28. Purely Scientific #2
So even though I can relate to what Van and Eli said about knowing, I don’t think this is that . Not for Wyatt, anyway.
Or am I doing what Toni accused me of—running when someone gets close?
“Ugh, I’m burning.” Jacob’s voice yanks me out of my thoughts. He and Wyatt have ambled over, and my brother has his head angled, trying to look at his back. Which is definitely pink.
I jump to my feet, brushing sand off my legs and avoiding Wyatt’s laser-like gaze. “I told you to wear sunscreen.”
“I did!”
“You used tanning oil with an SPF of eight,” I tell him. “That’s not sunscreen. You’re roasting like a turkey. Should we get out of the sun?”
“We actually need to head back to the hotel so we can shower,” Jacob says, glancing at his watch, an expensive one I’m surprised is waterproof. “We’ve got flights to catch. I promised these guys I wouldn’t keep them long from their wives.”
“You’re leaving today?”
If I sound panicked, it’s because I am. The idea of being alone again with Wyatt should in no way freak me out. But spending time with my brother and Wyatt’s hockey friends has left me feeling more uncertain. I’m shaken for reasons I can’t quite pinpoint.
You’re running , Toni’s persistent voice accuses.
And I’m starting to believe she’s right.
Jacob gives me an extra-long hug on deck while Wyatt says goodbye to his former teammates.
“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 the thought . 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 toward the 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—
“My shoes are leather!” Jacob shouts, starting to climb.
I can’t hold back a laugh. Wyatt glances at me, surprised, then offers me a rare full grin.
“What?” he asks.
“I just think it’s funny that this”—I gesture to my drenched brother, nearing the top of the ladder—“is leading you to want to mend family ties.”
“I lost my sunglasses!” Jacob shouts, as if to prove my point.
“Oh no! You lost one of your fifty pairs,” I tease. “What will the other forty-nine do?”
Jacob glares.
“It’s weird that this makes me miss my brother,” Wyatt says. “But if you can’t throw your family overboard, are you even family?”
Touché.
“I’m serious about my stuff,” Jacob says, pulling his shirt away from his body and wringing it out. Already, a puddle surrounds him on the dock.
“I’ll write you a check,” Wyatt says. “New shoes and sunglasses are on me.”
“I regret the present I got you, Josie.” Jacob reaches the boat, dripping and still griping.
“What present?” I ask.
“It’s in your berth or cabin or whatever you call your bedroom. But I should just return it. You don’t deserve it. Neither of you does.”
“He said neither of us,” Wyatt says as the three guys pile into their rental car after hugs and goodbyes. Jacob was still grumbling as they left. “Guess it’s a gift for me too.”
So I bring it to the saloon, setting it on the table. Wyatt watches as I tear into the box, which is wrapped in layers of duct tape. Very Jacob.
But the gift isn’t for Wyatt and me. It’s two matching Appies jerseys—one for me and one for Jib. Wyatt picks mine up and turns it, swallowing hard when he sees his name on the back.
“These are the new style,” he says, sounding dazed, still looking at the jersey and not meeting my gaze. “I don’t even know how Jacob could have gotten these. Especially since it’s not my team anymore.”
But I’m not surprised. My brother always finds a way to get what he wants, and I have to wonder if this will come to include setting his best friend up with his sister.