Page 9 of Falling Overboard

“What do you get if you reach a hundred points?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Besides the physical satisfaction that I’m assuming I’ll personally receive? Probably an indeterminate prize of very little value. We haven’t decided yet.”

I could feel my anxiety welling up inside me at what she and Emilie were planning on doing, what they were risking for nothing. I reminded my swirling stomach that this wasn’t my issue.

“You could join us,” she said.

I let out a short bark of laughter. “You know that’s not me. I don’t break rules and I don’t hook up with people. I’ve only had like, two boyfriends.”

“This week?”

“No, ever.”

A look of pure horror crossed her features. “I’ve had a million! The key is to lower your standards. The lower your standards, the higher your average. Although that might not work with you. Someone told me once that the smarter a woman is, the harder it is for her to find a man.”

“That’s sexist.” After a beat I added, “And I must be a genius.”

Now it was her turn to laugh. “You don’t see your own value, Lucky. As your name suggests, every man on this ship would be lucky to be with you.”

I tried not to roll my eyes and instead just shook my head.

“What?” she demanded.

“With all your plotting and rule-breaking, I’m just wondering how you sleep at night.”

“Hopefully not alone,” she teased. “But usually some combination of wine and sleeping pills.”

I was glad the door was shut. I knew she was joking but somebody else might not realize it.

She slid the pen back into her skort pocket and said, “I have some dust to vanquish in the primary cabin.”

“I would say ‘have fun,’ but we both know neither one of us will.” Being a stew on a yacht was exhausting, backbreaking work, but the money made up for it.

When she was gone I found myself thinking that her and Emilie’s plan to hook up with as many crewmembers as possible was something Marika was going to have to deal with until the moment I remembered that I was the new Marika. It was my responsibility.

My anxiety flared up again because I didn’t know how to tell my friend to knock it off. I had the worried feeling that this might become an issue and hoped that none of this would blow back on me.

Speaking of responsibilities, Hunter needed a uniform.

When I returned to our cabin, I didn’t know if I should knock or just enter. It was also my room, but would it be more appropriate to give him some sort of heads-up?

Before I could decide, the door opened and Hunter stood there. My heart sped up and I didn’t know if it was my concern over Georgia’s game plan or being near him again. “Lucky, you’re back!”

I told myself to ignore his gorgeous smile and piercing eyes and be calm and collected and treat him like every other person on board. “I need your shoe size,” I blurted out.

Wow. Great job.

Given his quizzical expression I quickly offered an explanation. “I need to order your uniform.”

He said he wore a slim extra large and size fourteen in shoes.

Georgia was going to pass out.

I sent a text to the provisioner and she immediately responded that she’d have it sent over the next morning. I told him as much.

The next thing I knew, Hunter was taking my phone from my hands. I was so surprised that I initially didn’t react.

Finally I managed to say, “What are you doing?”

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