Page 52 of Falling Overboard

Lucky

Later that night I lay in my bed, reviewing how Hunter and I had spent our evening. I’d had to disentangle myself from his hug once I realized how much I wanted to stay right where I was. It wasn’t good for either one of us for me to behave that way.

We had heard the crew return and their shrieks and laughter, the sounds of them running down the hall and eating loudly in the crew mess.

But none of them came into our cabin.

Until much later on.

Hunter had returned to his own bunk and quickly fallen asleep. I envied his ability to do that.

I was lying awake, reminding myself of all the reasons my job was important to me, how horrible my relationships always turned out, when the cabin door started to slowly open. It was kind of freaky—like something out of a horror movie. My heart accelerated and I looked around for something I could use as a weapon.

That sensation fled when Emilie came into our room, wearing a nightie that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

She began to creep over toward our bunks. She put her hands on Hunter’s bed and that’s when I spoke.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Emilie froze like a statue. “Lucky?”

“Yes.”

“You’re awake?” I could hear the panic in her tone.

“That’s why I’m talking to you.”

“I . . . got lost.”

Lost. Ha. “This isn’t your cabin. Go back across the hall.”

“Sorry,” she said as she let go of his bunk. “I must have gotten turned around.”

“That can happen when you’re trying to seduce a deckhand against the captain’s rules.” I hoped I sounded firm and not at all like a hypocrite.

Because that was how I felt.

She didn’t leave. Instead she mumbled, “You had him to yourself all evening. You’re so selfish.”

Was she drunk? “You shouldn’t be speaking to me that way. I’m your chief stew.”

That shut her up. I could feel her eyes on me. She finally turned and closed the door softly. Had she actually intended to hook up with him in here while I was sleeping? So foul.

“Thanks,” Hunter said above me.

Stunned that he was awake, it took me a few beats before I could respond. “You’re welcome.”

I wondered how much of that encounter he had heard. There had been the slightest hint of delight in his thanks, like it amused him that I had assigned myself the job of watchdog.

The captain had asked me to keep an eye on him, and it turned out he’d done so with good reason.

Even if sometimes I felt like a fox assigned to guard a henhouse.

I was the first one up the next morning. Hunter was still snoring. I drank the sight of him in briefly and then hurried off to get ready.

Given the fact that not even the mice were stirring, since the whole crew had been struck with a case of hungoveritis, I took it as a sign that I’d be doing my activity alone.

So much for unifying the team.

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