Page 71 of The Wild Beneath

Walker wanted to kiss her; he likes her smooth skin and scrunched nose and the way she makes doubles. He’s repairing this sailboat for her. Annie puts the sailor’s palm back on. It’s soft and leathery against the base of her thumb. She forces the needle through multiple layers of fabric, pulling it out the opposite side with her pliers.

Evan waits for her to say something.

Annie looks across to the door again. Should she go after Walker?

Evan follows her eyes. “What do you want to do?”

She turns back but can no longer remember what he was asking. “About what?”

Evan moves closer and takes her hand. He slides the sailor’s palm off and places it on the bench, then holds her face, his fingers in her hair. “Listen. I just need to finish what my dad needs done here,” he says. “He’s making a killing. Hale Timber will be fine. Then we’ll go together with Ruth in October. We can always come back when things settle.”

Annie’s heart thumps. “I don’t know,” she says. “That’s my answer.”

But it’s another lie. She knows it as soon as she says it. She has never lived without the sea. Her body has never wanted anything as badly as the one thing she wants right this minute.

And he’s outside.

Annie pulls away and goes back to repairing the sail.

Evan’s head throbs as he leaves the warehouse.

He’s losing his grip on Annie, that’s certain. Something’s happened and he can’t read her the way he used to. He suspects none of this involves him, and that makes his stomach feel like the bottom has fallen out.

He should have kissed her in there when he had the chance.He should have reminded her of how good it was between them, how perfectly they fit.

Walker is sitting on the ground, his back against the rusty hull of a fishing boat, his head tilted up, staring at the sky, at the waxing moon.

“You don’t even know her,” Evan hears himself saying. This is definitely the wrong time to confront Walker, but he’s choking on the things he needs to say.

“Look up, Evan,” Walker says.

“Where?”

“Look at the sky.”

When he does, it glitters, an ocean of stars, a million pinpricks in the night. More than he’s ever seen before.

Heat builds in Evan’s limbs. “Why the hell does that matter right now?”

“To get some perspective,” Walker says.

“Right. Sure.” Evan paces forward and back. “You can’t ask her to stay here.”

Walker stands. “Evan—­”

“And repairing a sailboat?” he says. “How’s that a good use of her time?”

“That sailboat is meant for her.”

“Are you fucking tone-deaf, man? Her parents just died on a sailboat.” He keeps pacing. “They’re not bringing more supplies, you know. This is going to be one godforsaken town pretty soon. Then what?”

“I’m not forcing Annie to do anything.” Walker’s voice is calm.

“Can you please not do that?” Evan fumes.

“Do what?”

“This high-and-mighty act of yours!” Evan clenches his teeth. “Talk straight with me.”