After All (Cape Harbor #1)(50)

EIGHTEEN

The idea of being awake before the sun was up was never high on Brooklyn’s priority list. She preferred to sleep in, especially on the weekends. Austin had other plans, though, and wanted to take her fishing, so she was up, albeit slightly cranky, and waiting outside for him. When his truck rambled down the road, she hurried to the end of her driveway to save him from flashing his headlights into her parents’ bedroom. He pulled up next to her and leaned across his bench seat to open the door for her.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said as she climbed in. She scooted to the middle and met his lips with hers.

“It’s morning, but I reserve the right to say whether it’s good or not.”

“Ah, don’t be that way. We’re going to have fun today.”

“If you say so.” She sighed. Fishing was important to him, and he was important to her, which was why she was up so early. She rested her head on his shoulder while he drove down the road. Every so often, she would yawn and close her eyes, until he hit a pothole or took a corner sharply. She accepted the fact that she wouldn’t be able to sleep and paid attention to where they were going, although she was slightly confused, as they were driving away from the water.

“Where are we going?”

“To pick Bowie up.”

“Oh, he’s coming with us?”

Austin hummed in agreement as he took another corner haphazardly. The boy thought he was a race car driver, only he had a truck that didn’t corner very well. He had also failed to mention that Bowie was tagging along. It seemed that anytime she and Austin tried to be alone, Bowie was there, lurking in the shadows. Sometimes she didn’t mind, like when they went to the stupid parties Austin always brought them to or when Austin drank a few too many. Bowie always made sure Brooklyn made it home safely. Truth was, she didn’t much care for her feelings toward Bowie because they muddled the way she felt about Austin. Teenage hormones confused her greatly, and these boys were making things harder for her.

They pulled into the Holmeses’ driveway, and Bowie opened the door, blinding Brooklyn with the dome light. She cried out and buried her face in Austin’s shoulder, garnering a kiss from him. In fact, he continued to kiss her until she lifted her head and he could finally plant one on her lips. She deepened the kiss, letting it go longer after the door was pulled shut, in an effort to prove to herself that the other boy sitting next to her meant nothing. The jury was still out on whether it worked.

“My mom made us breakfast and lunch.” Bowie held a basket on his lap.

“That’s awesome. I forgot about food.”

Brooklyn didn’t know if the pain she felt in her stomach was because of the aroma coming from the basket or because Austin hadn’t cared enough to make sure they ate while out at sea today. She played it off as a simple mistake because surely her boyfriend cared about her well-being.

When they arrived at the pier, the only sounds to be heard were the subtle splashes of the water lapping at the surface and the other boats getting ready to go out for the day, but other than that, the docks were quiet.

Brooklyn stood at the end of the dock and watched the light from the lighthouse spin. She counted the seconds between intervals and followed the beam of light as it hit shore. She had no idea how anyone could use that light as a guide back to land but trusted that Austin and Bowie knew, and honestly was too afraid to ask.

“Brooklyn, what are you doing out here? Don’t you know about Wally?”

She looked over her shoulder at Bowie and turned farther to look for Austin. He was somewhere on his father’s boat, and Bowie was out here with her. He was always where she was.

“Who is Wally?”

“The walrus. Haven’t you met him?”

“Are you pulling my leg or something?”

Bowie shook his head. “Not at all. Wally usually sleeps on the docks here. For the most part, he’s harmless, but if you scare him, he may try and bite you.”

“You tell lies, Bowie Holmes. It’s too warm for a walrus in Washington. They live in Alaska.”

He held up his hand and displayed three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

“Ha, are you even a Boy Scout?”

“No, but I’d never lie to you, Brooklyn.”

For whatever reason, she knew this to be true. There was something about Bowie that told her he’d always be honest with her. From behind, she heard a large splash and leaped toward Bowie, who wrapped her in his arms.

“What was that?” she asked.

“My guess, Wally. He’s either awake and coming over to see what all the ruckus is, or he’s looking for food.”

Brooklyn shivered in his arms. “I’m scared.”

“Don’t be; I’ve got you.”

The dock rocked, and a loud guttural growl came from the dark water. Brooklyn was tempted to lean over and look, but Bowie was pulling her away from the edge. She feared for her life but couldn’t be bothered to run. She had to see for herself what was making that noise.

Two large flippers somehow grabbed ahold of the dock and heaved the rest of its body forward. Brooklyn squealed and jumped back as a black blob wiggled out of the water. It let out another growl, this time louder, but stayed toward the edge.

“Meet Wally.” Bowie laughed.

Brooklyn slapped him in the chest. “You moron. That’s not a walrus; it’s a seal.”