11. Gage
GAGE
Immediately, I click on The Rooftop’s page. There we are slow dancing together. She’s got her head on my chest and we’re holding hands. My other hand is reaching around dangerously close to her ass. There’s not an inch between us. Fuck, we look good together. I’m going to toss and turn tonight.
But I wonder how she feels about this. Is she okay with us being in a post together?
I’m dragging Monday morning. Owen and I run through checks before our first booking.
“What do we have for today?”
“Should be an easy day. There are a few families coming for a put-put and swim cruise.”
“Nice.”
“There isn’t anything in the afternoon, so you can leave early.”
His face lights up with a grin. He whips out his phone, fingers tapping on the screen as he heads into the cabin to prepare the snack trays.
The older kids help Owen hoist the jib, and I raise the mainsail. At Seal Rock Beach, they whoop with applause when Owen tosses the anchor, and it splashes them with salty water.
We prep the swim platform so the kids can climb back into the boat easily. They love jumping off the stern and swimming around in the cove. The parents go in for a dip too and I offer to take some pictures of them. These’ll be great for our publicity.
I remember all the stuff my parents had us doing.
We would sail all summer and race with our yacht club back home in Kennewick.
My dad could do anything. Well not anything.
He couldn’t survive a heart-attack. I feel a twinge of sadness, having a family like mine, or like these people just isn’t in the cards for me.
I’ll be more like Uncle Bill, old, crusty, and alone.
It’s just safer that way. It’s too risky, I wouldn’t put the devastation I felt on anyone.
Maybe Gabby will have a couple of rug rats, and I can be their fun uncle, or funcle.
Vacationers are heading back to their homes as the holiday weekend wraps up today, giving me some time to work. My thoughts drift back to dancing with Charli at the bar the other night. Are we just hanging out tomorrow, or is it a date? I’m not usually so worked up about meeting a new woman.
Sitting at the table in the cabin, I try to get some things done by checking the Wanderlust website and uploading new pictures from this weekend.
Several of our charters have posted their reviews and they’re all positive.
I respond to some new inquiries and I check the schedule for the upcoming week.
It’s still a bit slow, since school isn’t out for a while.
In the meantime, I can get better acquainted with the area and be able to offer other points of interest to clients.
After a couple of hours, I can’t work anymore and get up to go for a run. Later, Harvey and I grab a quick dinner at the bar of the pub, before going back to have a beer on the boat. Fog blankets the bay, but it’s clear close to shore.
“So, is living in Seascape meeting your expectations?” Harvey asks.
“I mean yeah, I guess. It sure beats working a nine to five,” I answer, tapping my bottle.
“I know, that might be me in a few more years.” He shakes his head.
“Right, you’re going back to school in the fall,” I say as I gaze out into the darkness, the buoy bells chiming around the harbor.
“That’s the plan right now.”
“Having second thoughts?”
“Sort of. But I don’t have any other plans of what to do instead.” He leans back into the cushions, seeming defeated.
“You could work on another boat.”
“I don’t know what my parents would say,” Harvey answers with a deep breath.
“Won’t school always be there for you?”
“Yeah, what about you? You're sailing south in the fall,” he responds, shifting the subject.
“Yup, that's what I’ve done for the past few years.”
“Do you think you’ll ever go back to school?”
“Maybe someday. I was supposed to attend the Haven Bay Academy here when I finished high school. But it didn’t work out after my dad died.”
“Yeah, that’s rough.” He sighs.
It still nags at me every once in a while, especially being here. “Maybe I should have just gone right to school. But if I fucked up and failed, I wouldn’t have kept my scholarship, and with my dad gone, I don’t know how I would’ve been able to pay for it.”
Harvey gives me a subtle nod before draining his beer. “Ever since I was in high school, I was determined to be an engineer. Now that I finished college and am set to go to grad school, I can’t imagine what my days are going to be like when I’m done.”
I look up into the sky, clouds covering the stars. “Probably work all week and be off on the weekend, like so many other people.”
“You’re right, but I don’t know if I can do that.” Harvey leans back in the cockpit, putting his feet up to relax.
“Are you going to pay for school yourself?” I ask. A wave rolls through the water, rocking the boat side to side from the ripples.
“Sort of. My parents are going to pay half, and I’m taking loans for the rest of it,” he answers with a grimace.
I press my lips together thinking of the cost. “That’s still a lot of money. I’m sure you’ll make it back when you start working and those loans are due. Or, you could defer school, right?”
“Probably, I should look into that. I don’t want to go just to go. I want more purpose,” he adds.
I feel the breeze on my neck. “I understand, that’s one of the reasons I backed out. I didn't have my heart in it anymore. School isn’t for everybody.” I have the itch to do something more, but I’m not sure what it is yet.
We have another round of beers and talk about the other night. “So did you ever call Charli?” Harvey asks.
I grin, feeling a surge of excitement. “I texted her and we’re going paddle-boarding tomorrow.”
Harvey laughs. “Sweet. Do you think she likes you too?”
I rub my palms together. “I hope so. She said that she’s not seeing anyone, but we saw her out with that guy the other night.”
“Well, if she says she’s single just go with it for now,” Harvey says, encouraging me.
“Yeah I guess. But this is a small town and I don't want it to be weird.”
“Well, sometimes summer things just hit different.”
“Too true.”
Harvey and I call it a night and I fire up my laptop to watch a movie. It’s late when Uncle Bill texts me.
