Page 25 of Fire and Rain
He glanced at his watch. “I hate to run, but I really ought to get going.”
She couldn’t help but feel disappointed—and relieved. “Early shift tomorrow?”
“I’m on duty tonight.”
“And you spent the day with us instead of sleeping?”
“It’s okay. I had a good time. I’ll get some dinner from the galley, head to barracks, and try to get a few hours of sleep.”
“Thanks for coming with us—and for helping me with Maverick. I’m not sure I’d have been able to face it alone.” She hadn’t stayed around for the Coast Guard rescue swimmer demo, but no one could expect that of her.
“You’re welcome.” Sean’s gaze met hers, and he smiled—a smile Eden felt down to her toes. “You’re a badass. You didn’t have to go at all, but you did. I respect that. Thanks for a fun day. Call if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay.”
With that, he said goodbye, leaving Eden to grapple with her emotions.
ChapterFive
May 30
Sean saton the edge of the pool, fins on his feet, goggles covering his eyes. He had just come off a busy night shift and wanted to get in some laps before he hit his bunk. He had the place to himself. But he wasn’t alone.
Over here, Koseki!
Justin dove, swam with the pool brick through deep water, Trey, Rob, and Scott, doing their best to get the brick away from him. They caught up with him, swarmed him, the four of them wrestling for control under water.
Sean saw his chance, drew a breath, and swam below them, almost to the bottom of the pool. Justin let the brick drop, and Sean snatched it, using his fins to propel him toward the cones that marked the goalposts. He surfaced and scored a goal just as the others caught up with him.
Justin surfaced, grinned, gave him a high five. “The AET who outswims the rescue swimmers.”
The pool room was full of memories for Sean, echoes all around.
How many times had he and Justin played brick ball here? How many fitness assessments had they done together here? How many laps had they swum? How many sessions of water egress training?
Sean slipped into the water, drew a breath, and started to swim, using exertion to clear his mind. There was no pain in his shoulder, and the stiffness wore off after the first couple of laps.
Down and back and down again.
Okay, McKenna, I’ll race you—five hundred yards and the loser buys dinner.
You’re on, Koseki.
Sean kept swimming, pushing himself, but the memories kept coming.
Sean buckled into his seat. He was in the back this time, Justin in front.
“Bottoms up!” Justin turned to him, and the two exchanged a fist bump before the lights went out and the vehicle flipped, plunging them into the water.
Sean unbuckled his belt, felt his way toward a window, popped it, and swam to the surface. He glanced around for Justin and saw him on the other side.
Down and back and down again.
“Fish on!” Justin reeled in his catch, rod bending. “Come on, fish!”
Sean grabbed a net and positioned himself to scoop up the salmon once Justin got it to the surface. “I see it. It’s a big one—a king. Don’t let it get away!”
“I’m working on it.” Justin reeled it in bit by bit until, at last, it came close to the surface, silver scales glittering.
