Page 39 of Until We Break

“Look, we’re going to a party tonight. It’s a bonfire on the beach. A bunch of other locals should be there.”

“A party?” My mouth hung open.

Josie laughed. “Yeah. If you want to check it out. I could pick you up.”

“Yes!” I was almost too enthusiastic. I was desperate for some human interaction. I still hadn’t built up the nerve to talk to the fisherman who came to the marina every morning.

“Okay. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

I wanted to squeal and hug her at the same time, but I grinned like an idiot instead. “I’ll be ready.”

Josie climbed in behind the wheel and the girls drove away. I walked back to the porch where Dean was still standing.

“I’ve got to go. I have a client meeting soon. But dinner? My place?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I have plans tonight. Maybe another time.” I turned and walked inside. I had to figure out what to wear to a beach bonfire. At my last New York party, I had been on Ethan’s arm, in a cocktail dress. Tonight, felt like the start of a new chapter. It needed to start with a shower.

NINETEEN

Caleb

Iasked if I could call her later. I hadn’t been vague or ambiguous about it. I fucking knew exactly what I meant when I posed the question. Given our history and given everything Margot has been through I owed her that phone call. But I hadn’t made it. I couldn’t.

That girl had ripped out my heart seven summers ago.

Gabe poked his head in my room. “You’re done with shift for the day, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” I answered. My patrol had been uneventful today, but the sun had been fierce. I felt drained. I’d taken a shower and all I wanted to do was sit under the AC wall unit and cool off. Maybe drink a beer.

“Are you going to the bonfire tonight?” he asked. “I’ve got to run up to Reel Time to get the beer. I always forget when it’s my turn. And the ice. Shit. I always forget ice.” He edged into my room.

It wasn’t large, but it was all I needed. A double bed. A dresser. A bathroom. A small kitchenette. My dad used to talk abouthis quarters on base like he had a giant house overlooking the Hollywood Hills.

“I’m pretty worn down from today. It was patrol non-stop. No breaks,” I explained. At least we hadn’t been called in for an emergency rescue. Although, I felt the itch under my skin. The restlessness started to take hold whenever things were calm for too long.

“I heard the kid’s mom came to see you.” Gabe took a full step inside my room and closed the door.

My eyebrows arched. “How did you hear about that?” I was suddenly uneasy that Gabe might have found out about the check too. It was in the top drawer of the dresser. I hadn’t cashed it. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it.

“A few of the guys saw her on base. Someone saw her go into Guthrie’s office. It got around who she was.”

Fuck.

“She wanted to say thank you for saving her kid. That’s all.” I paused. “Have you ever had that before? Someone come thank you after a rescue?”

Gabe shook his head. “No. But I got a letter once from a girl in high school. She had been swept out by a rip current. I pulled her in.” He blushed. “But I think that’s because she had a crush on me. Not really the same thing. I think it’s cool the mom came by.” He smirked. “And I heard she’s hot.”

I picked up one of my running shoes and threw it in his direction. “Not the point.” Gabe ducked as the shoe bounced off the wall over his head.

He laughed. “If she’s into you? You’re not going test that situation out?” He shrugged. I reached down for the second shoe, and he backed up. “It’s a joke, man. Take it easy.”

I shook my head. He didn’t know what I did about Carrie. He didn’t know about the money in my dresser.

“If anyone wanted to write us a thank you note it should have been the dad that nearly drowned both of us and tried to sacrifice his wife to the sharks.”

Gabe’s head rotated back and forth. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that motherfucker. I think he would have pushed the kids under if we hadn’t grabbed them first.”

I agreed. Parts of that night still bothered me. We hadn’t talked about it much since. I knew it was because of Lucas and the Sunfish rescue. Margot had come back into my orbit and I had gotten quiet on all the guys here.

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