Her little whimper says it all. “Jason…”
“I know.”
“This is why you’re worried about him spending time with Dee.”
“Yeah.”
“Does she know?”
“I guess he told her at some point after I went to bed, and now they’re off somewhere together. It’s just that after what she went through with Marcus…”
“Is he… Is he going to die?”
“There’s no reason to think he’s in any imminent danger. He takes excellent care of himself.”
“This is why he doesn’t drink.”
“Right, and he’s very, very careful in all aspects of his life. Protecting his health is vital to him. He’s never had so much as a scare in all these years.”
“So it’s possible he could keep beating the odds, then, right?”
“Anything is possible, but the odds are stacked rather heavily against him.”
Her eyes fill with tears that tug at my own heart. I hate to see her upset. “Dee knows about this, and she’s with him anyway?”
“I guess so.”
“I need to talk to her.”
“That might be a good idea.”
Carmen reaches for her phone and dashes off a text to her cousin. “I told her to call me.” She stares at the phone as if she’s willing it to ring. It chimes with a text that she reads to me. “‘Can’t right now. Wyatt and I are going fishing. Talk later?’ Ugh, not good. The more time she spends with him, the harder it’ll be for her to take a step back.”
“It doesn’t sound like she’s stepping back. It seems like it’s the opposite.”
“I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“I’m sorry about this.”
“It’s not your fault. Wyatt is a great guy, and I hate to hear this about him. I’m sorry for him and you and everyone who loves him that this is such a big worry. But Dee…”
“I know, babe. I get it.”
“She’s the softest one of us. She loves so hard, and when she breaks…” Carmen’s deep sigh says it all. “I’m worried about her.”
“Me, too.”
DEE
The idea to go fishing is sparked by Wyatt sharing a childhood memory of fishing with his grandfather when he spent summer vacations with his extended family on Cape Cod before he got sick and everything changed. “Those were some of the best days of my life,” he said.
As soon as the sun began to rise, we headed for Knaus Berry Farm to pick up their famous cinnamon rolls—Wyatt is hungry, again—before continuing to Black Point Marina. I’ve done a lot of fishing, too, with my dad and Uncle Vincent, so I know just where to go to rent a boat and the equipment we need.
“This is awesome,” Wyatt says when he sees the marina.
It’s tucked away off the beaten path, and you’d have to be a native even to know it exists. I love showing Wyatt places the tourists rarely find. The older guys who work in the marina store recognize me after I give them my name. “My favorite restaurant in the world,” one of them says. “How’s your uncle Vincent and aunt Viv doing?”
“They’re great. Going strong.”
“Do your grandmothers still think they’re in charge?”
I don’t correct him. Abuela is my grandmother in every way that matters. “They don’t just think it.”
Laughing, he says, “Love how nothing ever changes there. Is your fishing license still active?”
“Sure is. My dad renews it for my birthday every year.”
“Excellent. Here’s a one-day license for your friend, sweetheart.” He hands me the keys to one of the center console boats they rent. “It’s all set up with everything you need, and here’s a coupon for fifty percent off at the restaurant. Pick up some lunch on your way out.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Gordan.”
“My pleasure. Tell your family we said hello. Gotta take the missus in for dinner some night soon.”
“You let us know when, and we’ll get you a good table.”
“Will do. Have fun today, and be careful.”
“We will.”
They give us two life jackets, and we head down the main dock to the slip with our assigned number. “Here we go.”
“This is so awesome.” Wyatt bought a swimsuit and tank in the marina store and changed in the men’s room. “I can’t believe you do this so much that you have a license.”
“It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a day.”
“Mine, too,” he says, smiling at me.
That smile makes me all fluttery on the inside. He’s so handsome all the time, but when he smiles... Yum. I produce sunscreen that we both slather on before we head out. We stop at the restaurant to pick up sandwiches—grouper for me and a shrimp po’boy for him—as well as bottles of water and some other snacks before we head toward the open ocean. It’s a gorgeous day with hardly any wind or seas, the perfect kind of day to fish.
Wyatt slips his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder. “You’re a very sexy captain.”
His words send a thrill down my spine. Part of me wishes I’d taken him home to my bed when I had the chance earlier, but I’m glad we’re doing other stuff and getting to know each other better before we jump back in bed. The night we spent talking in the car was the best time I’ve ever spent with anyone. I loved hearing his stories and his laughter and sharing in the pain of his memories from when he was ill. I want to hear everything he has to say.
Our connection is like a live wire that sizzles with awareness and desire. “I’m so glad we could do this. I used to love coming with my dad and uncle. It’s been a while since I went with them because I was away.”
“Did Maria and Carmen like to go, too?”
“Oh hell no. They both get seasick, and Carmen can’t bear to watch them clean the fish. She once threw up on Uncle V’s shoes when he was cleaning fish in their driveway.”
“Aw, that’s so cute.”
“He didn’t think so!” Speaking of Uncle V, I send him a quick text asking if he can get me a table for two around eight.
He writes right back. For you, kid, anything. Save me a minute after brunch tomorrow, ok? I want to talk to you about an idea I had.
For you, anything.
He sends back the laughing emoji. Love ya, see you tonight.
Love u 2.
Wyatt is watching over my shoulder. “Your family is adorable.”
“They’re pretty great.”
“Do you ever fight?”
“Oh my God, I used to fight with my brothers like crazy. Especially Nico. He’s always been so full of himself. Drove us all crazy, but he’s a good guy. He and Milo have really stepped up for my parents since my mom got sick. It’s good to know they have it in them.”
“You didn’t fight with Maria?”
“Hardly ever. We always got along, and the three of us, including Carmen, were together all the time.”
“She’s an only child?”
“She is. Her mom had nine miscarriages before she had her.”