Page 63 of The Sailor

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” she said diplomatically, thoughts of Lucas lurking in the back of her mind. The man could seriously derail everything she’d come to love about Rockville. He could turn people against her. Make her life so miserable, she’d eventually feel as if she had no choice but to leave.

She couldn’t figure out why Lucas was so hell bent on destroying her career and making her life miserable. It was one thing to believe that women shouldn’t be working on lobster boats, she’d met plenty of people who thought that way, but none had gone to the lengths Lucas had to run her off. Not even Thorne. She’d racked her brain to come up with some reason why he was taking things so far, other than gender. Something she could’ve done to upset him without even realizing.

But no. Nothing came to mind. She really didn’t know him at all in Portland. And she couldn’t come up with anything she’d done since arriving in Rockville that would make him so . . . unhinged when it came to her.

She loved being a lobsterwoman. Loved the area. And she absolutely did not want to leave. But if things got so bad that she thought Zach’s livelihood was in danger because of his association with her, she’d leave in a heartbeat. He’d worked too hard to fail because of her. Because Lucas couldn’t seem to stomach working in the same industry as a woman.

“Well, I’m looking forward to spending more than two seconds around Harper. But don’t expect me to be very friendly if Victor shows up.”

“You think he will?” Marit asked, surprised.

“No. He’s a grouchy old man who can’t seem to understand that Lobster Cove will never be his. He needs to give it up already and spend more time and energy on his own property.”

“Kash said he was proud that he’d won the crate race. That he’d even given Harper money to bring home a cake from her workplace to celebrate,” Marit reminded Zach.

“I know, but he should’ve gone out and gotten that cake himself. Not made his daughter do it. And he can totally afford something more extravagant than a crummy ol’ cake from Walmart.”

Marit secretly agreed, but Kash had been thrilled when his granddad acknowledged his accomplishment in winning the race. Even if he hadn’t been there, even if he still wanted his grandson to play football or baseball instead of being in the science club at school. He was trying, and Marit had to give him points for that.

“Well, if he does show up, can you please try to be civil? For Kash’s sake?”

She didn’t understand why Zach was grinning so huge at her question.

“What?”

“I love that this is where we are.”

“Huh?”

“That you feel comfortable enough scolding me for the way I speak to our asshole neighbor. You sound like my mom . . . and I mean that in a good way. Being with you makes me a better person, Marit. I just want you to know that.”

His words made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. He complimented her all the time. But something about hearing those words today, when she was worrying about what Lucas might be planning, made her feel extra special . . .

And extra guilty.

They were driving along the road toward Lobster Cove, the same stretch where his mom and Britt had gone over the edge because a former employee had tampered with both the brakes and steering in his mom’s car, when she blurted, “Lucas has been texting me.”

The smile on Zach’s face immediately disappeared. “What?”

Marit sighed. This wasn’t exactly the best time or place for this conversation, but now that she’d said the words, there was no taking them back.

“Lucas has been texting me,” she repeated softly. “Telling me to leave. That no one wants me here. That I’m stupid for trying to do a man’s job.”

“Are you fucking kidding me!? How long? How long has he been sending you these texts?”

Zach sounded really mad—which made memories of her brothers yelling at her surge into Marit’s consciousness. She’d worked hard to put everything they’d done and said to her into the deepest corners of her mind. But hearing Zach sound so angry made her feel as if she were a teenager all over again.

“Awhile,” she finally said.

“Awhile,” he repeated.

She didn’t think it was a good sign that his only response was to repeat what she’d said. They rode in silence as Zach turned onto the driveway that led to Lobster Cove. Marit mentally kicked herself for bringing up the texts now. She should’ve kept her mouth shut. Things were going so well between them, and now she felt as if she’d ruined what should’ve been a happy day.

Zach parked his SUV, then turned toward her. “Look at me, Marit.”

She didn’t want to. Was worried about what she’d see in his face. He’d think she didn’t trust him, but that wasn’t the case. Yes, she’d been afraid to tell him after all this time, but more than that, she was protecting him the best way she knew how. She didn’t want Lucas to turn his negative attention to Zach or The Lobster Buoy. He had a lot more to lose than she did.

Taking a deep breath, Marit raised her gaze from her lap to look at Zach. She was surprised that he didn’t look angry, which was a relief. But she hated the disappointment she saw in his eyes.