Page 148 of At First Catch

Like staying is no longer something I have to earn or beg the universe to give me. Then she kisses me beneath the marina lights, the fading Virginia sunset, and the warm salt air.

And miraculously, forever stops feeling impossible.

I watch Hadley head toward her SUV a few minutes later, waving once before pulling out of the marina lot.

I stand there longer than I need to, smiling like an idiot at taillights that disappeared thirty seconds ago.

“You know she’s not coming back if you stare hard enough.”

I glance over.

Holt leans against one of the dock posts, coffee in hand like he materialized out of the salt air.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough.”

I groan. “You don’t even have a question?”

“Nope.”

“You’re making this weird.”

He shrugs, looking out across the water instead of at me.

“You happy?”

The question catches me off guard.

I don’t even have to ponder it.

“Yeah.”

Holt nods once.

“Good.”

Silence stretches between us while the tide laps against the pilings.

Finally, I glance sideways.

“That’s it?”

One corner of his mouth lifts.

“Hadley’s spent most of her life making sure everybody else is okay.”

His voice stays easy, but there’s thirty-one years of knowing his twin behind it.

“It’s nice to finally see somebody worry about her.”

Before I can think of a response, he pushes away from the piling.

“See you tomorrow, Marina Man.”

“Don’t start.”

He laughs as he walks away.