pocket, then he took her by her upper arms and gently but firmly set her away from him.

She blinked up at him, her face fell, and his gut lurched at seeing it.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, the sleepy gone, horrified in its place. “So sorry. I thought yesterday…you touching my face, holding my hand, watching the movies…I thought…I…” She shook her head hard, making that clutch of thick hair bounce. “I thought wrong and I’m so sorry. That had to be weird for you.”

Hugger found his mouth saying, “I don’t like to be touched and I’m not affectionate.”

“Okay. Yeah.” She nodded her head fast and repeatedly. “Again, I’m sorry.” She was looking anywhere but at him. “I’m just gonna go?—”

“Diana.”

Her eyes skated across his face and fastened on his ear.

“Babe, look at me,” he said softly.

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