She opens her mouth to say something, then stops and smiles. “Sure.”
A cool breezerustles through the palm fronds above us as we walk to the boathouse. The air is salty and somewhat humid despite the chill. An owl hoots in the pines that line one side of my parents’ property. The music and voices coming from the house fade as we stroll down the ramp toward the water.
Hannah pulls her wrap closer around her neck. “It’s finally getting chilly.”
I slip off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. “That should help.”
“But you’ll get cold.” She stares up at me, concern filling her expression.
If her eyes were the ocean, I’d gladly drown in them. Maybe I should tell Hannah how I feel. Or perhaps I can show her by finishing that kiss. “I’ll be fine.”
Voices come from the boathouse, telling me we won’t be alone like I’d hoped. My father emerges from the side door with two men—one I recognize from my parents’ practice. The other is Mayor Stringer.
While my father’s colleague continues up the walk toward the house, Mayor Stringer stops and shakes my hand. “Nick, good to see you. Zane tells me your recovery is going well.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks to Hannah. She’s an amazing physical therapist.” I rest my hand on her back again. She did tell me not to let go…
He greets Hannah with a handshake, too. “A pleasure. Glad to hear Nick will be back in action soon.”
Hannah darts a glance up at me, then smiles. “That’s the plan.”
“Wonderful. You two have a great night.”
My father waves us over to the boathouse. As we get closer, my mother calls out from behind and quickens her step to catch up. “I had a feeling you might be out here.”
My mother links her arm through Hannah’s and draws her farther down the pier. “Let me show you the latest addition to the family.”
So much for not letting go of Hannah, but I’m sure she can handle herself with my mother. In fact, I’m almost positive my mother will adore Hannah because she’s gutsy and not afraid to speak her mind.
I walk next to my father as we follow behind. “Dad, I need to talk to you about something.”
He stops and faces me. “Sure. What is it, son?”
A chill shoots down the back of my neck that has nothing to do with the cool night air. “Why did you put a hold on my trust fund?”
My father frowns. “It’s just temporary. We want to make sure you’re making the right choice for your future. That’s all. And bythe way, I still think you should sue Jake Ward for his reckless behavior.”
I bite back my irritation. Once, I envisioned myself in their world, primarily because I believed I had no other choice. Walking away from my parents’ expectations to become a lawyer like them was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I realized then that if I didn’t, I’d crash and burn in the worst way. And even though my parents didn’t understand—and still don’t—I’ve never regretted that decision.
“I already told you it was an accident, and Jake helped with my medical expenses. I’ll be at my job in a few weeks, so everything worked out fine.”
He rests a hand on my left shoulder and squeezes. “Your mother and I are still concerned about your future, son. Clearly, being a lifeguard is more dangerous than we realized.”
“It’s important work. And it’s what I love to do.”
“What if you get hurt again? Nick, you need to think about these things.”
“I do!” I take a deep breath. “What happened was a fluke. It wasn’t a normal day on the beach. We have protocols that keep us safe. That’s what we train for.”
My father shakes his head. “You don’t understand how much this scared your mother. We just want to be sure you’re making the right decisions for your life.”
“I am. And I’ve done fine on my own, doing a job I love. Why can’t you understand that?”
He stares at me, but says nothing.
“Look, the cameras have nothing to do with me being a lifeguard. They’re important to understanding why there’s been a drop in the turtle population, which has ripple effects on reef ecology. You can hold the rest of the trust for as long as you want.”
My mother’s voice breaks in. “Nicholas.”
