Page 75 of Turbulent Fires

“Or maybe because I’m better at sailing than you,” I sweetly say.

“You’ve only been sailing since last summer.”

“And I’ve been winning since last summer,” I point out.

Drake snorts from the cooler, where he’s trying to fish out a mango soda. “You two are the married version of reality TV,” he says with a laugh.

Chloe, with her sunhat askew and a drink in hand, calls out from a beach blanket. “Is this the part where they start a champagne-fueled slap fight?”

“I would win that too,” I call.

Wolf leans down to whisper in my ear. “You’re getting quite cocky, my beautiful bride.”

“Well, I’m pregnant so I’m allowed to be smug about everything right now.”

He immediately smiles. “Yep, that’s the trump card. You win.”

“That’s what I love to hear.” We kiss and hear moans about indecent public affection.

“Can you two at least pretend not to be filming a Hallmark movie?”

“Don’t be a spoilsport,” Chloe calls out. “You’re simply upset that you all lost to two girls.” She’s pretty pleased to be on the girl-power team.

Jayden laughs. “I wasn’t even trying. I was too afraid of hitting your boat and damaging my very pregnant sister-in-law.” I think Jayden’s excited about becoming an uncle. If that’s what it takes to win, I’ll use it. I rub my round belly and grin at him.

We all settle into easy conversation and a day of lazy sunbathing while Nick and Ace return from the dock with iced buckets full of drinks and an entire tray of seafood skewers. Joseph is resting nearby, setting up a speaker with his approved playlist as Sherman narrates everything happening like we’re on a travel show.

“I love this island,” I say as I watch the kids from all our friends splashing in the waves and building sandcastles, as they dart to and from the snack tables.

Wolf follows my gaze. “I never thought I’d be a family man, but, damn, do I love it.”

“We’re a village, and we’re all better off because of it,” I tell him.

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”

We hang at the beach until the sun begins to set, that magical hour when the Catalina haze is sinking over the cliffs. Gathering back near the bluff for dinner, our tables are lined with fairy lights, rustic lanterns, and hand-painted signs made by Chloe after a day of surfing through Pinterest.

That’s when the tides shift... andsheappears.

We’re all scattered near the cliffs, talking in small groups. Jayden’s standing apart from us, arms crossed, eyes on the horizon. A ferry has docked below, the last arrival of the day. The woman casually steps off like she isn’t walking into the middle of a story that’s about to be written.

Wearing a long dress and oversized sunglasses, she’s holding a camera bag slung over her shoulder and carrying a well-worn notebook tucked beneath one arm. She pauses at the top of the pier, takes in her surroundings, and smiles, a look full of mystery and secrets. Her eyes connect with Jayden, and he blinks as if he’s been hit by a wrecking ball.

As we feel the stillness in the air, all eyes turn toward the woman. Drake smiles and lets out a low whistle. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

I smile. “She’s interesting.”

Jayden doesn’t move, watching her like he isn’t sure if she’s real or not. The woman raises a hand and waves. Is it at Jayden? We don’t know, but Jayden begins moving toward the mystery woman, and the rest of us begin whispering.

“She looks familiar,” Drake says.

“I was thinking the same,” Wolf replies.

“Think, dang it, because it looks like Jayden’s been rocked right off his feet, and I want to know what’s happening,” I demand.

“I don’t know,” Wolf and Drake say in unison.

Tonight the island’s glowing. Dinner beneath the stars, candles, laughter, champagne, and always chaos reigns. We marvel at the wonders around us, at the fortune of love and life being lived.

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