Uncle Bill: How was the first official weekend?
Me: So good. The deckhands are great and the weather was perfect. The reviews are good and the bookings are coming in.
Uncle Bill: Excellent work my boy. You’ll love it there. Glad the kids from the yacht club worked out for you.
Me: Yeah. I think I might see if they have one more friend who wants to work too.
Uncle Bill: Good idea.
Me: Any leads on vehicles?
Uncle Bill: Still working on it. Have you met any people?
Me: Yeah. There’s a good guy who is crew on a big boat.
I contemplate telling him about Charli. Fuck it, I guess I will.
Me: And I’m going paddle-boarding with a woman I met.
Uncle Bill: Wow. A date already.
Me: I’m not sure if it's a date. But she’s nice and seems fun.
Uncle Bill: Is she pretty?
Me: Gorgeous.
Uncle Bill: Well, let her know that you like her. I hate to see a good kid like yourself alone all summer.
I shouldn’t have said anything. Now he’ll probably tell my mom.
Me: ;)
Uncle Bill: Have fun on your date.
He’s my uncle and we’ve had so many good times together. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d be doing with my life if he wasn’t there when my dad died. He tries to be a father-like person to me and gives me some advice now and again.
I love him, but he could be sitting here on the boat with me and sleeping in the next cabin. Yeah, texting is the way to go at my age. So what if he tells Mom. It’s not like anyone local will know. I’ll be gone soon enough.
Me: How is it in St. Croix?
Uncle Bill: Life’s very good, and very slow. I have some bareboat charters coming up, so I’ll be stocking the boat and saying goodbye to Dreamaker for a few weeks.
Me: Cool. But where will you stay?
Uncle Bill: I’ve got a new friend who has a guest house for me.
Me: Nice. Good for you.
Uncle Bill: Night.
Me: You too.
Maybe my uncle finally has a girlfriend after all these years.
* * *
While doing my checks Tuesday morning I realize that all my kids' life jackets have been stolen. What the fuck? I have to replace those immediately. It must have happened when I went out to get food last night with Harvey. Assholes.
Seascape Marine must make a good profit. The store is fully stocked with everything boating. I choose six kids' life jackets in various sizes and add them to my basket. As I’m walking up the aisle to the register, I run into Cap.
“Hello there, Gage, how’d the drive belt work out? All fixed I assume since you didn't come back in here.”
I lift my chin to him. “Yeah, thanks for your help on that. It’s been running well since I repaired it.”
“That’s good that you worked on it yourself. A good captain should know something about fixing his own engines,” he says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. Jesus, does this guy still work out or what?
“That’s the same thing that my uncle always taught me,” I respond.
He releases my shoulder. “How’s your charter business going?”
“It’s been good. I was booked all weekend for the holiday and I’m hoping to make some good money this summer.”
“And are you finding your way around town too? We’ve got a nice little village here.” He lifts his eyebrows at me.
I set my basket on the floor. “I’m getting to know the area. It’s good so far.”
“Have you been to The Sweet Spot yet?” he asks.
Fuck yes, I’ve been there. “Oh yeah, their food is pretty amazing.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. Of course, I’m partial. My granddaughter, Charlotte, who goes by Charli, owns the shop,” he states with a broad smile.
Charlotte. Charli. Jesus. Charli is his granddaughter.
I’ve been fantasizing about this guy's granddaughter that I’m seeing in a few hours.
He’s built for a senior citizen and could probably still kick my ass if he wanted to.
“Yeah, I met her the other day. She’s really nice.
” Really nice to look at. I'm not typically the blushing type, but my cheeks burn at the realization that I've been fantasizing about this guy's granddaughter.
“Well, she’s got a good head on her shoulders and is a hard worker, and I’m glad to see you supporting the locals.”
Maybe we can switch to a new topic and not his fucking smoking hot grandaughter.
“Yes, I always do that. That was something that was important to my uncle.” I narrow my eyes at him. “How did you two know each other?” I ask, shifting the conversation away from Charli.
He stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Funny enough, I met Bill Smythe when I was at the Haven Bay Academy years ago working on a restoration project. He’d been here in town for quite a while.
There was a girl he was chasing around and he just would not quit.
Once the summer season was over, he was trying to find a way to stay around here. ”
I blink at him, stupefied. My jaw tightens, as I grit my teeth. Bill lived here and chased a girl around and was friends with Randall fucking Armstrong, the former Head of the Haven Bay Academy. My stomach knots with tension.
I bet Bill planned all this out. He fucking set me up. The hairs on my neck prick up as I stare at Cap. I can’t believe it. Best interests my ass.
“No way, I had no idea about that story about Bill. It was before my time.” I suck in a deep breath to ease the edge in my voice.
“Oh yes, way before you. It’s too bad it didn't work out for him and Diane. A real shame,” he replies.
I’ll have to ask him about Diane next time he's being nosey about my dating life. “Well, it’s been good to see you again, Cap. But I’ve got to get going now.” I turn to carry my lifejackets to the register.
“I’ll have to take you to the Academy sometime if you’d like. They’re always busy over there,” he says behind me.
“Yeah, maybe. I’ll think about it,” I say over my shoulder.
I need to get the hell out of here. He must have known I was going to attend when I was younger.
Actually, there’s no fucking way I’m going to go to the Academy.
It would be too hard. There’s too many memories of my dad there and his dream for me to learn how to build boats.
I’m doing fine running Bill’s boat for now, maybe someday I’ll want something else.