Read Sail (Wake #2) for Free Online

them laughing.
    “I can’t very much leave my feeble parents now. Not when my father is mental and his physical condition is declining so fast.”
    “Declining? I ran three miles today,” Dad countered. “That’s more than you ran, son.” I watched my dad’s chest puff up with pride as the two bickered back and forth.
    “I told you. Today wasn’t my cardio day. I’m alternating. ”
    They squabbled as they filed up the stairs.
    “ Alternating between bullshit and reality as usual,” my dad teased. Then, when he noticed us, he said, “ Both of my girls. Hi, baby girl,” he added, just to me, as he rounded the island and went to my mom, wrapping his arms around her.
    “You’re all sweaty, Phillip.” She squirmed, but smiled showing she really didn’t protest as much as she tried to let on.
    “I know. It’s from all the circles I ran around your first-born,” he affirmed as he kissed the side of her head. They’d always been loving in front of us—nothing too disturbing—but the older I got, the more I appreciated their affection for one another. I valued seeing the love my parents still had for one another. Sitting there, I was a little jealous of how easy it came for them. I wondered if they’d ever struggled in love. Probably not.
    But with my eyes wide open, seeing them together felt like the confirmation I was looking for. I was leaving a marriage I wasn’t in love with, a man I wasn’t in love with, and it was the right choice. The only choice I had if I wanted real love. Real intimacy. With Casey.
    Preparing to deliver the news with regards to my marriage, I hoped their lack of love trouble didn’t affect how they viewed mine.
    “Blake wants to talk to us,” my mom stated as she skillfully danced out of his arms and rummaged through a drawer for a whisk. Pointing the utensil at him she continued, “Go shower, and we’ll all sit down to eat.”
    I’d be choking down flesh pile with my family. Crow and meatloaf for dinner.
    My brother filled a glass with water and turned around to listen when Mom had said I needed to talk, like something major was going on. I suppose there was, but the attention shifting to me like that made me even more nervous on the inside. On the outside, I tried to maintain my cool.
    “Are you okay?” Shane asked, concern wrinkling his brow. For the better part of the last few years, Shane had fallen into a sort of life slump. Since moving back in with Mom and Dad, his post-divorce life seemed stalled. Over the past year, he’d drunk more than I was used to seeing from him, became more closed off, and I even worried if he’d suffered a little from depression. But then again, who wouldn’t?
    Looking at him, I acknowledged he was the one who invited our dad to the gym and I realized he was beginning to look better. Starting to look like pre-Kari Shane. It made me happy seeing him coming out of his love-funk. Hopefully, he was bouncing back from wherever he’d gone.
    “I’m fine,” I assured quietly and shook my head to dispel his brotherly worry. “I’ve just made some decisions and want to let you guys know what’s going on. You two go shower, and I’ll help Mom with dinner. It’s fine. Really.”
    They all sort of looked at each other agreeing, then Shane and Dad left to clean up.
    “I’ll wash up and help you out,” I told my mother, then made my way to the powder room to wash my hands and get a grasp on my nerves. I really missed Casey, but I knew this was the only way I’d ever get him.
    These were the steps I had to take. It just sucked I had to take them by myself. Then I realized maybe I didn’t have to. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him a quick message.
     
    Me: I’m at my parents’ house. I’m telling them. I wish you were here.
     
    I didn’t know if he’d get it right away or if he’d reply, but just knowing I could message him whenever I wanted filled me with hope. I wasn’t afraid of getting caught anymore. I’d already