Page 89 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

Countless videos pop up showing how the current line is made from a different fabric. A TikTok materials expert demonstrates there’s no way it’s made from what the company claims it is.

I can’t imagine she isn’t aware, but I need to be sure.

We don’t call each other often. It’s always texting. But I need to hear her voice.

The phone rings, and when she answers, she sounds tired. “Hey.”

“Hey, I’m sure you know?—”

She doesn’t let me finish. “Fuck, Orion. How do you know?”

“Some charter guests were looking at the display. A woman mentioned seeing a video.”

She’s crying. It’s the worst fucking sound in the universe. Worse than the sound of wood cracking on a ship. Worse than the keel hitting ground. “I didn’t know any of this. My supplier changed without telling me.”

“I know, princess. You wouldn’t do this on purpose. Are you at the office? Home?” I check my watch. “Do you want me to bring you dinner?” I need to be in the same space as she is.

She’s stopped crying. “Dinner would be great. I’m at the office.”

“I’ll get you the chicken you like from Paradise,” I offer. I don’t know what she feels for me, but I can take care of her body. Usually it’s sex, but today it can be food.

“I have to go. I have another call coming in.” She hangs up before I can respond.

I grab the food from Paradise and head over to her office. It’s busier than the last time I was here. Stacy and Jeannette talk to a young woman outside Carina’s office.

“I brought Carina dinner.” I hold up the bag. Paradise uses compostable takeout containers. I’m sure it was Carina’s influence.

“Um…let me see if she’s available,” the woman I don’t know says. All three women look confused. They probably aren’t aware I’m her neighbor. I’m only the captain of the boat they took once, if they remember me at all.

Carina pops her head out of her office. “It’s fine, Mackenzie. He can come back.”

She’s so fucking beautiful. I can’t believe she’s mine.

I close the door behind me and pull Carina into my arms. She must have gotten off a video call or done some filming because her makeup is perfect, and her eyes aren’t puffy like after a cry.

“It’ll be okay,” I assure her.

She pulls away. “No, it won’t. I don’t know how I’ll redeem the company after this. And it’s not just the brand. It’s me. My customers hate me.”

I take her phone out of her hand and set it on her desk. “It’s one day. You will fix the problem and you will regain their trust.”

“How can you be so sure? You don’t even know what the problem is.”

“But I know you, Carina. You’re a force of nature. You’ve never met a problem you couldn’t solve.”

“What if I can’t fix this?”

“Then we take theTwisted Riggingout, and I make you forget everything terrible that’s ever happened.”

She smiles, however forced. She accepts the food container and sits down at her desk. “Did you get something for you?”

“No, I didn’t want to distract you.” I didn’t know if she’d want me to stay.

“What if I want you to sit here while I eat?”

“Then I’ll sit.” I take the seat across from her as she opens up the box. “Do you want to talk about it?” As long as I’ve known her, she doesn’t like to talk about her problems, at least not without serious coaxing. She’d prefer to hide behind arguments with me or by distracting everyone else by doing something so perfect that no one notices she did something wrong or that something is bothering her. That won’t work with us anymore. We breached a new level in our relationship when my sister visited. She doesn’t want to acknowledge it, but we are in a relationship. This is a partnership.

It’s only a matter of time before I’ll be able to get her to admit it.

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