Chapter 22
Will finished cleaning the popcorn machine, then washed the grease from his arms, all the while observing Addison covertly.
In the week since he’d joined the crew, they’d chatted a few times, just small talk. He liked the way she gave him her undivided
attention when he spoke. The way she laughed at his jokes. He liked everything about her.
She glanced his way as she went about tidying up the lower deck. She did that a lot, and each time Will’s nervous system went
on hyperalert. Was it possible she liked him too?
Yesterday he’d decided he would step up his game, but he hardly said two words to her during today’s tours. Who was he kidding?
He had no game.
“See ya, Will.” Addison gave a wave and a smile.
It was the smile that did the trick. “Hey, Addison, wait up.” Will stepped out from the snack bar, drying his hands on his
khakis, a move he’d surely regret later. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Sure.”
He followed her off the boat where they said good-bye to Josh and Big D, who were changing an exterior lightbulb.
Addison and Josh were parked a short distance from the marina so he had only a minute or two.
“How are you liking the job so far?” she asked.
“Love it. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about working on a boat. But I enjoy making conversation with people from all over, and
Josh is a pretty cool boss.”
She cut Will a glance. “And the rest of the crew?”
There were only her and Big D. Was she angling for a compliment? He slid her a smile. “They’re not so bad either.”
She ducked her head but not before he caught her shy grin. “So you haven’t been around the water much? Aren’t you from around
here?”
“Oh, yeah, I was born and raised in Wilmington. I’ve been swimming since I was little and I fish a lot with my buddies. I
just haven’t had access to a boat.”
“What kind of fishing?”
“Mostly from piers. I caught a six-pound mackerel last summer at Kure Pier.”
“Wow, that’s big.”
He spotted her car just ahead. “People even catch sharks sometimes. I mean, I haven’t, but it happens sometimes.”
“I’ve never been fishing before.”
“Seriously?”
“I grew up in Atlanta.” Addison slowed as she came alongside her Honda. “The only fish I saw was on a plate at a restaurant.”
“It’s a lot of fun.” Now or never. His mouth went suddenly dry but he forced out the words. “You should go with me to Kure
Pier sometime.”
“I’ve never been there.” She turned at the driver’s door. “I think I’d like that.”
“Really?”
“Sure. How about tonight?”
Will blinked.
“We don’t have a sunset tour and my mom’s been on a cleaning rampage—my grandparents are coming this weekend. I could use
the break.”
“Oh, well, yeah, then. That’d be great. Can I pick you up at seven?”
“I’ll text you my address if you give me your number.” She handed him her phone.
His thumbs shook as he entered the digits. When he was finished, he handed the phone back to her.
“What should I bring? I don’t have a fishing pole or anything.”
“Don’t worry about that. I have an extra I’ll bring for you.”
His phone buzzed and he checked the screen. It was from Addison.
Her wide smile knocked him for a loop. “Now you have my number too.”
After assisting Addison into the passenger seat, Will closed the door. He’d spent an hour at the car wash trying to transform
his old Dodge from a heap of junk to a decent-looking vehicle. He scoured and vacuumed the interior and bought one of those
fragrant pine trees. But any pride he’d felt in the results had evaporated as he pulled alongside Addison’s newer Honda.
The sight of her parents’ nice home only a block from Seabrook Beach did nothing to assuage his self-doubts.
Oh well. Nothing he could do about any of that. She might as well know from the start he was a poor college student. He slid
into the driver’s seat and started the car, a glimpse of his beautiful passenger stealing any words that might’ve formed on
his tongue.
“You got me out of mopping floors tonight, so thanks for that.”
“Happy to help. I’m pretty lucky. My mom does most of the cleaning. I do the dishes, which she hates, and my own laundry,
of course.”
“What does your dad do?”
“Oh, they’re divorced. But before that he mostly just took care of the lawn and outdoor stuff, the cars.”
She chuckled. “I meant for a living.”
His face heated. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. He’s an electrician. And yours?”
“He’s a lawyer—but don’t hold that against him. And my mom stayed home with us, but she sells baked goods on the side. She’s
a really good baker. I’ll bring you one of her brownies sometime. They’re so good they’ll make you cry.”
“Yeah? I love brownies. Any siblings?”
“Oh boy, do I. I’m the youngest of five, all boys except me.”
“Wow, you must be scrappy to have survived that.”
“I can hold my own. Any siblings for you?”
“Only child.”
“So, spoiled then?”
He chuckled. “What gave it away, my mountain of student debt or my crappy car?”
Addison patted the dashboard. “Shhh. She’ll hear you.” She pulled back her hand, a pretty blush blooming on her cheeks.
She was so cute. “So your parents are still married?”
“Still married, still in love. It’s a little sickening. Is it hard having divorced parents?”
“Not really. They fought a lot when they were together, and me and my dad don’t get along very well. So when they told me
they were getting a divorce, I wasn’t too upset.”
“How old were you?”
“Sophomore in high school.”
“Do you see your dad much now?”
“Occasionally.” The last time they’d spoken was last week when Will called on Dad’s birthday. After the pleasantries his father asked after his grades, then went on to tell him how the trades were outearning college graduates these days and Will was making a mistake with all that debt. As usual he walked away from the conversation feeling uncertain and irritated. But he wasn’t admitting that to Addison.
The conversation turned to their jobs for the rest of the ride. When they arrived at the pier, he parked, unbuckled, and reached
for his door handle.
Addison set her hand on his bare arm as her gaze locked on him. “I have a confession to make.”
He tried to read her expression and came up empty. “Okay...”
“I don’t actually want to go fishing.”
“Oh. I see.” But he didn’t really. And the long pause that followed only confused him further. Did she want him to take her
home?
“The thought of slimy fish kind of makes me ill.” Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “I only said I wanted to go fishing because
I want to spend time with you.” The admission tumbled quickly from her mouth.
And Will didn’t even try to stop the smile from spreading across his face.