Page 83 of Catch and Release

“Are you two always like this?” Shawn asked.

Willa said, “Like what?” at the same time Charlie said, “Yes.”

The two of them looked at each other and then burst out laughing. He’d never get tired of Willa’s laugh, the way her face lit up with joy.

Suddenly, one of the rods jerked down, and Charlie shrieked. “Is that supposed to happen?”

Shawn bit his lip, trying not to laugh. He’d taught hundreds of people how to fish over the years. He’d mastered the art of keeping a straight face when people asked weird questions or had strange reactions to fishing. But for some reason, his poker face was breaking as he watched Willa look at Charlie with the patience a mother gave a toddler while Charlie inched away from the fishing rod.

“That means you caught something!” Willa exclaimed. “Don’t you want to reel it in?”

Charlie tentatively walked up to the fishing rod and started to pick it up.

“Use both hands and hold it tight, otherwise the fish will tug it out of your hands,” Shawn said.

Willa winked at him then looked back at Charlie, who was holding her fishing rod like it was a dirty sock.

“Okay, now hold the rod with your left hand and reel with your right hand,” Willa urged.

Charlie clenched the rod so tightly with her left hand that her knuckles went white. Shawn resisted the urge to chuckle as she slowly started reeling in, her stance wide, looking like a deer in headlights. She slowly reeled, the steady ticking of the rod breaking the silence of the humid night.

“I’m doing it!” Charlie shrieked.

“‘Atta girl,” Willa said. “Now if you could just pick up the pace of your reeling, we could probably get this fish up here before the morning breaks.”

Charlie’s jaw dropped in feigned offense. “How dare you! I’m working hard over here!”

“Do you want help?” Willa smirked.

“Of course I do! I’m never going to reel this thing in!”

Willa stepped next to Charlie and held the fishing rod, encouraging Charlie to continue reeling it in. With less effort exerted on holding the pole, she was actually able to reel it in faster. Shawn watched them with amusement and awe, leaning against the side of the wharf. They didn’t need him, and he was happy to watch his girl show her friend the ropes.

His girl.

Fuck.

He was really screwed.

He was falling for Willa and he knew it. Every day that she expertly reeled in a fish and actively listened when he told her about his day and led him to bed so he could eat her pussy, he fell for her a little more.

And he didn’t have a goddamn clue what to do about it.

Charlie pulled him out of his stupor as she started jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

“I did it!” she whisper-screamed.

“You caught us a nice little redfish,” Willa said, grinning as she unhooked the fish and held it out to her. “Want a picture with it?”

Charlie grimaced. “What, like I’m a dude looking for material to put on my Tinder? Hard pass.”

“C’mon, Charlie,” Willa said. “It’s probably three pounds. Barely big enough for us to eat, but I’ll fry it for you for lunch tomorrow. Get over yourself and let me take a picture of you holding it.”

Charlie groaned. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“I just reeled in this fish for you and I’m cooking you dinner and I’m hosting you for the week.”

“Fine. Call it even, then.”