Page 45 of Uncharted

The three of us stare at each other. “Right... well, I’m going to go down and rummage around in the cabins. Unless you have something else I can do that will help?” Easton cocks an eyebrow at me.

“I think we’re good until Calvin comes up with a plan.”

“Okay, then. I’ll be around if you need me.” He holds the door open like he’s going to stay and chat more. Then he gives a firm nod and pivots away.

I don’t even remember the carefully crafted talk I wanted to have with her. I was hoping to get her to bring it up without any assistance from?—

The door to the salon opens with no knock. “Hey Sassy, Cap, I’m going to make some lunch. Is there still propane on the back grill?”

“Tons.”

“Good. Noon sound good to you, Sassy?”

She slides off the bench. “Works for me, if that’s okay with you, Captain?”

Fuck me, I’m back to Captain. “That’s fine. Thanks for cooking, Dante.”

“No problem, Sam.” He taps the wall next to the door twice before he leaves.

There’s a nerve in the back of my eye that just about snaps with the effort it’s taking to not roll my eyes. When the door shuts, I’m gone. “Firefly, Little Bird, Chiefie, Sassy? Do they know you have a damn name?”

Her eyes fly wide open. “We’ve become close.”

“I can see that.” Fuck, not what I wanted to say, and certainly not at the volume I did. I grab my beard, a beard that wasn’t present before the wreck, and I pivot back to her. I let my chest rest. “You went through something... something that no one ever wants to think about. Of course you all have become close. I imagine there would be only two options: close or at each other’s throats.”

“Oh, Calvin and Easton definitely went through that stage.” She grabs her sides.

What Dante said flashes back at me. “It must have been hard.”

“Yes?” Her blue eyes gaze at me. “It was hard, but also not. It’s weird; somehow keeping ourselves alive is less pressure. Waking up and eating has become the goal for the day. It’s weirdly freeing. Your experience must have been a lot different. Being on the ship, just you and Penny. Trying to figure out what went wrong. That’s a lot of pressure.”

I nod and smile at her. She’s changing the subject to me. “More frustrating than anything else.” I lean against the console. “Did anything happen that you feel you need to talk about?”

Her eyes flick everywhere but my face. “Are you asking that as the captain of the Rock Candy or as Sam?”

I smile. There’s heat rising up the side of my neck. “Both, I suppose. First as the captain.”

“No, everything was good. Calvin really kept things on the raft going. We all collected rainwater, and then he caught a big fish. That was a real win.”

“Good.” I nod. “I’ll have to ask Calvin for fishing pointers. I haven’t caught much myself.” I give her the space to answer the other half of the question.

“I really like you. That hasn’t changed.” She sucks in her lips.

“Good, I really like you too.” I cock my head.

“Right, and we hadn’t said that we were...” Her cheeks are turning white.

“Haley, are you okay? Sit back down.” I take her elbow and guide her back to the seat. Touching her sends a zing through me. I’m an asshole—I can see how much stress this causes her, but damn, that simple touch has me hard. I should step back, but I can’t. Her knee brushes along my thigh.

“I’m okay. Sorry, Sam.”

Damn, it’s a small victory, but having her call me by my name fires more zaps around my body. “I’m glad you’re okay, but I want you to feel good.”

“I do... I do feel good. This is just...”

Again, I’m an asshole because I have no intention of telling her I know.

“I really was looking forward to us touring around together. And taking a step back was the right thing to do for work.”

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