Page 28

Chapter 28

Grog

Sam

“Want me to help pour the wine, Haley?” I ask.

“I’ll get the water, Little Bird.” Zane stresses her nickname back to me.

“Okay, so what’s the big surprise, Firefly? You can tell us, since Dante’s not here.”

“I wouldn’t steal his thunder. He’s worked really hard.”

“We’re here.” Dante and Calvin come in from the main salon. Calvin’s holding a half-dozen beer bottles by their necks between his massive fingers.

“You brought enough to share.” Zane reaches for one.

“These are mine. But I guess I can let you have one.” Calvin holds them out for Zane to take one and then lines the rest up in front of his chair. It seems we have assigned seats now—we’re sitting in the same order as lunch. Haley’s sitting between Calvin and Dante. Next to Dante is Zane, then me. Easton is on my left, next to Calvin. At least I can look directly at her. I want to finish, or at least continue, what we started in the wheelhouse. And not being able to touch her is going to unlock a new level of torture during the meal.

“Sit, everyone. You too, Sassy.” Dante goes to the grill and comes back with two giant platters.

“Hot damn, is that pizza? You can’t be serious. Honestly, mate, you are the best chef on the whole fucking planet.”

“Relax, Zane, you haven’t tasted it yet.”

“Doesn’t matter what it tastes like, does it? It’s the idea of the thing.”

Dante walks to Haley. “Sassy, do the honors of taking the first slices.” She smiles and takes one. “Take two. Once it gets to the Viking, who knows if there will be anything left?” Dante makes a face at Calvin.

“I have manners, Chef. I’d never take food out of Haley’s mouth.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.” Dante furrows his brow and turns away. He makes his way around the table and holds the tray between Zane and me.

The table goes silent, just like it did at lunch. Damn, lunch was good, but pizza? Actual pizza. I’m not going to ask where he found the cheese. “Truly, this is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. I’m not sure what magic you used to make it.”

“Sold my soul.” Dante lifts his wine glass. “Again.” He laughs. “To found family. The best kind.”

“Hear, hear,” Zane says and we all clink. Or mostly all clink. I can’t reach Haley’s glass. She lifts it, and her blue eyes connect with mine. Fuck, this girl... If there’s any magic around, it’s her.

Penny slumps at my feet. I didn’t feed her dinner, but she’s not asking. Chef must be sneaking her treats again. I take a long sip of the wine. Damn, that’s good. I twist the bottle to read the label. My eyes shoot up. Even when I was consoling myself with the expensive tequila, I didn’t touch this case.

“Relax, Sam. I opened it. You can have the other bottle if you want.” Easton shrugs.

“Chateau Lumière éternelle 2015.” Shit, I know a little about wines and I knew enough to leave this case alone. It’s pricey.

“If my dad’s going to buy 55-million-dollar necklaces, we can drink his forty-thousand-dollar bottles of wine.”

Zane, unfortunately, is taking a sip when Easton says the price of the bottle, and he starts choking. I slap his back until he stops, and he guzzles his water down. Zane picks the glass back up and holds it to the light. “It’s good. But honestly, I don’t think it’s worth all of that.”

Easton shrugs. “It’s my dad’s favorite. We can raise a glass to his health, wherever he may be.”

“To Rocky,” I say. Easton gives me a nod. I really did—do—like Mr. Rockwell. Sure, he’s a rich ass who knows what he wants, but he does have a down-to-earth side. But also, terrible taste in women.

Easton stands and opens another bottle of wine. He has three lined up like Calvin’s beer soldiers. Easton fills all the glasses around the table, but Zane puts his hand over the top of his.

Easton laughs. “Don’t worry about the price. Here, the bottled water and shampoo have more value.”

“I’m not worried about the price. I’m thinking we should have one sober person to pilot the tender back to camp tonight.”

“Oh, good point.” Easton pulls the bottle back.

“Unless you all stay the night?” I ask.

Heads snap to me.

“As much as that sounds appealing, Cap—Sam—we’ve got a cat to feed, a fish weir to empty, and a tender that needs to be kept off the reef.” Calvin raises his beer to me.

I raise my now empty glass back. Calvin leans into Haley and whispers something. She laughs, and my dick goes hard. Because it’s a real laugh, one without reserve for what others think about her. When she stops laughing, she finishes her wine. “Dante, that was amazing. Thank you.”

“Oh, that’s not it, Sassy. Sit still.”

“More, okay.” She beams at him and watches as he jogs to the galley.

“Oh no you don’t. No peeking. Make sure she’s not looking.” Dante points.

“Done.” Calvin wraps his hand around the back of her neck and devours her in a kiss. Calvin ends the kiss and moves his hand round and in front of Haley’s eyes. “No peeking. You heard Dante.”

Dante’s almost out of the salon with a lopsided cake on a platter. He stands behind her and places it in front of her. “Okay, open.”

“Oh... oh,” she says. “Oh?” Her tone is more inquisitive now. “Wait, how did you know? I mean, thank you!” She jumps up and pivots in the air. Her arms cling around Dante’s neck. “You not only knew it was my birthday, but you baked me a cake. You hate baking. How did you know it’s my birthday?” Haley’s back is to me, but I can read his face as clear as day. Dante had no idea it was her birthday. I certainly didn’t.

“You must have mentioned it,” Zane pipes up.

“I think we’ve talked about birthdays. Haven’t we? We had that talk about astrological signs. I’m still not sure if I’m a Scorpio or something else.”

