Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“What’s wrong?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and her feet seemed to move on their own volition toward the table.
“Nothing and yet, everything,” Sail said.
Galvin’s heart sank even as she reminded herself, they were only friends.
“Oh?” her voice cracked.
Sail nodded. “It’s work stuff.” He looked down at the papers. “Well, mostly Seaport stuff.”
“Are a band of pirates heading this way?” The joke was meant to be funny but missed the mark. She found herself sitting down instead of heading to her apartment for the shower she desperately wanted.
Sail cracked a smile and nodded. “Pretty much seems like they’re pirates.” He turned the papers toward her. “Remember when I asked you what kind of law you wanted to practice?”
Galvin nodded and picked the stack of papers up. She began reading but was confused. “What’s all this?”
“A pile of articles I printed off the web after work. The fine people of Seaport—and I do believe of Rhode Island and some of Massachusetts—are certain the wind towers going in off the coast are killing the sea animals. This morning, four dolphins were found dead not far from my parent’s property.”
“That’s so sad.”
“It’s devastating,” Sail said. “The water is their home and all the drilling—whales and dolphins use sonar—the drilling has to be messing with their minds.”
Galvin handed the articles back to Sail. “I know one of the professors teaches a course on water rights. Maybe it’s something I can explore.”
“Maybe,” he said frowning down at the articles. “People with big money cause big problems, and no one ever has to pay for their consequences.”
Galvin reached across the table and set her hand on top of his. She gave it a squeeze and in doing so, he looked up at her. Without missing a beat, he maneuvered his hand to hold hers.
“I asked Dune if he wanted to get into some trouble. Normally, this would be the kind of thing I’d go raise a ruckus about. I still might, but right now I want to find a way to protect the animals. Not sure how though.”
“Are you thinking of shifting your major?”
He nodded.
“Maybe law school is the way go. I never thought of myself as an environmentalist because I’ve always respected the earth. But this . . .” He shook his head.
Galvin didn’t know what to say. She didn’t like the idea of dolphins and whales dying, especially if their deaths were due to the wind towers going in, but she didn’t know what she could do to help. Law school was a three-year program and by the time she finished, who knew what the next fight would be.
After he stared at the papers a bit more, he sighed and cleared his throat. “All right, enough melodrama. I promised you dessert and I don’t like to break my promises.” He winked, which caused her insides to flip, flop.
“How about we order pizza instead?” Again, the words tumbled out before she could stop them. She’d just invited him into her place without even thinking about what line this may cross. Galvin glanced up at her door and then smiled, hoping to give Sail the okay to say yes.
He nodded, gathered his papers with his free hand, and then stood. Sail gave her hand a slight tug and helped her stand.
“Just dinner and then I’ll bail,” he told her.
Had he done that to save her from telling him to leave or did he have other plans?
“And maybe a movie?”
“I like movies,” he said, with a smile.
Inside her apartment, Galvin turned the light on in her kitchen. She told Sail where to find the bathroom and then frowned.
“What’s wrong? Do you want me to go?” he asked as he pointed to the door he closed behind him.
“No, I forgot you’d been here before.”
Sail chuckled. “I’ll pretend I haven’t.” He touched the small of her back and winked.
Again, with the winking.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.” His voice was soft. Sultry?
No, she had no idea what sultry even sounded like.
“I need to shower,” she said quietly. “I smell like grease and feel like grime.”
“You smell like a cheeseburger, and I love cheeseburgers.”
She stared. Long and hard. Blinking.
Sail laughed and touched that sweet spot under her chin. “Go shower. I’ll order pizza. What do you like?”
“Anything,” she told him. “I’m not picky.”
As soon as she was in the bathroom, she recognized her mistake. Knowing her luck, he’d order something with anchovies. But then again, maybe he was of the mindset where fish are friends, not food.
Galvin showered as quickly as possible but made to sure lather her body in her best smelling soap. She washed her hair twice, shaved—even though nothing would happen between them—and then washed again. The last thing she wanted was to continue to smell like a cheeseburger, out of fear this would turn Sail on.