When he steered the motorcycle into the parking lot of the marina, Violet, Dena, and Carys waited by Dena’s Ford Focus. He parked and waited for Iris to get off before unsaddling the bike. She removed her helmet. “I thought we were going to be alone.” “It’s a special day.” He opened the seat and put his and her helmets inside. “Special? How?” “You’ll see,” he said, crossing the parking lot to the others. After saying their hellos, the group trekked over the docks until the second-to-last row where Wade’s boat was kept in a slip. After they were all on the boat with life jackets secured, Wade motioned for Dena to untie it from the dock while he turned on the motor. The others found seats around the deck. “So we’re actually taking it out?” Iris said, standing beside Wade in the cockpit. “Yep.” He steered it through the marina to the open ocean, only having to avoid a few boats on his way. The harbor was nearly empty, with it being a workday. Iris adjusted her feet to stay balanced with the rocking of the boat. “This will take longer than two hours.” “We’re just going to head out a little ways for the big reveal,” he said. “Is the reveal that the boat won’t sink?” Iris laughed. He flashed a smile at her. “Funny.” The farther the sailboat moved away from the marina, the more excited Wade got. He couldn’t believe that the boat was almost ready. He spent so much time with Dena and Carys fixing it up. This first run was for Iris. For the big reveal. When he’d picked a perfect spot, he turned off the motor and looked over at her. “Want to take the helm?” Wade and Dena rushed around hoisting the main sail. Next, they raised the jib. Carys and Violet clapped and whistled. Wade glanced back to see Iris’s reaction. She squeezed the wheel tight, her hair whipping around her head as she looked up, her mouth wide. On the main sail was a dragon Iris had painted for him. The maker had copied the image and transferred it to the sail. “What do you think?” Wade yelled over the wind. Iris held her hair away from her face. Her expression excited Wade. “I love it!” she shouted over the crashing of the waves. The wind was perfect—not too weak and not too strong— and the boat went out for a bit before Wade brought it back to shore. After the sails were lowered and secured, he turned on the motor and maneuvered it to its place in the marina. Dena and Wade went about tying the boat to the dock. Wade snuck glimpses of Iris as she took off her life jacket. You’re only torturing yourself, Diaz. He shook his head and finished off the knot he was tying. A rope hit him in the face. “Pay attention,” Dena said, towing the rope back to her. “I was,” Wade said, grabbing the other end. Dena shot him a knowing smile. “Not the kind of attention I meant.”
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