Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
We’re at the harbor, where all the Jones & Sons boats are moored when they’re not out, and Nash is showing Lio how to loosen the knot securing the boat we’ll use today.
Each boat’s name is written on the front right side of it. When I read our boat’s name, Nash’s boat, I feel a gut punch that takes my breath away.
The Saylor.
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my composure.
Where the hell are you, Saylor?
A chill runs down my neck, and I hastily turn, but it’s Jessica standing beside me, watching Nash with Lio, a small spike of happiness radiating from her.
“Jessica,” I whisper, and she turns to me with wide, shocked eyes.
Is she shocked that I know her name? Or has she forgotten her own name?
Sometimes, spirits get so lost they don’t remember anything from their lives, but she wouldn’t cling to Lio so much if that were the case.
I glance at Nash again, but he and Lio are still occupied with preparing the boat, so I whisper once more, “I can help you, Jessica. Please, let me help you. You deserve to find the light. You don’t have to remain lost.”
In a blur, she’s standing before me, pointing at Lio, opening her mouth, but water spills out of it again. Her emotions are urgent, desperate.
“I can’t understand you, but Lio is in good hands. You know that. You see it every day,” I try to reassure her, but she scowls and shakes her head, pointing at him again. “I know you don’t want to leave him, but he will be fine,” I tell her again.
She opens her mouth and screams. It’s garbled, water sputtering from her mouth, making me involuntarily close my eyes as her frustration washes over me.
Fuck, that’s creepy.
I let myself breathe a few deep breaths before I open them again, but she’s gone, and Nash is standing before me, holding Lio’s hand.
Nash flashes me that heart-melting grin of his, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “Ready for an adventure, pretty girl?” he asks, his voice warm and inviting.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest for so many reasons. “Absolutely.”
Lio tugs at Nash’s shirt, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Uncle Nash, are we gonna see the big whales today?”
Nash ruffles Lio’s hair affectionately. “That’s the plan, Li-Li. Sloan and I are counting on you to spot them for us.”
These two are freaking adorable.
The sun is a golden orb in the clear sky, casting a sparkling path on the water as we board the boat.
Nash steps into the wheelhouse, taking charge of the controls, expertly navigating us away from the harbor and into the vast expanse of the ocean.
The boat rocks gently with the waves, the engine vibrating beneath our feet, and I can’t help but be in awe of the endless blue horizon stretching before us.
I crouch behind Lio, holding him around his belly to ensure he doesn’t fall over the railing, even though it is too high and probably couldn’t happen. He clings wide-eyed to it with an infectious excitement that mirrors my own.
It’s the perfect day.
As we sail farther from the shore, the salty breeze tousles my hair and carries the faint scent of the sea. Nash glides the boat gracefully over the gentle waves, and I lean over the edge, searching the depths for any sign of life.
The sea stretches endlessly, and I wonder if we’ll be lucky enough to witness a whale today.
I want this so badly.
The call of seagulls overhead and the rhythmic sound of the waves against the boat’s hull create a soothing melody. I close my eyes for a moment, allowing the serenity of the ocean to wash over me.
It’s as if time has slowed.
No worries.
No problems.
Suddenly, Nash’s voice breaks through my reverie, making me open my eyes again, seeing him standing beside us. “Siren,” he beckons. “Come here.” His eyes are filled with warmth as he holds out a hand to me. I take it before I grab Lio’s hand, and we crowd into the wheelhouse.
Nash sits Lio on the chair next to the window. “Here,” he tells him, handing over binoculars. “My favorite nephew is now in charge of the search.”
“I’m your only nephew, Uncle Nash.” Lio giggles but puts the binoculars up to search the ocean through the window.
Nash steps closer and turns me with his hands on my upper arms so I stand in front of the wheel.
His strong, calloused hands come down to mine and gently guide them to the wheel while he steps in behind me, causing my breath to hitch.
His chest presses against my back, and his body heat radiates through me as he wraps his arms around me, encircling me in an embrace while I’m in charge of the wheel.
His warmth and the smell of his sea-salted skin make my heart race even faster. It skips a beat as Nash’s lips brush against the nape of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. His breath is warm against my skin, and I grip the wheel, my fingers trembling slightly.
“Enjoying the view?” he whispers, his breath tickling my ear.
I turn my head to meet his eyes, my cheeks flushing. “You shouldn’t act like that around your superior.”
