“Thanks for the offer, but I can’t put you out like that. I’ll crash with Blake for a few days. If I have to witness another pissing match between Gary and my dad, I don’t think I’ll survive.”
I examined my reddened skin, cursing myself for not applying sunscreen before I left. “Well, we’d better head back sometime soon or else I’m going to turn crispy.” I pulled the rods into the boat as Ryan got up from the seat and started the ignition. He turned the wheel, steering us toward the docks.
Ryan behind the wheel of a boat was utterly sexy. Something about his tanned skin, sun-bleached hair, and swim trunks slung low on his hips had my insides bungled up, tangled in one massive ball of goo. He seemed more at ease in nature, his muscles relaxed, smiling more often. The same expression he had when we took that midnight beach trip. At Office Jax, he wore the same look I did when I had to endure rehab. Complete agony. It would be such a waste if he looked that unhappy all the time.
He motored up to the dock, and an attendant helped us tie up the boat. As we walked with our gear along the shoreline toward the parking lot, a group of teens, probably around sixteen or so, were smoking and flicked a cigarette butt on the ground, not bothering to stomp it out as they made their way to the docks.
Ryan tensed and let go of my hand. “Hey, pick up your garbage.”
One of the girls arched her brow, a look that rivaled Payton’s death glare.
He pointed to the smoldering cigarette. “You know how many wildfires start that way? Don’t be irresponsible. Pick up your shit.”
“Fine, dude.” A guy in Hawaiian board shorts picked up the butt, tamped it out, and threw it into a nearby garbage can.
“Look at you, Smokey.” I gave him a playful shove once the teens walked off in the other direction.
“It pisses me off when people don’t take care of our earth. We only get one.”
Wow. Ryan was a hot Captain Planet. “Have you ever thought about a job outdoors?”
“Like what? A river guide or something?”
“No, like fish and wildlife protection. One of my friends is in the program at Drexler, and he loves the outdoors.”
He shook his head, still staring at the teens as they made their way along the docks. “It never really crossed my mind.”
“You could wear those little brown shorts. Maybe flash the unicorn to unsuspecting victims.”
“Yeah.” He nudged my shoulder. “I could stun them into submission.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ryan
“Can I use your computer?”
“Sure, what’s up?” Blake handed me his laptop and sat down on his daybed.
“Wanted to check out something before I forget.” I’d done some research on my phone after I’d dropped Jules off at her apartment. She was right—fish and wildlife protection sounded like a great fit. If I could have a career in the outdoors, space where I could breathe, the future didn’t seem as daunting. I pulled up the Humboldt Bay Fish and Wildlife Services website and clicked through the tabs until I found what I was looking for. Internships. It said they took on interns year-round; all I had to do was fill out an application and submit.
“You doing okay lately?”
I swiveled in the office chair to face him. “Not really.”
“Sorry, dude. I’ve been so busy and—”
“I understand.” I did. If I had someone I loved as much as Blake loved Payton, I’d want to spend every waking moment with her, too. In fact, there was someone who streamed through my thoughts more than any girl had in a long time. One who gave me a little more faith that dating wasn’t a fucked up WWE match.
I stared back at the application. “Do you think I’d be any good at fish and wildlife protection?”
Blake nodded his head, his eyes zoning out. “It’d make sense. You always loved being on the water. Why?”
“Just thought it might be a good option.”
“Better than the academy.” He shook his head. When I’d brought up my plan with him at the beginning of the summer, he told me I was an idiot, that I shouldn’t throw my life away to the police force. He didn’t get it, though. Mr. Pediatrician had a life plan, I didn’t. So I was forging my own path, even if it was something I didn’t entirely want.
But this idea of fish and wildlife protection sparked something in me—it made me excited for the first time about my future. Something I knew I could do, without wanting to run my car off a cliff.
“You go boating today? Is that what made you think of wildlife protection?”
“Yeah, with Jules.”
“How did that go?”
I shrugged. “Good.” Better than good. “Did you know she fishes?”
“No.” He flipped through a men’s fitness magazine. “Did she freak out when she had to bait a hook?”
“Dude. She fucking asked me if I wanted her to bait my hook.”
“I think you’ve met your match.”