entailed. He humored every silly question she threw at him. When did you start fishing? Eighteen. Do you ever fish for fun? Sometimes. Which fish do you catch the most? Sockeye salmon. What’s the name of your boat? Uncharted Chum.
“Really? The name of your boat is Uncharted Chum? Really?” Alyssa asked.
Leaning back, he draped his arm across the back of my chair. I felt the vibration from his voice rush over my back and down my spine. “Really, really.”
While other conversations floated around and among us, Coll leaned closer to speak into my ear. “You need another drink?”
Feeling the combined heat from his breath and his fingers touching the ends of my hair, I needed another badly.
Boy, did I.
“Yeah. That’d be great. Thanks.”
Coll went to stand and the mic clicked on. Jason’s voice filled the small room. “Our bassist is an ass and broke his arm, so we can’t play.” Everyone in the crowd moaned. “Unless Coll wants to come up here and take his place.” The crowd encouraged him with shoulder-pats and nudges while the band cawed his name. “Coll, Coll! Coll, Coll!”
I felt the slightest tug on my hair and looked up.
“Raincheck on that drink, yeah?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah.”
Cheering erupted with the heat from my neck as he headed for the stage. I bartered with my heart, promising to stop eating the cheese sticks and treat it better if it would just settle down already. But he pulled that bass strap over his head and started playing and it sped and sped. It beat faster and faster as his fingers plucked and his forearms flexed. Right up until the moment he stopped and I thought it might have exploded already.
I got myself that other drink before they started the next song. And the next. And the next. When I got up for a fourth, Amber grabbed my arm.
“Hailey, babe. Why don’t you give that last one some time to soak in?”
With a nod that nearly sent me falling off the chair, I agreed. The fates had other plans when a refreshed glass was set down in front of me. I looked up to find familiar blue eyes hovering above.
“Oh, hey. It’s you.”
“Yep. I’m me.” Sitting down in Coll’s chair, he nudged the drink in my direction. “And that’s for you.”
“She’s actually had enough, thank you,” Amber informed him and slid the glass back across the table.
“One too many to decide for herself, eh?”
“Yes. And you are?”
“Russell Rinaldi,” he said in his Canadian accent, sounding all the part one imagined a man of the sea would. “The harbor master, ma’am. At your service.” He tapped his forehead for a two-finger salute.
“Hailey, is there something you forgot to tell me?” Amber asked.
I guessed there was.
“Uh, I met Russell on one of my walks around the docks a few weeks ago.”
“And …”
Smiling at her, I shrugged. “And he asked me out.”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
“I did. But sadly, the lady said no. Both times I asked, I’m embarrassed to say.”
“Both times, huh?”
I sat in silence while they talked about me like I wasn’t there. I was so wrapped up in what was being said, I didn’t notice the band had stopped and the jukebox had kicked on. I strained my neck when Russell stood and held out his hand.
“Collin.”
The men shook.
“Russ.”
“Long time, no see. How you been?”
“Fine. You?”
“Good. I’m good. Dad’s surgery went fine. He had to stay in the hospital a couple days. But he’s home now. You should try to swing by.”
The exchange between the two was far beyond awkward. I wondered why Russell would go all the way to invite Coll over to see his dad. Were they old friends or something? Old friends who maybe had grown apart?
Coll shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded at the ground. “I’ll think about it.” Bending down, he spoke into my ear. “Hey, you wanna get out of here? Go for a walk?”
I nodded and stood, letting Amber know I’d be just outside. I waved to Russell before
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