Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Gannon, life has given you a second chance, and you’re one lucky sonofabitch.”
“I know, Brody. Trust me, I know. But what do you know about second chances? Are you speaking from experience?” I asked.
“No, I’m not. Have you ever seen me in a serious relationship before?”
The sounds of boat horns echoed off the building as the water lapped against the deck. I loved it down here, and I knew my brother did as well. I turned and looked out over the water before I decided to ask Brody for the truth.
“What about Sutton?”
His eyes went wide, and his cheeks turned a slight shade of red. “What about Sutton?”
“Come on, Brody,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Do you really not remember what you told me? About what happened between the two of you?”
He stood there in stunned silence before he asked in a low voice, “What did I tell you?”
He really didn’t remember.
“You slept with Sutton right before she left for college, the night she and Jack broke up.”
I’d heard of someone going white as a ghost, but this was the first time I was seeing it happen in front of me.
“It was a one-time thing, and it was a mistake.”
“Really? Did you say it was a mistake or did Sutton?”
He shot me a look that should have had me dropping down dead on the spot.
“What?” I asked with a humorless laugh. “It’s okay for you to talk about me and Addie, but not the other way around?”
“Sutton was different. That whole situation was different, Gannon. It was once, and I…I mean, we both regretted it afterward. For more than one reason.” A painful look moved over my brother’s face, and he turned away before I could read anything else in his expression.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
He cleared his throat. “Nothing. We’re talking about you and Addie. Are you going to ask her out?”
I wanted to question my brother more about what he’d just said, but I decided to let it go. “Of course, I am.”
The weariness in Brody’s eyes vanished. “Mom is going to freak!”
“For fuck’s sake.” I turned away from him and pulled open the door to the port authority. “I’m going to work now, Brody. See ya later.” I could hear him laughing as the door shut behind me.
Trish, who was the office manager, looked up at me and grinned like a fool. “So, I read that Adelaide is back in town. And a little birdy told me she was working at the Grill this morning.”
Sighing, I replied, “Does everyone have a little birdy that talks in their ears around here?”
She laughed. “Guess you’re not happy about the article in The Chronicle.”
“What article?” I started toward the office that the ship pilots shared, Trish laughing again as I retreated. I needed to get away from all talk of Adelaide so I could think clearly. Having her in my house and then seeing her at the Grill this morning had caused all sorts of memories to flood back. Good memories.
Now was not the time, not when I was at work. I needed to focus on something other than Adelaide Bradley.
A week had passed since Adelaide had showed up at my door. I’d had to pick up some extra shifts since one of the other pilots had been out sick, so we hadn’t had a chance to see each other again. We’d texted a lot and spoken on the phone nearly each night, but it was killing me not to see her. We had a lot of catching up to do.
I decided to stop by the Grill after my shift to grab dinner, then head home to relax and drink a beer or two since Addie had texted and said she wasn’t feeling so hot and would call me the next morning. I had the next few days off and was planning on texting Adelaide to see if she wanted to meet for dinner at some point.
I nodded hello when I saw Barbara walking out of the Grill carrying a large to-go bag. She handed it to me and grinned. Her three daughters all had the same smile, but only Palmer, the youngest, had their mother’s sky-blue eyes.
“Here’s your order, sweetheart. How was your shift?”
I smiled. “It was busy. Brought in some pretty good-sized ships.”
“When do you get your full bar license?”
“I got it last week.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Last week! Why, we should have a party!”
With a lighthearted chuckle, I shook my head. “No party necessary. Besides, my folks are having their anniversary party this weekend. You and Keegan will be there, right?”
She beamed up at me. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. The Grill closes early that day, so we’ll be there with bells on.”
I nodded. “Great, I’m sure my mother will love having all her friends around.”