“What? You want me to treat you with respect because you’re older than me? How about I call you Madam Siren or honorable pretty girl?” he teases, squeezing me against him.
His silliness makes me laugh, and I relax into his embrace. “No, because I’m the captain now.”
Suddenly, Lio’s excited voice interrupts the moment. “Look, look! Whales, Uncle Nash!”
Nash and I turn our attention to the ocean before us. In the distance, magnificent humpback whales breach the surface, their massive bodies gleaming in the sunlight as they gracefully glide through the water. I gasp in amazement, my heart soaring with joy.
This is even better than I imagined.
“Looks like we’ve got company. Good work, Li-Li.” Nash smiles proudly at Lio before his hands come over mine on the wheel to navigate. “Hold on tight, captain,” he whispers, his voice filled with excitement. “We’re getting closer.”
In the distance, a massive plume of water shoots into the air, catching the sunlight and creating a shimmering spectacle.
Lio gasps in amazement, his eyes wide with wonder.
I can hardly believe my eyes as the magnificent creature breaches the surface, revealing its enormous body, glistening and powerful.
The whale’s tail flukes gracefully, and it dives back into the ocean with a splash, leaving behind a trail of frothy waves. Nash explains the whale’s behavior to Lio, but his words are distant, a mere background hum to the awe that fills my senses.
This is what life’s about.
We watch as more whales appear, their sheer size incredible. They glide through the water with grace, their songs echoing through the air, a haunting melody that resonates deep within my soul.
Nash’s hand on my lower back brings me back to the present. “What do you think, pretty girl?” he asks, smiling. “Amazing, isn’t it?”
I can only nod in agreement, my heart overflowing with gratitude.
He made this possible for me.
We stay a little longer, but after a while, the whales swim out deeper into the ocean, and we agree that it is time to head back to the harbor.
At the beach, Lio wants to collect some sea glass for Hunter, so we take a leisurely stroll down the shoreline. Lio is fully absorbed in searching for the colorful pieces among the pebble stones while Nash and I walk side-by-side behind him.
A chill rushes down my neck once more, and I spot Jessica next to Lio, pointing out sea glass for him, even though he clearly can’t see her. I notice how she avoids making eye contact with me, so I redirect my attention to Nash crouching down to pick up some sea glass himself.
“I should have brought my camera,” I lament, regretting that I forgot it in my excitement.
“We can come out here to photograph them as often as you want, Siren,” Nash reassures me and stands beside me, opening his palm. Inside, he holds a piece of green glass that resembles a marble. He takes my hand and places it inside.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and he smiles at me.
“The waves of green, they shimmer and sway. In your hazel eyes, they come out to play,” he mutters, but his gaze remains fixed on the ground.
I laugh. “What was that?” He just shrugs, but I can’t let it go. “Did you just rhyme? Or was that a rap?”
“Words are my thing,” he shares before he steps closer. I stop, glancing at Lio, who is still a few feet away, sitting on the ground with some sea glass on his lap. “Although you wouldn’t believe that, since around you, I seem to lose the ability to make sense of them.”
“True, because what are you even saying?” I laugh, furrowing my brow.
This doesn’t sound like the friends-with-benefits, no-strings-attached Nash I got last time.
“Here, you need to hold this,” he tells me, holding out his hand curled in a fist, concealing whatever is in it. I assume he wants to give me another piece of sea glass, so I reach out my hand. Instead, he uncurls his fist and interlocks his fingers with mine.
A laugh bursts through my lips.
Saylor would fully approve of this move.
The thought makes me sad, but warmth spreads in my chest when my gaze meets Nash’s again, already grinning mischievously at me.
“You have no shame.” I laugh, secretly enjoying his playful antics a bit too much.
Oh, well. I’m already fucked.
“And that surprises who?” he asks, glancing over at Lio, who is still engrossed in his activity, before stepping in front of me. “I’m sorry for how I talked to you last time, Sloan. That was out of line.”
The honesty in his eyes makes me pause, and I search his face. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t want to make you feel like I just want sex from you. I like you. And I would love to be friends, even if you’re not going to give me the benefits anymore.”
He cringes a little as he smiles at me, and I giggle. “So you’re good with words, you say?”
“I already told you, you make me nervous. God knows why. But what do you say? Friends? Good friends?”
He pouts in an adorable way, which makes me laugh, but I consider it seriously for a moment.
Good friends get way too close.