TWENTY-THREE Quincy #3
I swallow. Something warm and tender squeezes behind my ribs, a viselike grip that refuses to let go. It would be so easy to swim away from him. To brush this conversation off as too serious, but I stay put. I put my hand on his chest and feel his heart beat in tune with mine.
The stars and the moon and the tides and the sun.
And us.
“Maybe I could come visit one day,” I say, and his eyes sparkle. “If you have space for a guest.”
“I have plenty of space for a guest. Short-term guests. Long-term guests. Whatever kind of guest you want to be.”
“An open-ended guest,” I offer. “Who isn’t sure about the future yet, but wants to leave the door ajar.”
“I’ll keep it ajar for as long as you like.
” Sebastian strokes his thumb over my cheek.
“The longer I’m here, the more I don’t miss a damn thing about being up there.
How could I, when I’m spending time with my friends.
When I’m hunting down tornadoes and falling asleep to rain on my window.
Sleeping with this absolute babe also helps. ”
“Please.” I laugh. The heaviness from the moment before breaks. “I’m not a babe.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Are you kidding? You don’t have to toss a compliment my way because we’re sleeping together. I’m still going to come over tomorrow even if you don’t flatter me.”
“And if I want to?” He rests his hand on my cheek, palm slick with salt and sunscreen. He smells like the vanilla soft serve we all ate an hour ago, lounging in beach chairs while the ice cream melted down our arms. “If I wanted to tell you I think you’re unbelievably smart, what would you say?”
“I’d ask if you were sure.”
“Ah.” He nods, hand moving to my neck and closing around my throat.
He drums his fingers along the line of my windpipe.
“I get it now. Men haven’t complimented you the way you deserve, have they?
It’s a good thing I’m here, then. You’re goddamn gorgeous, Quincy.
I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you all day.
But your brain? Fuck. Your brilliant, beautiful brain.
It’s my favorite thing about you. In some of those dreams, I get off just from hearing you talk.
You are, without a doubt, the smartest person I’ve ever met. ”
The ocean almost sweeps me out to sea. I’m weak on my feet, starry-eyed from his confession. My heart nearly trips over itself, and I suck in a breath.
“You really think that?” I ask, the question scooped up by the wind.
“Yeah.” Sebastian toys with the straps of my bathing suit again. In an act of boldness that might be fueled from too long in the sun, or maybe it’s the giddiness I’m feeling too, he drops a kiss to the top of my head. “I do.”
Quiet contentment hangs between us. A seagull caws overhead. Somewhere nearby, a jet ski engine revs. So many things said, others left unsaid, but in the moment, it’s exactly right.
“Sebastian?”
“Yeah, Quincy?”
“Do you want to chase Georgianna with me?”
“The summer girl and the golden weather boy teaming up for the year’s biggest storm?
My fan club is going to be hyped to see me again,” he says, and I launch myself at him.
I wrap my arms around his middle and tackle him, both of us falling into the waves with a splash.
“Damn, woman. You have some fire in you.”
“And you’re my least favorite person in the world.”
“Doubtful, judging by how hard you’re smiling right now.” Sebastian touches his thumb to the corner of my mouth. “Of course I’ll chase with you, Quinny baby. I thought you’d never ask.”
Later at dinner, we sit across from each other. Our friends talk about the day and a possible hurricane party. There’s sunburn and wine and exhausted laughter, and all the while, I’m sneaking glances at Sebastian, not surprised to find him looking right back at me.
THE RAINY DAY SHOW brOADCAST
Quincy:Hi, everyone. I know it’s late and most of you are getting ready to wind down for the night, but the National Hurricane Center just posted the latest advisory for Hurricane Georgianna, and I wanted to share new information with y’all.
The storm has been bumped up to a Category 2, and every model across the board confirms a Florida landfall in the next ninety-six hours.
Sebastian:This is our least favorite part of the job. It’s part of the process, but it doesn’t get easier. This is serious stuff that carries serious consequences, so if you’re tuning in—and I can see a lot of you are—it’s imperative you listen to what Quincy has to say.
Quincy:As of eight p.m., the governor has declared a state of emergency for forty-five counties, and evacuation orders have begun for the Tampa Bay area. If you are in evacuation zones A, B, and C, please listen to your local officials to find what shelters might be open.
Sebastian:This far out, we do expect the eye to do some more wobbling to the east and west, but we’re going to see significant damage to the Tampa Bay area.
You have the ocean, the bay, and a low-lying coastline.
It doesn’t take a scientist to know that when you add all that together with rising water, it’s going to be …
I hate to throw this word around so freely, but it’s going to be catastrophic.
Quincy:We talk a lot about wind with hurricanes because of the sustained gusts, but flooding is our biggest concern. Surge can be the most devastating part of the storm.
Sebastian:If you’ve ever watched Quincy’s show, you know you’re in good hands.
She cares about her viewers, and the information she’s passing along is the most up-to-date data out there.
We live in a country where you’re free to make your own decisions, but I hope you’ll listen to her.
She’s the best in the industry, and if I had to rely on anyone, it would be her.
Quincy:I’ll be back on at eight tomorrow morning instead of nine so we can dive into the advisories that will be issued overnight and talk about what should be in your hurricane kit. It’ll only be me, but I hope y’all will still tune in.
Sebastian:Pay attention to what officials are telling you, folks. We’re getting close to crunch time, and you don’t want to be stuck somewhere you shouldn’t be when it’s too late. To all my fans out there, thanks for the support.
Quincy:Okay, you’re done.
Sebastian:Darn. I was just getting started.