Page 31 of Adrift

He’s sitting in his chair. Anders is looking at the security camera, and Haley is holding Shayla’s hand.

Anders turns to the captain. Anders is the same age as the captain. I like him?he’s solid. “What Shayla says checks out. Shecame into the crew mess, pulled things out of the fridge, took a cutting board and a knife out to cut a tomato. Brianna says something. Shayla pulls her hair to one side?looks at her hair. And screams. Shayla has the knife in her hand when she turns around. Then Haley runs into the kitchen and Shayla drops the knife.”

All eyes turn to Brianna, whose face scrunches up tight. “She threatened me.”

“I didn’t. I was holding a damn knife when you pointed the fuck out that you cut my fucking hair off,” Shayla yells again. Haley has a firm grasp on her hand.

“Everyone, sit down,” Captain orders.

Shayla squints at Brianna. She raises her head. Damn, even I’m scared. If the cap doesn’t fire Brianna, she better sleep with one eye open.

“Shayla, Calvin, if you can wait outside, I’m going to talk to Brianna. Hayley and Anders, please stay.” I close the door behind us. Glancing back, I see the captain motion for Brianna to sit on the back bench of the wheelhouse. My eyes find Haley and the captain. They’re standing close. I can’t see either Anders or Brianna through the window.

Outside, the bustle of the dock continues. I notice a flock of seagulls circling above, a brief distraction from what’s going on onboard. A bosun from the next slip over echoes through the open sliders. It’s a normal day, but it’s not.

I follow Shayla out to the main salon. “You okay?”

Shayla storms to the sofa, cursing under her breath. She bounces on the velvet sofa, pulling a horse pillow into her lap.

In any other circumstances, the absurdity of our surroundings, from the luxurious sofas to the decorative pillows, is laughable.

Something shifts in my gut as I watch the captain and Haley so close. It’s not jealousy; that’s a futile emotion in our line ofwork. It’s more of a pang of concern, a faint alarm bell ringing in my head. Haley and the captain are both seasoned seafarers, but the look they shared is one I associate with particularly heavy storms.

I need to get back to work, but I can’t help but check on Shayla. We have our rocky past, but she’s good at her job. And we’ve worked things out. At least, I hope we have.

I sit on the edge of the sofa. I don’t touch her to comfort her. “I’m sorry it happened to you.”

“Thanks. It’s just hair. But still. I paid a lot for these extensions. They’re the good kind, and she even cut off some of my own hair.”

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say now, so I nod.

“If I lose my job over that cunt, I’m going to really stab her.” Shayla is fuming, taking off the braid she has left on the other side, and comparing it to the cut half of her hair.

I laugh. I shouldn’t, but I do. “I’d keep the threats down. But I don’t think you’re going to lose your job. Anders says the camera covers you.”

Shayla plays with the end of her hair. It’s still long, but nowhere near as long as it was before. Unbraided, it hits her in the middle of her back.

“Sorry about your hair.”

“It’s not all my hair, but that’s not the point. She’s a looney, and the captain needs to give her the ax.”

“What’s all the commotion going on?” Easton has poked himself out from around the bar.

“Nothing,” I say. Because you don’t let the guest know about any of the difficulties that are going on with the crew.

“The third stew is a crazy bitch. Brianna.” Shayla shows him her mismatched hair.

Easton takes a deep breath, his gaze fixed, brows furrowed. “Brianna Snodgrass?” He shakes his head.

Shayla and I both turn to him.

“Yeah,” I say. “How do you know her surname? She’s been in her cabin the whole time.”

Chapter 14

Brig

Easton

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