Chapter 5 Beer, Boats, and Banter

Nathan's POV

The only good thing about the day was that my best friend Clark was coming back from a three-day fishing trip. I always missed having him around when he went away not only because he had great banter, but he was also a good guy, too – the sort I could go to with any problem I had.

Despite that, I didn't want to tell him about this one.

The news that Jane Andrews was coming back to town had haunted me all day. I wasn't sure that I wanted someone else's opinion on the matter at the moment, not until I'd had the time to adjust to it properly myself. Of course, it didn't mean that I would be bumping into Emily anytime soon, but it was a strong link to her – and a link was something I hadn't experienced for a very long time.

I didn't know what to do with that information yet, and it was driving me insane.

As soon as work was over, I left the clinic and made my way down to the docks, unable to wait any longer. I needed someone to pull me out of my bad mood, and while Hannah had done it short term, that satisfaction hadn't lasted.

Maybe if I had her with me for the night, I wouldn't be able to lose myself in negativity all over again. I wouldn't be forced to remember the past that I'd been trying to put behind me. With that thought in mind, I fired off a quick text to her, knowing she would be keen.

Want to meet up later? ;)

I knew that I didn't have to say more, and much to my relief, she sent back a thumbs up. It was on! Okay good... The longer I was distracted, the better.

As soon as I reached the docks, I shook off my light jacket, taking a minute to enjoy the blistering heat. I loved the summer; it was the season I felt happiest in, and since it was only June, I knew there was still a long way to go. We would have a lot more heat soon enough, which meant I was going to have to start getting out as much as I could. The sculpted body I'd worked hard on looked so much better with a tan.

A smile began to play on my lips as I noticed Clark's boat coming into dock. I had to admit, my friend had done well for himself considering. When he dropped out of high school a year early, never graduating, everyone assumed he would end up working in a fast food restaurant, shoveling out fries to people, but I had known about his bigger plan and was sure that he would be just fine.

Arrendale was all about fishing, anyway, so it was hardly a surprise that at least some of us would find some success in that industry.

Clark had been working for the Laurel family ever since he left school, and he knew the trade like the back of his hand now. He knew where the best fish were, the most successful way to catch the different types, and how to maximize his profits.

In short, I was proud of him. He had defied people's opinions, and that was something to be happy about.

As soon as his boat was near enough, I watched in slow motion as he grabbed a beer and tossed it over the side to me. As quickly as it felt like I moved, and as fast as I stuck out my hand, I still managed to miss it, and all I could do was watch in dismay as it tumbled into the water.

Shit. I knew I wasn't the greatest at sports, but that was something else!

"That's why you never played wide receiver!" Clark joked. "Because you're not willing to put your body on the line."

"Ha, ha," I laughed sarcastically. "Very funny."

Luckily, the next bottle that came my way was handed carefully to me, which I grabbed as I climbed aboard the boat. The powerful stench of fish immediately infected my nostrils, but I was pretty used to it by that point. It certainly didn't repulse me anymore.

"So, how's it going, dude?" I asked casually. "How were the fish?"

"It was balls cold," he told me while taking a massive swig of his beer. "And, I couldn't catch a disease in a Vietnamese whore house for the first two days, but I did bring in some nice tuna early this morning, so I suppose it was worth it in the end."

"When are you out again?" I asked him while my eyes flickered over to the massive haul he'd brought in. If this wasn't much, then I could see why he was making so much money. It looked like a good trip to me! "Any time this week?"

"I don't think so," he shook his head. "The weather won't be right, so I may leave it until next week. We'll see."

"We'll have to go out for some drinks one night." I figured I would tell him about everything then. In a few days' time, especially after I'd seen Jane, I hoped that my mindset would be much better. I hoped that I would see her, and everything would be normal...allowing my life to remain exactly as it was.

God, it's a good thing that I'm seeing Hannah tonight, I thought seriously, knowing that things could go wrong if I was left alone.

"Sounds good, man, but before then, you can give me a hand cleaning up the boat a bit."

"Oh yeah, like I haven't been at work all day," I chuckled. "Anyone would think that I'm your slave!"