Page 4 of Crash Over Us
My stomach turned. Shit. Was Ethan the anonymous donor? Was that what the money was about? Pity or some kind of repayment for being a decent girlfriend? I didn’t want girlfriend money. Or Ex-girlfriend money.
“You don’t need to do anything like that. You should go be with your dad.”
“I can’t go back yet, Margot. I don’t think I can see him.”
I closed my eyes. He was struggling. “Do you want to come in for a minute? At least get out of the sun?” I wasn’t heartless. Even with Ethan.
He nodded. “That would be nice. Yeah.”
He followed me inside the cottage. I offered him a glass of tea.
It was strange that he was inside my sanctuary. The one I needed after we broke up and my life in New York crumbled. He wasn’t a part of this life. I didn’t know how to let him even stand in the kitchen without wanting to shove him back outside where he belonged on the perimeter of my life.
He sat at the counter, sipping the tea. He made a face. I knew it was too sweet for him.
“What have you been doing all week?” I was curious.
He shrugged. “Surprisingly, a lot of things. I windsurfed.”
I blinked. “What? Are you serious?” I couldn’t picture it. Not Ethan. He was born in a suit. Meant to fly first class and eat in five-star restaurants. Marshoak Island was never on his travel itinerary.
He cracked a smile. “Yes. And I’m pretty good at it. At least that’s what the instructor told me.”
I folded my arms. “I guess if you stay up on the board and ride the waves down the beach, then yes.”
“Could we talk? Not about the wind surfing,” he clarified.
I leaned against the kitchen sink. “Didn’t we have this conversation last week at the diner? I can’t help you with your dad. As shitty as that might be. Believe me it makes me feel like absolute shit. I can’t go through it with you. I’m not the person who can help you.”
“I know.” He nodded. “Caleb mentioned it was too hard on you.”
I blinked. “What? When did you talk to Caleb?”
“He didn’t tell you?” he asked.
I didn’t want to show Ethan that there was a crack between Caleb and me. There wasn’t. But the news surprised me, and my reaction gave Ethan a sliver of something he shouldn’t have—insight into my relationship. What I needed now was the truth.
I pressed into the countertop. I stared at Ethan.
“No, he didn’t mention it, but you’re going to tell me everything. I want you to start from the beginning.”
THREE
Caleb
The water didn’t get much flatter than this. I wiped the sweat from the back of my neck. It also didn’t get much hotter when the sun was directly overhead. There were days when I patrolled Marshoak Island that I believed we were in one big stew pot. Today was one of those days.
Turtles lazed on logs fallen in the creeks. The seagulls seemed too hot to fly. It was miserable in July. Yet, I knew summer had a chokehold on the island for one last season before fall blew in gave it a makeover. She was not letting go.
I slowed the engine. Gabe sat on the bow, tying knots. He was trying a new technique Brady had taught him.
“What about this one?” He held up the pretzeled loop.
“You want me to give you a gold star or something?” I joked.
“Yeah, it’s at least a five-star knot.”
I shook my head. “You would want a prize for tying a knot. We get paid to tie knots, you dumbass. We’re in the Coast Guard.”
