“Well, tell her that I’m so sorry even though I’m not, and good luck at the award ceremony, even though she doesn’t need it,” she said.
“Word for word, Dev. Word for word.”
Devon laughed. “Ass.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“No, really, tell Mom and Dad good luck and that I miss them. I have to go,” she said, wanting to get off the phone before she reached the train station.
Devon couldn’t believe that she had actually gotten this far without anyone growing suspicious.
Chapter Twenty-One - Out of the Gutter
“SO, WHERE ARE we going?” Devon asked, walking up the stairs to the L station.
“You’ll see when we get there,” Brennan said.
He took her hand and held it in his as they walked. He looked comfortable today, not wearing his work clothes. She liked him like this—in khaki shorts, a blue T-shirt with a lighter button-up over it, and his ever-present Wayfarers.
“Am I going to like it?”
“Would I take you somewhere you wouldn’t like?” Brennan asked.
Devon smiled and let him take charge. She wasn’t a big fan of surprises, but this one felt different. It was exhilarating. They hopped on the train and sat next to each other. She could get used to this.
“I think Hadley’s getting better,” she told him.
“That’s good to hear.”
“I told her I was going out with you, and she turned into a total girl,” Devon said, rolling her eyes.
Brennan smirked. “I’m sure I can guess what she’s thinking.”
Devon looked down at their hands. “Probably. She’s entirely predictable.”
He leaned forward and kissed her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed him in. This had been happening all week, and every time he pulled back, it made her want more. His kisses were intoxicating, leaving a heady haze over her mind when he touched her lips.
She pushed herself toward him, trying to close the distance between their bodies. She snaked her hands up and gripped his collar between her fingers. As their tongues met, Devon groaned softly. Her body was on fire. She couldn’t get enough of him.
Brennan’s hand trailed along the exposed skin on the small of her back, and she shivered. He chuckled, pulling back to look at her.
“I like when you get all riled up,” he said huskily, pressing and lacing their hands together.
“You do it so easily,” she said, her voice betraying her desire.
“And in public no less.”
Devon flushed all over, glancing around at the people near them. She was sure some of them had noticed, but she hadn’t even thought about it. She had never been big on public displays of affection either…but this was Brennan.
“And there’s that blush,” he said with a laugh. “Damn, do I love that.”
She ducked her head and smacked his shoulder playfully. “Shush!”
“This is our stop.” He dragged her to her feet and kissed her full on the mouth again.
She wobbled against him, her mind going blank.
When he released her, he chuckled again and pulled her along. “Come on, you.”
They walked through the streets until they reached a park in front of the Navy Pier. She had been up here twice before. The first time was with Garrett during her first week in the city. The second time, she had wanted some time to relax. She had brought her journal and sat by the pier, writing lyrics until she thought her brain would explode. Then, big fat water droplets had begun falling all over the pages, and the waves had started crashing higher. She had ducked out of there as soon as she could get away. She hadn’t been back since.
“Navy Pier?” She wondered if this was the surprise.
Then, she looked closer. It was packed with people. Children were everywhere, attached to their parents or running around like mad. Boats filled the harbor, stretching out as far as she could see. Big heavy sails held taut on enormous sailboats. The lighthouse stood out in the distance like a beacon against the cloudless horizon.
“Why is it so busy?” she asked.
Brennan’s smile was contagious, and she found herself standing on her tiptoes to kiss him again. He laughed and picked her up, swinging her around in a circle. Devon giggled, burying her face into his shoulder.
“I think I’m going to love being with you everywhere I go,” he whispered into her hair.
“Me, too,” she confirmed.
After setting her gently back on her feet, he kissed her forehead, her nose, both cheeks, her chin, and finally, he planted a firm kiss on her mouth. She tried to keep the kiss going, but he pulled back.
“There are too many people here. We should just go back,” Devon said, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“You don’t even know what you’re in for,” he said with a chuckle.
Brennan walked her away from Navy Pier, leading her off to the right toward the park holding her hand once more. His hand was big and warm. She had petite hands, and his dwarfed hers in comparison. She liked it.
She was starting to get really curious about where they were going and what was happening. She was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. Brennan kept looking at her from out of the corner of his eye. His smile grew wider at her enthusiasm.
“So…really, what are we doing?” she asked as they passed through the small park.
“Have you ever heard of the Chicago to Mackinac Race?”
“No.” Walking at his side, she stared at all the huge boats docked.
They walked, crossed the end of the park, and stepped out onto a sidewalk leading up to the water. Devon looked up at the building that stood before the docks and read DuSable Harbor on the side.
