Page 48 of Vital Blindside

Mom looks over her shoulder at me and smiles. “I love you more, my darling.”

I watch the TV screen as it changes from the news to a crime show before turning around and heading for the door.

18

SCARLETT

I’ve never been on a boat before. But this mansion on the water is not how I expected to lose my boat virginity.

The yacht towers over the boat dock, all bright lights and loud music. Three levels of glass and sleek white walls. The walkway to the boat comes from inside and touches the dock just enough for me to feel semi-confident stepping onto it.

My stomach swirls with nerves as I continue to stand on the dock, rubbing my palms back and forth across my shorts. I can see a group of people on the second level, but I don’t recognize anyone.

Adam told me he would meet me on the dock at four, and when I checked the time inside my car, I was only a couple of minutes early. Now I’m wishing I had waited and given myself a quick five-minute pep talk.

I’m about to pull my phone out of my pocket to check if he’s texted me at all when a high-pitched squeal captures my attention. I lift a hand over my eyes and squint at the back of the boat to try and focus on the woman speeding in my direction.

She’s an image of bouncing blonde hair and pink sparkles as she makes quick work of the distance between us. The toes of her white stilettos touch the bridge that hangs over the water when she stops.

“Scarlett? It has to be you!” She waves enthusiastically, smiling from ear to ear.

For such a tiny woman, her presence is huge, attention demanding. Intimidating.

“Hi,” I say.

“Oh, my God! Am I the first one to notice you?” When I nod, she claps. “Yes! This is going to be amazing. Come on over here. The bridge is safe, I promise.”

Uncertainty pricks my mind, but I force myself to step onto the metal contraption anyway. With quick movements, I cross the gap and step onto the boat. It doesn’t so much as budge, which shouldn’t surprise me but does.

A small hand grabs mine, and I jolt in surprise, pulling it out of the woman’s grip just in time to see her lips form an O shape.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. You have no idea who I am, do you? Dammit, Adam.” She looks at me apologetically. “I’m Gracie. The woman who doesn’t know when to keep her hands to herself. I’m so sorry about that. I’m just too excited to have you here.”

I relax slightly. “It’s okay. Happy birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you so much. It’s so beautiful out today, isn’t it? You brought a bathing suit, right? I swear, if that shithead didn’t tell you to pack a suit, I’m going to throw him off the top deck.”

“He did. It’s in here.” I awkwardly pat the bag slung over my shoulder.

Her eyes light up. “Perfect. Come with me, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Darting my eyes to the dock, I grow uneasy when I still don’t see any sign of Adam.

“He should be here soon,” Gracie says, reading my mind. “I can wait with you here for him if you want. Or I can leave you to wait alone.”

“God no,” I blurt out, my eyes growing in size. “I mean, we don’t know how long he’s going to be, so . . .” And I really don’t want him to find me sitting here waiting for him like I can’t handle his friends alone for a few minutes.

Understanding flicks across her features. She smiles warmly. “Got it. Let’s get to it, then.”

I hike my bag higher on my shoulder and follow her toward a staircase off to the side of the first level.

“I hope you like kids,” she says when we start up the stairs. “There’s about ten of them where we’re going.”

“I can’t say that I don’t not like them. I didn’t really grow up around kids.”

She laughs. “Fair enough. They’ll all be too busy with themselves anyway. When I left to check if you and Adam were here, they were shooting each other with Nerf guns.”

“One of my old teammates had a son who always brought those with us on road games. I’m pretty sure I still have a bruise on my thigh from getting shot with one at close range.”

---