Page 28 of Sea La Vie (The Outer Banks #1)

Lainey

“ L ook what I tripped on,” Tate says, and points beside my foot. He sits up and picks up a flawless pink and tan conch shell, and turns it over in his hands.

“I was hoping we’d find at least one,” I say, sitting up and joining him. My face is flushed, my lips are tingling, and my heart is racing after Tate’s kiss. I’ll give him credit, he is smooth when he needs to be. “My mom used to collect them.”

“Will you tell me more about your mom?” Tate asks softly. He brushes the sand from the conch shell then lays it down next to us. My heart swells and I smile, grateful that he’s asked.

“She was great. She was the best mom, she could cook better than anyone in the world, and always knew just what to say or do to make you feel better. You know she was my dad’s first mate, right?

” I pause and Tate nods. “Did you ever hear what happened? I know I was kind of a mess that day on the beach when Al found us and pretty much every day for months after that.”

Tate shakes his head. “I never heard, and I didn’t want to ask unless you told me.”

My smile is weak, the memories from that day still hard to face after all this time.

“Thank you for that. You wouldn’t believe the amount of kids who would come up to us at school and be so brazen.

” I shake my head to clear those memories before I continue.

“Anyway, she died from a freak accident out on the water. Dad said it was a nice and sunny day…until it wasn't. The storm came so fast they didn’t even have time to get back to the harbor.” I swallow the lump in my throat, never able to think about this part without tearing up.

“Dad said that she was at the back of the boat, tying everything down, when a swell taller than the boat must have knocked her over and swept her away.”

Tate gasps, then wraps an arm around my shoulders. “That’s terrible,” he says. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was terrible,” I agree. “My dad had turned his back for just a second to radio out that they might need help getting back in, and when he turned around, he couldn’t find her.

They looked for her for months but nothing came up, except this.

” I hold up my wrist and show him the broken watch I’m sure he’s noticed before.

“The Coast Guard found it washed up on shore a few miles from where they were.”

Tate’s hand rubs up and down my arm that’s covered in goosebumps, and I wipe at my eye with the back of my hand. “I’m just glad he didn’t see it happen.”

“Me too,” Tate says. “I can’t even imagine what you all have been through.”

The clouds roll above us, and the sun peeks through, shining rays warm enough to make me want to dip my toes in the water. I point above me. “See how weird the weather is around here?”

“Very unpredictable,” Tate agrees. He chews his bottom lip, brow furrowed, clearly getting ready to say something. “Lainey, I’m not so sure it’s a good idea for you to take your dad’s boat out there by yourself.”

I knew this was coming. “I know what I’m doing, Tate,” I say stubbornly.

“I’m sure your mom did too,” he says gently. He takes my palms and holds them in his hands, his thumb trailing circles along them.

“I have to do this, Tate. My family is depending on me.”

Tate studies me before letting out a pent-up breath. “I’ll go with you anytime. Just ask me, okay?”

“And get attacked by another octopus?” I laugh. “I promise I’ll be okay. Besides, I’ll have Midge with me.”

“Midge would be about as helpful as an octopus if you were in a scary situation,” Tate jokes. His eyes are full of worry, and I want to reach my thumb out to erase the lines between them.

I roll my eyes and move to stand. Tate reaches out and grabs my hand, stopping me. “Lainey, look at me. Promise me you won’t go out there alone unless it’s your absolute last resort. Someone in this town will be able to go with you. They all owe you that much.”

As I look into his dark eyes, I see so much in them—worry, fear, and compassion—all for me.

These are generally all the things I feel for other people, and Tate feels them for me.

“I’ll try,” I say, cupping his jaw with my hand.

I lean down long enough to brush a teasing kiss against his lips, so soft it’s barely a whisper.

Tate gazes at me for a beat, his breath shallow and warm against me, before pulling me down on top of him and kissing me again, his hands moving to my neck and into my hair.

His mouth tastes salty from the air, his skin warm from the sun beating through the clouds, and I want more of it…

more of this feeling. More of Tate. I pull back enough to rest my forehead against his, and when his eyes meet mine, I know I’ll never experience anything like this ever again.

I want to stay here and get lost in the dunes with Tate, forget about the world, and pretend like time doesn’t exist.

But reality comes crashing down when I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, reminding me of my shift starting in a couple hours at Shuckin’ Hucks. “I really need to get back,” I say, and my heart aches thinking about leaving Tate.

“Okay,” he says with a frown. “I need to get started on a new project, anyway.” I raise an eyebrow. “I can’t say anything yet,” he explains. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“Okay,” I smile. “Speaking of projects, have you found any info on Emma?”