“Well, it’s a huge sailing tournament. Hundreds of sailboats flood the lake to sail from here to the island on the north coast of Lake Michigan. It’s over three hundred miles.”
Brennan took a right and started walking away from the Pier side of the harbor.
“Wow,” she said, surprised she had never heard of this.
“It’s hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club, which is that building,” he said, pointing it out from their vantage point on the harbor.
“Oh, fancy,” she said, wondering if it was anything like the country clubs at home.
Brennan shrugged. “I suppose so. Anyway, I’ve actually sailed to Mackinac Island a couple times in the competition. Decided to sit it out this year, and I’m glad I did.”
“Why?” she asked, trying to keep her mouth from falling open.
Brennan knew how to sail and was good enough to enter competitions? What else didn’t she know about him?
“Because now I get to spend today with you.” He took a turn, walking down one of the busy wooden docks.
Devon smiled brightly, giddy from his compliments and the impending surprise. They walked down the dock, stopped at the very end, and faced a pretty imposing-looking boat. She didn’t know anything about boats. Well, she knew nothing more than the one her parents had at their lake house. Even then, she hadn’t been all that interested in much more than tanning, tubing, and drinking.
“This is Alma,” Brennan said, gesturing to the boat.
“Alma?” Devon asked with an arched eyebrow.
Brennan shrugged. “She was named after my grandma.”
“This is…your boat?” she asked slowly, trying to keep it all together.
“Well, it’s my dad’s boat, but we’re going to use it today.” Smiling, he jumped onto the deck like he was more familiar with it than the land.
He extended out his hand to her, and she took it, steadying herself before taking the first step onto the boat. It rocked as her weight shifted it, and she all but fell into his arms. He caught her easily, laughing.
“We’ll work on your sea legs,” he said, holding her steady.
“I’ve been on a boat before,” she said defensively.
“When was the last time?”
“I don’t know.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Like two years ago.”
“Way too long. I’m glad I could remedy this,” he said. “Come on, let me show you around.”
His boat included way more than her parents’ lake boat, which was big enough for a couple of people, not much more, to jet around the lake. Brennan had pointed out that this was less of a boat and more of a cabin cruiser. It had plenty of space for hanging out on the deck, and it also had a cabin area with a small kitchen and dining room as well as a door that led to an even smaller bedroom with a double bed taking up the majority of the room. When her eyes landed on the bed, she knew that she should look away, but somehow, she couldn’t. Even when she had been staying at Brennan’s, she had slept on the couch.
She scooted out of the room and went back onto the deck. It was hard to keep her mind out of the gutter. Her life had been filled with that for a long time. She didn’t want to f**k this up. She had so much more to figure out first.
They spent the afternoon enjoying each other’s company, leisurely cruising around the harbor and watching the sailboats depart. It was lazy and comfortable and exactly what Devon needed.
Day faded into night, and the soft crash of the waves hitting along the boat lulled them into silence. Lying on a blanket out on the deck, Devon cuddled up into Brennan’s arms, leaning her head on his chest. He rubbed his hand back and forth along her arm. As the boat swayed to and fro, she felt herself slipping away toward the sleep that had so often evaded her.
“Hey,” he whispered before kissing her forehead.
“Hmm?” she mumbled.
“You can’t sleep yet.”
“I wasn’t sleeping,” she said with a big yawn.
“Good.” His hand moved from her arm to her waist, pulling her in close.
“Brennan,” she whispered, propping herself up on her elbow to look at him.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for today. You don’t know what it means to me.” She bit her lip and broke his gaze.
“No, thank you,” he whispered, pushing her hair off her face and bringing her back to face him. “I’m not sure I would have gotten through this past week without you.”
Devon smiled shyly. “Why is that?”
He sighed softly before bringing her face down to meet his lips. She kissed him until she was breathless. When they broke apart, she melted at the sight of him lying beneath her. How had she gotten so lucky after everything that had happened to her?
“Devon,” he whispered. He scooted his body up, so he was facing her, seated on the floor of the boat.
“Yeah?” she asked, mirroring him.
“I don’t really open up to many people, so this is kind of big for me,” he said, taking her hand in his.
Out of nowhere, Devon’s heart rate picked up. She wasn’t sure if it was just because she hadn’t been completely honest with him or what, but it made her uneasy.
“This, uh…isn’t my dad’s boat.”
“What?” Devon asked, confusion creasing her temple. “Then, whose boat is it?”
“What I mean to say is that it was my dad’s boat,” he said softly.