Page 78 of Point of No Return

“Looks a bit worse for wear,” I glance at the boat, swallowing a too-hot swig of coffee as he approaches.

“It’s been well loved over the years… and left to rot for the rest.” He comes to a stop in front of me, eyes dancing over me before finally settling on my hands. “That for me?” he teases, but he seems almost surprised I brought one for him in the first place.

I hold both mugs to my chest protectively. “I came to gloat actually. They’re both for me.” I take a purposeful sip from his cup and ignore the way his mouth quirks when I cringe.

He hums, brushing past me. From the number of tools and metal bric-a-brac, he grabs three tools before strolling past me again. “Are you planning on taking a dip?”

“Just tanning.” The idea of ever getting in the water makes my stomach churn. “I don’t swim.”

He raises a brow, eying the strappy blue bikini beneath my dress, but he merely raises a brow in question. “I can teach you.”

My back goes rigid. “I said I don’t. Not that I can’t.”

He raises his hand in mock-surrender, stepping in front of all the engine pieces. “I was uh… I was planning on spending the day with him.”

Aleks. The reason we’re here in the first place. “That’s fine.”

Not an invitation,I note.

“He’s not too fond of the fact you drugged him.”

He scrubs a hand down the back of his neck, shoulders tense. “Yeah. I expected that.”

He doesn’t elaborate, but I can tell from the way his back is turned to me that the whole situation is bothering him more than he lets on.

I mean,hell. When I talked to him on the phone yesterday, he sounded ready to cause a riot if he found out that something had happened.

“Well, I just wanted to see what the week looked like.”

I’m quick to drop his coffee at the work station beside him, intent on spending the week steering clear of the Benenati boys.

“You’re really fine with it?” he says just as I make it to the door.

My brows furrow, and I realize too slowly that he means,You’re really fine finding something else to do?As if I have much room to complain when I’m the one who gets to lounge riverside all day.

“What else would I be doing Skar?” I tease, but the question is far more forced. My smile is too.

He nods carefully, staring down at the coffee I left for him. “I’ll see you at dinner then.”

It took all of an hour for the yelling to start. Aleks and I reached a cease-fire long enough to sit at the table for breakfast. Skar came inside shortly after, empty coffee cup in-hand, and sat at the table across from me. What started as a peaceful meal at the breakfast nook quickly turned into Aleks yelling, telling Skar to fuck off and telling me to leave.

“Don’t ever fucking yell at her” was all I heard Skar say before I left. I didn’t hear any of his other calm replies as I scampered up to my room and grabbed a book from one of the shelves before going outside to sunbathe.

The wind is still wicked, ruffling my hat and sundress everytime I try to lay and read. I quickly decide it’s a useless feat. Sunbathing proves fruitless as well.

Less than half a day in, and I’m already bored out of my mind and restless. With one hand holding my hat against the wind, I type out a message to Liv in the hope that she’s not busy.

4:45 PM Charlotte: I think another girl’s date is in order.

I smile when I see that she replies immediately.

4:46 PM Liv: Read my mind. Drinks soon??

4:46 PM Charlotte: Need you ask?

4:48 PM Liv: Maybe I will choose the place this time.

4:51 PM Liv: How is the homefront?

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