Tate shakes his head. “Not yet. I did find a few old articles online about the Calhoun family, but nothing specifically on Emma.”

“Maybe we could reach out to one of the family members,” I suggest.

He nods in agreement. “I think that’s the best next step.” He stands and pulls me to him with a sandy hand. “If the nurses don’t quit kicking us out before he finishes his story, I’m going to lose it.”

I laugh, thinking of how a nurse came in again the last time we were there to gently remind us visiting hours were over. We had offered to come earlier in the day, but apparently Tate’s grandpa keeps a very tight calendar filled with plenty of outings and other activities.

“Hey Lainey?” he says, rocking back on his heels, the legs of his jeans rolled up to his knees. He’s looking anywhere but me, chewing nervously on his bottom lip. I know he’s trying to make me laugh now that I’ve told him he needs to work on his game.

“Yeah?” I ask, stifling a giggle. He looks so innocent, like a kid about to ask his crush on a playground date.

He bends down to pick up Midge, whining at his feet and scratches her under her chin. I can’t believe how quickly she’s fallen for him, and I think she probably feels the same way about him that I do. “I really missed you.”

I bite my lip to hide a smile. “I missed you too, City Boy.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Tate asks.

“Tomorrow,” I promise. We’re standing outside Mugs and Memos when the door flies open.

“Hey, Aunt Lainey!” Sam barrels through the door, tripping over his untied shoelaces, then knocks into my knees.

“Any pet worms today?” I ask, bending down to tie his shoe and rustle his hair. He looks up at me, brown eyes wide.

“No, Aunt Lainey. I forgot I put one in my back pocket and mom found it when she was doing laundry.” He crooks his little finger, and I lean down for him to whisper in my ear. “I got in really big trouble for that.”

“Hmm,” I say. “We need to get you a dog.”

“Yeah, a dog!” Sam squeals right as Eden walks out and says, “You can potty train it, then.”

“Maybe you can just borrow Midge from time to time?” I suggest. She glares at me, then shoos Sam back inside. Once he’s in, her gaze ping-pongs back and forth between Tate and me, a grin spreading across her face.

“What?” I ask.

“I saw you two holding hands,” Eden giggles.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say with a roll of my eyes, but really I’m fighting to not giggle and kick my feet and squeal because yeah, we were holding hands, and it was pretty great.

Tate’s cheeks flush. “I’m going to go back and work on my project,” he stammers and walks away.

“For someone so handsome and strong, he sure does remind me an awful lot of a golden retriever,” she says when he’s out of earshot. “So? How was it?”

I shrug one shoulder. “It was a walk on the beach,” I say. “Salty, sandy. The usual.”

Eden hums then narrows her eyes. “I know when we go together, I don't come back with a hickey on my neck.”

My hand flies to my neck as my dignity falls into my stomach.

Eden cackles. “Gotcha. I knew it!”

“Okay, so we kissed, big deal!” I say, fighting to hide a smile. Finally, I give up and let it consume my face. “He’s pretty great, Eden.”

Eden's face softens, and she grabs my hand. “Even for a city boy?”

“Even for a city boy,” I answer. “I wish I hadn’t said the things I did when we were younger. I feel like we wasted ten years. But, somehow, it feels like he never left. We just…fit. I’m nervous, though,” I admit. “What am I going to do when he sells the house?”

“You know what your dad told me one day when I was nervous about my algebra final in high school?” Eden asks.

I raise an eyebrow. “No.”

“I was nervous because numbers started equaling letters and like…why? But Henry was helping me study at the kitchen table, and when he went to the bathroom, I started crying because I couldn’t get it right.

And your dad came in and said ‘Eden, worrying is a lot like a rocking chair. You can rock in it all you want, but it’s not going to get you anywhere.

’ And that really stuck. I thought about it when I opened the coffee shop and I thought about it when I had Sam.

I’ve probably thought about it at least a million times since then. ”

I smile, knowing that it's just like my dad to say the perfect thing at the perfect time.

“So basically, what I’m saying is, have fun with the guy. Don’t worry about what happens next. Just enjoy what’s happening now . Let someone else spoil and take care of you for once.”

I glance at the clock above us on the lamppost. “Shoot, Huck is going to kill me,” I say, turning on my heel.

“Don’t forget what I said!” Eden hollers.

I throw my hand up and wave as I jog across the street to Huck’s diner.

Eden’s advice sounds easy enough, but am I capable of letting my guard down enough to let someone in to take care of me?