Below Deck (Anchored 5)

“I can’t believe it,” she says, smiling at me. “We finally brought the fucker down and now we can go home.”

“Fuck yes,” Charles agrees. “We’ve been gone way too long.”

“You missed all the action, big boy!” Haley says. They called me while I was with June, but when I called Jake back, I told him not to hold back, not to wait. With a case like this, there might only be one shot, and they had to take it.

That totally paid off because now we have enough evidence to put this guy and most of his crew away for a very, very long time.

“I know, but it looks like you guys had everything under control.”

Charles looks me up and down and gives me a confused look. This isn’t how I normally am and he knows it. Usually, I always want to be the first one on the scene. I live for catching the bad guys and the more action, the better.

Only things are different now.

My life has changed.

I’ve changed.

I don’t want to go back to Nellenston. Oh, I’m going to have to, of course. There’s going to be paperwork to deal with. There’s going to be a lot of fucking paperwork to deal with, but the minute that’s over, I’m getting my ass right back to Westbrook and I’m going to marry June Gables.

I’m going to marry her and make her mine forever because June is my missing half.

She calms me, pushes me, teases me.

She entrances me.

Nobody else makes me feel the way that she makes me feel, and there’s no way I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to find someone who does. No, June is it for me. I’ve never been much for dating. I’ve had relationships, of course, but there’s never been anyone who made my heart stop.

There’s never been anyone who made my soul sing.

“So who is she?” Haley smirks as I look from her to Charles and back again.

“Excuse me?” I ask, blinking innocently.

“You reek of sex, man,” Haley laughs. “And besides, we’re not dumb. I know you spend your weekends at that club, and the last couple of weeks, you’ve been more distracted than usual.”

“That is true,” Charles says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You have been acting a bit strange.”

I just laugh and shake my head, and then I look up at the early morning sun starting to rise.

It’s going to be a wonderful day.

It’s going to be a wonderful life.

Chapter 14

June

I’m standing in the center of one of the stages when Ryder walks in.

“FBI, huh?” I ask, jerking my head toward his vest. “I probably should have guessed.”

“I’m surprised you couldn’t tell with all of my incredible muscles,” Ryder flexes and I laugh loudly.

“I probably should have figured it out,” I agree. “So,” I say, sitting at the edge of the stage. “Did you catch the bad guy?”

“I caught the bad guy.”

“What happens now?” I ask. “Do you have to go back home? I don’t even know where home is for you. I assume you aren’t actually from Westbrook.”