Page 41 of Adrift

“Turn to the other channel.”

“Copy,” Calvin says, and the line goes silent.

I take a deep breath. I don’t like to think about what the bridge and Engineering are talking about. This isn’t the first time they’ve brought the ship through deep water.

“Hey.” Zane comes up on the railing.

“Hey back at you.” I bump his shoulder. “We’re really moving.”

“Yeah, we’re heading for a shelf a few hours away so we have someplace safe to anchor.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” I guess I should have asked Sam myself, but I was a little preoccupied. “Do you know where we’re going after that?”

“Rocky is in the wheelhouse talking to Captain Sam right now.”

“Gotcha.”

“How are things going for you guys so far?” Zane motions back to where Emily is sitting inside.

“Not to jinx us, but pretty smoothly. Although, Candy came on board and basically went right to sleep.”

“Yeah, Easton implied Candy medicates herself.” Zane mimes popping a pill.

I raise my eyebrows because any kind of illegal drugs on board could make Sam and the rest of us lose our licenses.

“No, all doctor-prescribed. We’re good, she’s good. And when she’s asleep, we’re all good.”

“How many years have you been with Rocky?”

“This is my fourth. I started green here. I was on a few other boats when theMermaid’s Talewas docked. I still miss her. I saw her before I left Fort Lauderdale. The new owners renamed herCaribbean Orchid.”

“Really? Don’t they know that’s bad luck?”

“I guess they don’t care. You pay almost twenty million dollars and you want to call it what you want to call it. But ‘the Caribbean Orchid?’ They could have come up with a different name.”

Zane and I stand watching the ocean. Until we both feel like we need to be doing something. I wave goodbye and get ready for dinner by changing into my black evening uniform.

Shayla’s already set the table—a beautiful red Asian-inspired table. It’s so pretty.

I squeeze her shoulders. “Darn girl, you are talented.”

She waves her hand at herself. “I know.”

Candy is the last one to arrive at the table. She’s wearing a silk kimono, and I wonder if Emily told her what the menu is.

“You look lovely, Candy,” I say, holding her chair for her.

She rolls her eyes at me, and I smile back. I’m going to win this woman over.

“That color looks great on you,” Brick says.

“Why, thank you.” She reaches in front of Emily and squeezes Brick’s hand.

Shayla is standing behind the table, waiting to pour the wine. I can pick out the little flare of Emily’s nostrils as she reacts to Candy touching Brick.

I step to the table. “Tonight, the chef has prepared for you a selection of traditional dishes from the region?—”

“I don’t want General Tso’s Chicken.” Candy lifts a scowl to me.

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