He tried to keep up. “Whose parents?”
“Zoey’s.” Delia tilted her head, frowned. “You’ve never met them, have you? They would have already been overseas by the time you moved back to the Bay. They only come back to the States and see Zoey once or twice a year.”
Linc frowned. He’d known that, but Delia made it sound…different. Like maybe it bothered Zoey that her parents weren’t around. Every time she’d talked about them to him, she’d been proud of them. Happy they were living their calling, making a difference.
The sun dipped behind a cloud, casting a shadow over the water. “Anyway, just a heads-up that they might not understand this situation for what it is.” Delia lowered her shades, stared at him over the rim. “A friend helping out another friend.”
Aye. That stare could kill a shark in the water. What was she implying? Linc shifted in his seat, angled the boat back toward the dock. “Not sure what to tell you, since that’s all it is.”
Delia released a noncommittal hmm, lips pursed.
Man. He should have left that porridge bowl on the island at home. The last thing he needed was people getting into his business—or worse, questioning Zoey’s reputation. His own was probably shot long ago.
The motor hummed. Surely they weren’t doing damage with this temporary arrangement, were they? He and Zoey were friends, and everyone in town understood that. Besides, it wasn’t like they were hormonal college kids in need of a chaperone—they were grown adults, making the best of a hard situation that wasn’t anyone’s fault.
He snorted. Besides, this wasZoey. He’d seen her trick-or-treating in embarrassing Halloween costumes, seen her when she was feverish and puking her guts out. Seen her stuff her mouth with a dozen jumbo marshmallows to win a contest, seen her burp-sing the national anthem at a baseball game on a dare. Hardly temptation-city.
Though lately, all of those memories were just making her more appealing. But Mama D didn’t know that, nor did anyone else.
What wasn’t Mama D saying?
Somewhere behind them, a fish jumped, splashed. The sun edged back into view. Linc guided the boat toward the dock, thoughts churning like the waves under the motor. For once, he felt slightly bad for all the times he’d left people in the wake of his silence.Say something, Mama D…
He finally caved. “Do you believe that’s all it is with us? A friend helping a friend?”
Delia smiled. “It doesn’t really matter what I believe, Lincoln.” She replaced her sunglasses, draped one wrinkled arm over the back of the seat, and tilted her face toward the sky. “The question is…what doyoubelieve?”
He cut the engine as the dock edged closer, the sudden silence making his thoughts all the more deafening. Whatdidhe believe? Was he only fooling himself?
He swallowed as they floated, one hand tight on the wheel as he guided the boat toward the wooden structure. “Me and Zoey have always been friends.”
“Things can change, you know.”
He shook his head. “Not with us.”
Delia kept her face casually toward the sun, as if she wasn’t probing his deepest thoughts. “Why not?”
Because he needed Zoey—neededthem—to be exactly the way they were. Change was risky, and he’d lost enough over the years. The words burned the back of Linc’s throat, and he coughed to clear it.
“Everything changes eventually, dear.”
“No. We’re different.” Theyhadto be an exception. Even though the small ache in his gut hinted to the contrary. He risked a glance at Mama D to see if she, at least, was buying it.
Oh no. She’d taken off the sunglasses, pierced him with a look.
Linc shifted his gaze back to the dock, grateful for the excuse as the boat gently bumped the wooden side. He stood to grab the ropes, heart thumping. Surely she’d see he was busy now.
“Lincoln, all I’m saying is you might be playing with fire here.”
Like a sea bass with a baitfish, the older woman refused to let go. He wrenched the rope around the dock loop, pulling tight. Maybe he had to listen, respectfully, but he didn’t have to agree.
“And I think poor Zoey’s had enough fire in her life lately, hmm?”
Ouch. Okay, so that one hit the mark. Was this arrangement really that damaging for Zoey? He let go of the rope, blew out his breath as he turned to face Mama D. “What do you suggest?”
As ifhewas now the bass taking bait, she smiled smugly, tucking those dark sunglasses back on her face. “I’m sure you’ll think of something, dear.”
Oh, great. So there was that.