“Sagittarius, Easton,” Haley tosses to him. “And no, I’ve never said when my birthday was. In my head, I guess I decided if I didn’t mention it, we’d be home by now. And then I woke up yesterday and realized what the date was... I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. But this is so special. Thank you, Dante.” She gazes up at him, and I see the second she realizes he didn’t know. “Oh shit... I?—”

“Happy Birthday to you...” Zane starts loudly, and we all pick it up. Of course, when we get to the part where they should say “Haley,” they all say some damn other thing—Sassy, Chiefie, Little Bird, Firefly. I’m not going to be outdone, so I sing “Haley” loudly.

She shakes her head. I’m not sure if she’s happy or frustrated. Zane raises his water glass when we finish singing. “To the best damn woman on the planet.”

“Hear, hear,” I say.

“All right, thank you now. Can I have some of this cake?” She pulls the cake platter closer to her.

“Yes, Sassy. Here you go.” Dante hands her a silver cake knife and a plate.

When she takes a bite, we’re all watching again, just like we did when she took the first bite of pasta. “Mmm.” She pulls the fork out slowly. “It’s so good everyone. Eat.”

The rest of them all dig in, but I can’t stop thinking about how it’s her birthday and she didn’t tell anyone. My ex had hers on every calendar, sent me a daily text countdown, and was never happy with a single present I bought her. I feel the bubble inside of me, and it’s more than food or the sugar. I’ll admit there were five cans of frosting, but somewhere during my tequila week, I ate one with a spoon. Which is why I’ve got the smallest piece of cake on my plate. The way my gut is clenched, I realize, is left over from my ex. It’s Haley’s birthday, and I don’t have a present. Forget that we’re on a rock in the middle of nowhere. She deserves more, with all that she’s been through.

It’s then that I notice Calvin is eating with his right hand when he is left-handed. He takes a bite of cake, puts his fork down, and then takes a swig of his warm beer—bottle down, and he repeats. Haley, on the other hand, has stopped eating all together. Shit. I catch her eyes and hold them. Am I an asshole for letting her know I know exactly what’s going on under the table? Possibly. Probably. I don’t fucking care. There’s a pink tinge going up her neck.

“Dante, this cake is really moist.” Calvin nods, putting a large bite in his mouth. “Isn’t it moist, Haley?”

She makes a gurgling sound that might be interpreted as a yes.

Dante’s eyes flick up and down Haley and land on her lap. “I do like a moist cake.” Dante takes Haley’s fork and feeds her a large bite.

I’m hard and fucking conflicted. But I didn’t tell her no. And I don’t think I can. That’s what this means. Easton and Zane are watching now. Their own plates are clean.

“Right, well, that’s a good cake.” Calvin takes his left hand and licks his fingers. Haley’s shoulders drop. She glances at the other guys. No one says anything about it, but there are a lot of smiles going around the table. “Happy Birthday, Chiefie.” Calvin leans over and kisses her cheek. “We should play some games before we head back.” He stands and clears the table onto a tray which he puts on the counter behind the table.

“Games?” Dante growls. “Like Monopoly or charades?”

“What are you, ten? Let’s age it up a bit, middle school. We’ve got what? Like an hour before low tide? Let’s celebrate Chiefie’s birthday with some fun.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Green?” Dante laughs.

“I’ve had some beers, Jones. This is what happens when I drink. I forget I’m a fucking mess.”

“You’re not a mess?—”

“Rule number eleven, Little Bird, never argue with a drunk person.”

“Still, Calvin’s not a mess.” She stands and holds on to his arm. “You want to play a game? I’d like that too. What game?” She bounces on her toes and takes Dante’s hand.

“Into the salon!” Zane races a few feet. “Right, what’s this game? Whatever it is, I’m sure I don’t know it. Is it knocking down the ginger or stuck in the mud?”

Calvin’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah, no. I have no fucking idea what those are, but I’m questioning the safety of your childhood.”

Zane laughs. “You’re not wrong, mate.”

Haley drifts away from the others and comes up to my side. She whispers into my ear. “Are you okay with this?”

“It’s your birthday, Haley. You get to pick. I’ll play if you want me to. Of course, Green will have to sober up enough to give us the rules.”

“I’m not drunk, Sam. Tipsy? Yes. Not having a drink for months will do that to you. But it takes a lot to swing me over to drink—drunk.” He snorts. “Or not.” He spreads his massive arms out. “Right, guys, sit in a circle.” He hands Haley his empty beer bottle. She immediately takes it and moves toward the bar. “No, Chiefie, you’re going to need that.”

“Oh.”

Green puts his hands on her shoulders and moves her into the middle of the room. “Sit.” Penny’s the only one who does. “Good dog. But the rest of you, circle, floor now.”

“We’ve got furniture, Green.” Dante takes a small ottoman and puts it in the circle.

“Fine, whatever, just sit. This is modified spin the bottle and truth or dare. Rules are simple. First round, Haley spins the bottle. Whomever it lands on, she asks truth or dare.” Calvin holds up his finger. “Second round, Haley spins the bottle. Haley can ask a question, but if the guy doesn’t want to answer, the last guy who the bottle landed on makes up the dare. Sound good, Chiefie?”

“Yes, I like that! I don’t have to do any of the dares. And I only have to come up with one idea. Dares always feel so mean, you know?”

Calvin smirks at her and plops down in the circle. I take a chair from the table and sit between Calvin and Dante.

“Give it a good spin, Sassy.”

Haley spins the bottle. She’s got some real torque on it... It wobbles and then eventually slows... pointing to Zane, then Dante, and stops on me.