Page 121 of If All Else Sails
“This was a really thoughtful surprise for Wyatt. Thank you,” I tell my brother. When I try to wiggle away, he holds me tighter.
“I didn’t do it just for him,” he says. “Are you saying you didn’t enjoy seeing your only brother after all the complaining you did about the Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza?”
“Maybe it’s time to let the Extravaganza go in favor of something more reasonable. Like dinner once a month. FaceTime. Texting regularly.”
Jacob finally lets me go, stepping back with a frown. “Really? No more trips?”
I shrug. “I mean, we gave it a good go. But it’s been hard to make it happen. And when we did...”
“Norovirus,” we say at the same time.
“You might have a point,” he says. “But this was nice, wasn’t it? And I’m proud of you.”
“For what?”
Jacob waves an arm around the boat vaguely. “Look at you, being adventurous!”
“I can be adventurous,” I protest, though I’m not sure it’s true.
“Learning to sail and doing this whole trip. With a man you thought hated you, I might add.” He leans closer. “Emphasis on thethought. Seems like maybe it’s the opposite of hate, eh?”
Immediately, I throw my hand over Jacob’s mouth and glance toward Wyatt. Though his eyes were already on me, he’s towardthe cockpit with the guys and probably didn’t hear. But now he makes his way toward us with a frown.
“Stop talking,” I hiss.
I remove my hand from Jacob’s mouth, and the stupid man immediately starts talking again, clearly not seeing Wyatt approaching. “Or did you not realize I had a grand master matchmaking plan at work? I’ll take my thank-you now.”
“I want to throw you overboard,” I tell him through gritted teeth. My cheeks are flaming, and I also know Wyatt probably heard most, if not all, of that. From the back of the boat, Van and Eli are watching with interest.
“Too bad you’re not strong enough to do it,” Jacob says with a smirk.
“Yeah, but I am,” Wyatt says.
And almost before I can blink, he’s got my brother hoisted up in the air and has tossed him off the boat. It’s perhaps one of the most attractive displays I’ve ever seen.
“Dude!” Jacob yells as he comes sputtering back up to the surface. “You suck!”
“You remember how to swim, right?” Wyatt calls, zero ounces of concern in his tone.
“That’s cold, man,” Van calls. “I approve.”
I pull out my phone to take a picture as Jacob swims toward a ladder at the end of the dock. Wyatt steps closer, curling his arm around my shoulders. I sigh as I lean into him.
I had no idea how much I’ve missed his touch since my brother arrived—nor did I realize how little Wyatt has touched me—until now. But I’d like him to throw everyone overboard so I can burrow into him shamelessly.
And equally, I also want to jump overboard myself and hitch a ride to the airport.
I choose to stay put, leaning my head against Wyatt’s chest.
“You know,” he says as Jacob reaches the ladder. “This makes me think about calling Peter.”
I’m so shocked it takes me a moment to realize who he’s talking about. “Peter—your brother?”
“That’s the one.”
Wyatt says this so casually, like it’s not a massive thing to consider reaching out to his estranged brother.
This is huge. But—
