I let her lean back. I can see it in her face—under all the worry is a good solid layer of mad. “You’re angry. You have every right to be.”
Her brows furrow and her lips purse for a second. “I?—”
“Have every right to be mad. I apologize too, Sugar.” Sam takes her hand and kisses it.
Her eyes float over to Easton.
“I went to keep them out of trouble,” he says. “But yeah, we shouldn’t have gone.”
“I’m the fucking idiot who almost got Zane killed,” Calvin growls.
“What?”
“He’s exaggerating. But damn, I’m bloody glad to see you.” I pull her in for another tight hug, as tight as the lifejacket will let me.
“Exaggeration or not, that’s not good,” Haley says. Penny jumps in the surf at the side of the tender, which is something she never does. “What’s she so excited about?”
“That’s our surprise. Let’s get the tender tied up.” I take the rope from where Easton tosses it, and Sam, Easton, Haley, and I pull and yank the tender up onto the sand. It’s a hell of a lot heavier with the WaveRunner and the load of fruit, and maybe Calvin being on it might have something to do with the weight too.
Dante’s showed up at some point. Pepper’s at his ankles. “Damn.” He peers into the tender. “Merry Christmas to us. What’s in the box?”
“It’s a surprise,” I say.
“Does it say cluck, cluck?” Dante grinds his hips in a poor imitation of my unforgettable lap dance.
“Yes, and no. Now don’t ruin the surprise for Haley.” I point my finger at him.
“Didn’t your mum tell you it’s not polite to point?” His head tilts back as he laughs.
“Don’t get too excited.” Easton stops at Haley’s side and kisses her cheek. “I really am sorry,” he whispers into her ear.
“It’s not a 55-million-dollar diamond. No, it’s better.” I take her hand and lead her up to the beach. “Sit here. I’ll bring it to you.” I jog back to the tender and take the bin out. It’s not that heavy, more awkward. I set it down, and through an opening big enough for my fist, I pull out a baby chick and set it on her lap.
“Oh, it’s the cutest thing.”
“How many more are there?” Dante asks.
“You’re not killing it.”
“Haley, you’re not a vegetarian,” Dante laughs. “Where do you think chicken nuggets come from?”
“Not Violet.” Haley runs her finger over the fluffball’s head.
“Fine, but if there’s a Gus and Mike in there, when they grow up—” Dante stops at Haley’s stare. “We can talk about it later.” Dante throws his hands in the air and heads over to the tender to help the others unload the fruit.
“You got the WaveRunner too.” Haley’s looking more at the chick than the other guys or me.
“We did.”
“What happened? How did you almost . . .”
“Die? I didn’t. Or at least now I didn’t. But if that had happened six months ago?” I shrug. “Rogue wave when the current shifted around the side of the island. I was going too fast. Everyone else was hanging on, the supplies and chickens tied down. I flew off the back. But between you and Easton taking the time to show me how to swim, I was fine afterwards. There was a second when I thought I might not be when I was sinking, though. And all I could think of was you. I don’t want to live without you. I know I’ve said I love you. But I need you to understand what you mean to me. You calm my soul. You make things right.” I pause because I’ve been sayingwhen we get backbefore but now it’s a lot harder. “When we get back, I don’t want there to be a time in my life when we’re not together.”
She nods.
“No, Haley, I mean it. Fuck, at any other time this would be where a guy drops to his knees and begs the best most amazing girl on the planet to marry him. But it’s a little different for us. For you. Whatever the equivalent of marriage is in this sort of situation. That’s what I want. Picket fence. House full of little Haleys. I want you. I want you always. I choose you.”
She’s crying, and damn, my stomach twists because I’ve gone and overwhelmed her. I should have given it a minute. Let her have some space. She needs space.
