Rogue Wave by Isabel Jolie (reading eggs books txt) 📕

“No son? You going to keep trying for one?” she asked as she flipped through photos.

I wouldn’t put it past Gregg to be that guy, desperate for a boy to carry on the name or some bullshit like that.

“No. I love having daughters. Didn’t matter to me at first, but after we had Lucy, and we were spending time on playgrounds and with other families with kids, it didn’t take me long to see little girls have some advantages. I felt relief when we found out our second would be a girl. The more time I spend around kids, the more appreciation I have for our mom raising two boys.”

“That’s what my dad used to say, too. He loves that he has two daughters. I don’t think he would’ve minded having more kids, but Mom said no way.”

“Yeah, two is enough. I see those families now with three or four kids and…no, two works. Are you the youngest or the oldest?”

“Oldest.”

“Me too.” Gregg sent an accusatory glare my way. My tight throat and the heat from Luna in my lap had me pushing on the ground, rocking the chair back and forth.

“My sister’s my best friend. She’s still in Sanibel with my parents. Or, well, she’s in school at the University of Florida, but she spends a lot of time at home.”

“Yeah, that’s what they say about daughters. They’re more likely to stay close.”

A heavy weight sank onto my chest, and I lifted Luna off my lap.

“You ready for those chips?” I asked Gregg.

He checked the time with a quick flex of his wrist and shrugged. “Sure. I eat early these days.”

I held the screen door open for my brother to pass through, and Luna stood by my side. My right hand drifted lower and cupped the curve of her bottom, giving it a gentle, clandestine squeeze.

“I’ll see you later?” I asked her.

Gregg glanced back but moved forward into the house, giving us some privacy.

“Come by Jules if you want. Or text me later, and I’ll come over. If you decide you want to catch up with your brother, that’s cool. I can see you tomorrow.”

I nodded. She stepped forward, and I pulled her back, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I want to see you later tonight.” I said the word want, but need was more accurate. I couldn’t explain it, but my brother’s surprise visit had me off-kilter, like one side of the ship was weighted too heavily, and I needed Luna to anchor for the night.

No sooner had she pulled away in her golf cart than Gregg turned to me and asked, “So, how old is she?”

I chuckled. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask her yourself.”

“Man, I don’t give a damn how old she is. Stop acting like everything I say is a judgement.”

“Well, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Bullshit.”

Gregg let out an exasperated sigh. “Look. She’s clearly legal, she’s in college—”

“Grad school.” I glared at the sand lining his dress shoes.

“Fine. Whatever. Great. As long as she’s eighteen and you’re not at risk of being charged with statutory rape, I’m good with it. Really. She seems nice. I have nothing against her.” He flipped open the trash compactor and dropped his bottle into it with a clang, then turned around. “I have nothing against you. I came down because I think you’re in trouble. I’m worried about you. I don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into, but I’m your family. And I’m going to be there for you. I don’t know if you’ve been running drugs, or if you’ve got some cartel after you, or what. But if you need guns for protection, I’ll drive ’em down here. If you need lawyers, I’ll hire them. If you need security, we’ll get that for you. Gabe knows people. We’ll do whatever is needed. You’re my brother. No matter how pissed off I am at you, that doesn’t change. You can always come to me. Got it?”

My eyes fucking burned, and I rubbed them, then inhaled deeply and forced a grin. “Guns? You’ll bring me guns?”

“Whatever you need. I’m here.”

“You’ve got quite an imagination.”

“That’s what happens when you go missing for ten years. It’s a lot of time to dream up shit.”

“I never ran drugs or met up with a cartel.” I chewed on my lip, amused at his ideas.

“What’d you do?”

“I blew up a ship.”

His entire hand covered his mouth, but based on the wrinkled corners of his eyes, my guess was his palm covered a fat ass smile. When he finally dropped his hand, his lips rested in a flat line, and he dipped his head as he moved to the cart.

“All right, then. Gabe said something was up. Let’s talk about what we need to do over chips and salsa.”

We took off towards Delphina’s, both of us driving a cart since the Inn was down by the marina. We started off at a normal clip, but of course, by the time we approached the marina, we were full-on racing, our pedals flattened against the black of the cart, swerving around each other and attempting to run the other one off the road. It felt good. Like old times.

We found a seat against the back wall inside. Most everyone else was seated outside on the deck, but the temperature was dropping and the wind picking up, and I had a feeling we were going to be sitting down talking for a long time.

Gregg had me telling him my story before we’d been served our beers. Had me filling him in on where I’d been, what I’d done, and how I ended up blowing up a boat I was supposed to deliver. I didn’t share as much with him as I did with Luna. Just told him I’d had it. I couldn’t be a part of fostering those living conditions or…slavery. I couldn’t do it.

“So, are you here hiding? Is that why you came back?”

“I’m not hiding.” He gave me a look that told me he didn’t believe me. Whatever.