Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“I think that’s it,” I say.
“You ready to earn your sea legs, Campbell?” Oliver nudges my wife, who’s so tense she practically falls over like a statue.
“Yeah, let’s go,” she feigns enthusiasm, maintaining a death grip on my forearm.
My uncle slips his captain’s hat on and trots upstairs to the helm wearing the dopiest grin I’ve ever seen. I know it means the world to him that we’re here, and while half of me thinks this will be good for Campbell, the other half of me knows he needed this. Without my mother around, he’s lost the only real sense of purpose he had—the only sense of family he had, too, and now that I’m married and starting a new chapter in my own life, he’s taken even more of a backseat in the Delacorte lineup.
“Why don’t you head down to the cabin and get changed into your swimsuit? I’ll fix us a couple drinks and meet you on the console. ” I tell her.
Her eyes nervously search mine before she rises on her toes, gives me a peck, and heads below deck. Ten minutes later, she walks out in a neon peach bikini, a white sarong tied around her waist. I bite my lip, wishing we were truly alone right now.
“Here you are.” I hand her a handcrafted cocktail, clink my tumbler against hers, and make a toast. “Here’s to a weekend we’ll never forget.”
Drinking in my beautiful wife as we disembark, I take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come … while also realizing we’re only getting started. In a way, this trip is a metaphor, symbolizing the adventure that lies ahead as we overcome our fears, grow together, and attempt to have fun while we’re at it.
I sync my phone to the Bluetooth speakers on the deck, pulling up a playlist I downloaded before we left. The farther we get out to sea, the weaker the cell signals are—if we can even get one at all.
Her favorite song from the latest The 1975 album plays, instantly putting a smile on her face. She curls up against me, sipping her drink, humming along to the music as the marina grows smaller in the distance.
“See, it’s not so bad,” I tell her.
“I guess …”
I squeeze her against me for a little reassurance. Glancing up, I spot my uncle behind the wheel of the yacht, aviators over his nose and his attention focused on the waters ahead as he pays us no mind.
The gentle rhythm of the waters and the warmth of the midday sun beating down coupled with my best girl in my arms fills me with an overwhelming sense of peace. Closing my eyes for just a second, I only intend to rest them. But by the time they open again, my music has stopped playing and the sun is sitting lower in the sky. Checking my watch, I realize we’ve both been passed out for a few hours.
Campbell stirs when I shift. “Did we pass out?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Must’ve needed to catch up on sleep.”
She checks her phone.
“It’s four thirty,” I tell her.
“I’m not worried about the time; I was just seeing if we had any service.” Her mouth pulls down at the sides. “No bars.”
“They don’t have cell towers in the ocean.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” she elbows me. “Or should I say First Officer Obvious?”
“See, you’re already learning all the lingo.”
She rises, tugging her sarong into place. “I’m kind of hungry. What do you think he has for snacks?”
“Everything.” I follow her to the kitchen, where we help ourselves to the assortment of finger sandwiches, sliced fresh fruit, and gourmet cheeses.
“You’re going to have to roll me out of here on Sunday,” she says as she stabs a square of gouda with a toothpick and pops it in her mouth. “Or maybe toss me off the side of the boat and I’ll just float home.”
“Oh, hey, you guys are finally up.” Oliver leans against the doorway. “I was getting worried for a second. Make sure you’re staying hydrated okay, being out here with all that sun during the day can really do a number on you if you don’t stay on top of it.”
“Shouldn’t you be steering the ship?” Campbell asks, eyes wild.
Oliver chuckles. “We’re anchored for the evening.”
“You can anchor in water this deep?” she asks, confused.
I lean in. “Don’t get him started unless you want a full lesson on the technicalities of underwater parachutes.”
“Not everyone has the attention span required for such riveting topics,” Oliver shoots me a look. “But if you ever want to know how that works, I’d be happy to draw it out for you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Campbell says, reaching for a slice of watermelon. “Thank you.”
“Did you guys want me to heat up your dinners?” Oliver asks.
Campbell places her hand on her stomach. “I don’t know if I could eat a whole meal right now. Maybe later?”