Page 95 of All The Way Under
We stay silent, appreciating the view as we near the cove, thinking about the rescue and the brothers. I help with the lines as we approach, and he lets the anchor down when we’ve reached the correct depth. The land blocks the wind, and the water is glass still here, hence the name.
“I’ve never been on a sailing date before, believe it or not. This has always been a dream of mine.”
“I kind of hoped that was the case,” he says.
When we’re finished with the tasks the boat requires of us, he stops on the deck, hands on his hips, nothing else to distract him from me. Us. This chemistry crackles between us.
“I should have done this before. A year ago.”
“You would have crashed us into a house if you did this a year ago,” I tease. “Turn around and look at me.”
He’s staring off at the horizon.
“I used to think the world was flat when I was a kid because I couldn’t see what was beyond there, you know?” He points. “I’d watch the sun set and think it just vanished below dirt because I couldn’t see where it went.”
“You didn’t have a lot of faith as a kid,” I reply. “A flat-earther, I never would have guessed!”
He shakes his head. “It’s hard to put faith in something and end up being wrong. I eventually got to science class, and it was proven to be round. When you and I broke up a year ago, I thought that was it for us, and then you showed up at Nolan’swedding. There you were—a burden of proof. That no matter how hard I tried to distance myself from my feelings, your mere existence proved me a fucking liar.”
He turns, and his blue eyes sink into my soul.
“Because when I look at you, I feel forever, Saylor. When I touch you, it brings me to life.”
He takes a step closer. I can smell his cologne and taste his breath now.
“When I left you, I lost part of my heart.”
I put a finger up to his lips.
“It’s okay. I’m here now. We’re together.”
I replace my finger with my lips. His hands slide up to the sides of my face, and his lips taste like home. The kiss is short and sweet.
“You know that I came back because we were meant to be together, and you were right.You truly were. I needed to sort through my life and fix aspects, andyou were right.” He holds my face close to his as I speak. “You were wrong about one thing.”
“What?”
“Love is enough. That’s what this is. I could have met you on the street, and it would have felt like this. I went to therapy because Bronwyn was going to disown me if I didn’t, and the therapist said I was right. The things I said about you and how I feel aren’t because of some trauma bond. It’s what true love is supposed to be. Textbook.”
He lets go of my face and steps away so he can see me fully.
“You were busy this year,” he replies.
I wave my arm. “Back at you. Mark told me that you were also deploying more than usual as well.”
“It was fast and furious. But if I were going, then that meant someone could stay back who wanted or needed to stay back home. It just worked out, I guess. And I did this in between.Even me trying to forget you led me to pick up your favorite pastime. Should have known we were textbook,” Brody says. “I’m not going to be deploying much now, though.”
“Why? Isn’t that what you do? What you live for?”
“I put my name in the hat for shore duty,” he says, clearing his throat. “I have so many good years and ops under my belt, it was no question. My commander granted my request instantly. That means I’ll be working on base here, supporting my Team from home.”
I can see in his eyes that he’s still getting used to this idea.
“Brody,” I say. “When we were at the lake house, you said you never wanted shore duty. You called it theBroken Flipper Club. That real SEALs never ask to stay back.”
His neck works as he swallows. “I think I said SEALs never ask to stay back unless they have a reason.”
“What’s your reason?”
