Page 14 of Made For You

“This reminds me of the boat we rented in Greece.” She looks at my father.

“Can I go inside?” Erika asks and I nod my head.

“Make yourself at home,” I tell them.

Wilson just shakes his head at Franny. “We can’t buy a boat. Where are we going to dock it?”

I’m about to step onto the boat and follow everyone inside when I spot Beatrice coming for me out of the corner of my eye. She starts sniffing my father’s shoes and then comes to me, licking my hand. “I see you made at least one friend.” My father laughs and I lean down to rub her neck.

“This is Queen Beatrice,” I introduce and then look up just in time to see Xavier walking down the dock. I think about not introducing them, but then my father is going to ask me why I spoke to the dog and not the human who owns the dog. Then I’m going to have to tell him that he’s a jerkface, and well, it’ll just spiral from there.

“Hi,” I say to Xavier, who looks at me and then my father. “Dad,” I say to my father, “this is my boat neighbor, Xavier, and Xavier, my father, Matthew.”

He looks at my dad and I can tell that his face is a bit pale, as my father reaches out to shake his hand. I’m waiting for Xavier to reach out and he does, but it’s a quick handshake. “Hello.”

“Is that your boat?” my father asks Xavier, who nods his head again and I just stare at him.

“It is,” he finally says. “Got her two years ago.”

“Nice,” my dad compliments. “Have you been at this dock for long?”

“About the same time as I bought the boat,” he shares, and I can see he’s uncomfortable. He heads to his boat.

“Let me ask you,” my father says, and he stops walking, looking back at him. “How is the crime rate here?”

I groan, making Beatrice bark at my dad. “Yeah, tell him it’s none of his business.” I rub Beatrice’s neck.

“I’m just asking,” my father defends. “You’re a single woman, living on a boat in the middle of nowhere.” He puts his hands on his hips.

“Wow, I could not feel any more desperate than I do right now,” I retort. “Dad, you couldn’t even get into the gate. I’m safe.” I ignore him and step on the boat, Beatrice following me.

“Beatrice.” Xavier snaps her name. “Let’s go.” He motions with his head, and Beatrice looks at me and then back at Xavier, not sure she wants to go.

“I feel you on a whole different level,” I mumble to Beatrice, who jumps off my boat and walks over to Xavier with her head down.

“Did I see a dog?” Cooper says, coming outside.

“My neighbor’s dog.” I point at Xavier, who just puts up his hand.

“You should get a dog,” Cooper suggests and I shake my head.

“I don’t have time for a dog,” I tell him, shaking my head. “Dad, get over here and leave my neighbor alone,” I hiss, walking into the boat.

Stepping inside, I see that Erika, Julia, and Franny are standing in the galley, while Chase and Wilson sit at the table watching television. “Where is your father?” my mother asks as she sticks her head out of my bedroom.

“I’m right here,” he announces, walking in. “I was scoping out the neighborhood.”

“It’s crowded in here,” Franny says. “Babe, come, let’s go check the upstairs.” She winks at him and he gets off the chair and they walk to the door.

“Do not have sex on my sun pads,” I grit between clenched teeth.

“She didn’t say anything about the captain’s chair,” Franny says, laughing, walking out of the galley.

“They aren’t going to have sex, right?” I ask Chase, who just shrugs.

My father laughs. “They aren’t going to have sex. We are right here, and it’s daylight.” He puts his hands on his hips before picking up his baseball hat and scratching his head. “Julia,” he says. “Can you please go upstairs and tell them they are not allowed to have sex on this boat.”

“I’ll come with,” Chase declares. “We can cuddle on the sun pads.” He looks at me. “Cuddling is allowed, right?”