Rocky bounds over to see what’s going on. I’ve grown to love Finn’s puppy after our horrible first meeting.
“Pull back on your rod,” Finn shouts.
“Hurry,” I scream.
Turning my head, I watch as Finn tries to run as fast as he can back to the shore with beer and chips filling his arms.
“Finn!”
“Calm your ass down, it’s not like you caught a shark.”
“Oh my God, I bet it’s the biggest fish ever,” I say, as the tip of the pole bends even closer to the water.
“Reel it in,” Finn says.
“You have to catch it when it comes up out of the water. I don’t want it to hit my face.”
Finn just laughs at me, but I keep reeling the fish in. This is our routine every night. I get off work and meet him at his granddaddy’s fishing pond. Some nights Finn isn’t finished working so I’ll join him or sit on the porch with Granddaddy Jimmy. Secretly, I love sitting with him. There’s just something about his words that have the power to soothe everything in my soul. He loves telling stories about Finn’s mom and I love hearing them. Neither Wes nor Finn ever talk about her.
“Jerk on your pole a little and keep reeling, baby.”
“I know,” I scream.
Finally, a dark blob comes sailing out of the water on the end of my pole. I holler and begin a victory dance celebrating the fact something is attached to the end of my pole. When all the commotion stops, I finally see the fish hanging from the end of the line. It’s no bigger than the size of my hand. My smile instantly fades.
“It’s a beauty,” Finn says.
“Shut up.”
Finn begins to chuckle which turns into a full belly laugh.
“You really t
hought you had a shark, uh?”
“Shut up, asshole.”
Finn’s laughter doesn’t stop. I start swinging my pole at him trying to hit him upside the head with my fish.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he repeats, holding up his hands in surrender.
“Can we take it home? I want to show Jimmy,” I ask.
“Of course.”
Finn sits in his lounger and I find my spot on his lap. We share greasy potato chips and beers while watching the sun set and waiting for the fish to bite.
It’s been two weeks since our promise and we haven’t missed one single day without being together. I’ve opened up and explained the wreck and Rhett. Finn just listened and wiped away my tears.
“Can I tell you something?” I blurt out.
“No, you can’t have my amazing, rocking body right now. I’m fishing,” Finn jokes.
After our first official date of boating I soon found out that Finn is quite the smartass.
“One, I bet I could seduce you right now,” I reply.
“You’re probably right,” he admits. “It would just take you popping out those sweet little titties of yours.”