Page 25 of Knockin' Boats
I nodded. “I know what you mean. I actually got the idea from one of my boat tours. This tourist washangry, and he kept complaining about how when he was down in Alabama, they had a burger boat right on the water. It got me to thinking about all the times people have to trek back to dock to pick up lunch when they’d rather just stay out all day. Not everyone plans ahead for that.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting a burger while I’m out there myself,” he said. “You just let us know if you need any help.”
“Thanks, Hudson. That’s really nice. I know, uh, my stepdad runs the DreamBoats and they’re kind of…”
“Competitive?” he guessed.
“I was going to say dicks,” I said with a rueful grin.
Hudson chuckled. “Well, admittedly, I’ve had less contact with you all than Sawyer, since you’re mostly out at night.”
I grimaced. “Yeah, Sawyer isn’t a fan. For a lot of reasons.”
Hudson squeezed my shoulder. “I don’t know you, Ash, but if Sky likes you, there must be a good reason for that. You’ll find your place here. Even with Sawyer, I imagine. He’s a good egg.”
“I know he is.”
Despite everything, Sawyer was the best friend I’d ever had. Aside from Mel. Her friendship was just as valuable, but it was different. I hadn’t grown up with her, gotten scolded by her parents, or been tucked into bed beside her at night like a member of the same family.
When Sawyer moved away, it was like losing a brother. I’d thought we’d stay friends. It had never entered my mind that we wouldn’t. But when his parents broke up, he shut me out, and I just didn’t know how tobehis friend anymore.
“I should get going,” Hudson said. “Fisher is meeting me for dinner.”
I checked the time on my phone. “Shit, me too. I need to catch the last water taxi.”
“Oh, you’re a little too late for that.”
“What?”
“They stop running at eight on weeknights.”
“Are you serious?” My phone display read 8:15 p.m. “Crap. I hate to call my friend back over here. She already dropped me off this morning.”
Hudson nodded his head toward the Swallow Adventures boats. “Come with me.”
“I don’t want to make you late for your dinner…” I trailed off when I saw Sawyer aboard a boat just coming in. A small party of guests was disembarking.
I stepped forward on autopilot, extending my arm to help a young mother climb out of the boat.
“I hope you enjoyed your tour,” I said.
“Oh yes, Sawyer is a sweetie,” she said.
I glanced up with a smirk, a joke poised on my tongue that I swallowed down just in time. If I wanted our dynamic to change, I had to stop goading him. His attitude brought out the worst in me, but someone had to break the cycle.
Sawyer’s gaze, dark and heavy, collided with mine.
My heart jolted. In fear? In excitement? There was just something about the way he looked at me…
Like I was the only thing he saw.
“Ash needs a ride over to Swallow Beach,” Hudson said beside me. “Can you run him over before putting the boat to bed for the night?”
Sawyer’s gaze never left mine.
“Am I a taxi service now?”
“No, you’re a considerate human being,” Hudson said, with a slight edge to his voice. “We take care of our own, and that’s Ash now. So take the man home. I’m late to meet Fisher or I’d do it myself.”
