I sent a text to Brooke and Doc that I was taking the boat, then turned the ignition key. It felt good to be out on the water. The sun glittered off the sea, and the boat skidded along the waves, bouncing just enough to make it fun. A pod of dolphins followed me out into the ocean, jumping and dancing alongside me like faithful friends. They lifted my spirits.
I suddenly found myself at the Grove. I hadn't been paying attention to where I was going, and I had just followed the dolphins as they played beside me. I turned off the engine and gave the pod a dirty look. One dolphin jumped up beside me, and I swear he giggled before swimming off back into the ocean. If I didn't know better, I would have said those trickster dolphins had brought me here. This is why I liked sharks.
Speaking of, I could see a large lemon shark pup swimming through the pale green water between the roots of the mangrove trees. He would be big enough soon to swim in the open water, but for now, he was still hunting in the protected shallows. A heron called from deeper inside the dark green trees. I let the boat drift as I watched the edges of the roots. Small, colorful fish flitted in and out of the dark roots while crabs skittered on the dry portions. This was where life grew.
I saw two tiny lemon shark pups waiting under a large root structure. They were far too small to survive out in the open ocean, but here they were safe from predators. I watched them, mesmerized. One caught a small fish and ate it in a single bite. He was a strong little guy. I hoped he survived the destruction that was going to occur. I knew he wouldn't, though. Even if construction was a year away, he would still be too small. A larger shark or fish would eat him up in an instant without the protection of the mangrove roots.
It broke my heart.
I didn't want to look anymore. It was too beautiful here, and knowing that it was all going to go away hurt too much. I glared out at the direction the dolphins had swum off to. Stupid dolphins bringing me here.
I sighed. It wasn't entirely their fault. I drove that route often enough with them riding my wake for it to be habit for all of us. They didn't know that everything was going to change. In their watery world, nothing had changed yet. I envied them.
I needed something else to do. Something productive. Something that would make others happy. I felt the corners of my mouth twitch upward as it came to me. The fish tanks needed cleaning; this was Lucas's job. So did the storage areas by the shark pools; that was Devon's. The kitchen could use a good scrubbing, and the yard would benefit from some attention; these were Brooke’s and Doc’s respective chores. I turned on the boat and headed home. If I couldn't be useful on my research, then I would be useful to the people who cared about me.
***
Nine hours, four scrub brushes, one broken broom, three garbage bags of leaves, and one and a half bottles of cleaning solution later, the entire research facility was clean. We kept it pretty clean anyway, but now, it practically sparkled. I had cleaned every tank, organized and swept the storage area, dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned everything I could get my hands on.
I sat on the couch, watching the reflection of light in one of the now pristine fish tanks. I was exhausted physically, but somehow my mind hadn't gotten that memo. My hands ached from scrubbing, but I knew if I went and lay down for bed, I would just think of him. His kiss. How his hands felt on my skin...
“The house looks awesome, Izzy.” I startled as Brooke broke into my thoughts. She glanced around appreciatively. Lucas was right behind her as they emerged from the kitchen. I could smell something delicious baking in the oven. It was Lucas's night to cook, but I was sure Brooke had helped him out. The man usually made sandwiches for dinner because he could barely make toast without burning it.
“We should have you break up more often,” Lucas said. “I like not having to do any chores.”
Brooke smacked his chest with the back of her hand and shot him a dirty look. “Hey! Be nice.”
“What?” Lucas asked, genuinely confused for a moment. Then he looked at me and laughed nervously. “Sorry, Izzy. You know I didn't mean it like that.”
“I know,” I replied softly. I knew he was just trying to lighten the mood with a joke. That was just what Lucas did. He flopped onto the couch beside me and put his arm over my shoulder. It felt nice, and I laid my head on his shoulder. He gave me a gentle squeeze.
“Dinner will be ready in forty-five minutes. Doc and Devon should be back by then,” Brooke informed me. She raised her eyebrows at us all cozy on the couch. “I'm going to go take a quick shower. Don't make out with him while I'm gone, Izzy. No matter what he says, it will not make you feel better.”
“Yes, it will,” Lucas countered quickly. “I'm like a broken heart Band-Aid. Kissing me will make you lose all your troubles.”
“Unfortunately, it would also make me lose my lunch,” I quipped, making a gagging motion. Brooke laughed and shook her head as she headed toward our room.
“You want me to go beat him up?” Lucas asked quietly once she was gone. I shrugged.
“I don't know. It's super tempting.”
He gave me another squeeze. “I know. I'll hold him down and you can hit him. Brooke will totally be our alibi.”
“Alibi? I don't want to kill him.” I frowned at Lucas. He grinned.
“Then we are making progress. Not wanting to kill your ex is a good sign. We'll have you forgetting his name in no time.” Lucas grinned wider as I cracked a smile. He gave me a real hug with both arms this time.
I sincerely doubted that I would ever forget Noah, but smiling had felt good. Life was going to go on. Heartbreak couldn't last forever.
“You smell like fish,” Lucas informed me, pulling back and making a face. I rolled my eyes at him.
“What do you expect? I did all your chores,” I said, feeling more lighthearted. Lucas had that affect on people. He was annoying as hell, but he knew how to pick a person up. “I'll shower when Brooke finishes.”
“Good, you need it.” He pinched his nose and made a face. I just rolled my eyes again.
“I'm going to go feed the sharks. At least they don't care how I smell,” I said, rising to my feet.
“Be careful they don't mistake you for a fish,” he called out as I headed to the back door. I considered making an inappropriate hand sign in his direction, but I knew he would enjoy that too much.
Outside, the air held the sweet promise of evening. The sky glowed purple as the last streaks of red and orange shifted into dusk. The heat from the day still lingered, but with the sun tucked firmly in bed beyond the horizon, it was just a radiant heat instead of demanding. I loved this evening time. The nocturnal world was just coming alive while the day prepared to rest. It was a magical time where anything could happen.