Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
He’d almost made it through the sliding glass doors when Gisella grabbed his arm and whipped him back around, an expectant look on her face as she popped a brow into her hairline and leaned her weight on one hip.
“I know you weren’t just going to prance by me like that without a kiss,” she said.
Finn’s eyes flicked to mine, and then he dipped down to brush a quick kiss over Gisella’s lips, and all those hummingbirds in my belly died.
I swallowed, focusing on the task at hand and hoping my cheeks weren’t burning red. “You can go ahead and get in line,” I told Gisella. “I’ll be right out.”
“Sure you don’t need any help?”
“I got it.”
“Okay.” But she stayed, tapping her nail against the marble bar, a slow, rhythmic click that grated on my nerves. “I just want you to know I’m not upset or anything.”
I paused where I was pouring the last glass of champagne, arching a brow at her. “Huh?”
“About the whole Finn thing.”
All the blood rushed from my face.
Shit.
“I mean, I wish one of you would have told me before the producers did,” she amended, playing with her long dark hair. I made a mental note to ask her to put it up when this conversation was over. “Him being my boyfriend, you being my roommate…”
“Honestly, I didn’t think it was worth telling you about,” I said, filling the last glass and stashing the bottle of champagne away. “It was a very short-lived relationship, if you could even call it that.”
“It doesn’t take years to fall in love.”
Her words were like a board sweeping under my feet. It felt like they’d thrown me to the ground, knocking the wind from me in an instant.
I knew the truth under them more than I’d ever admit to her.
“But I’m not mad or anything. We’re good. I’m just glad it’s all behind you guys and we can be professional. I don’t know what I’d do if you were still obsessed with him or something.” She laughed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Drama!”
She sang the word, stretching out the ah at the end like she was the carefree, fun one and I was the unhinged ex.
I somehow managed a smile, lifting the tray of glasses filled with sparkling gold. “No drama necessary. Finn and I are just friends.”
That word still stung when I said it.
“That’s what he said, too.” Gisella’s lips curled — a soft smile but with a biting edge to it. “I’m glad we’re all friends. It would be a bit awkward otherwise, wouldn’t it?”
She laughed again, but this time, there was something smug about it. Something that said, I have him now. And you? You don’t matter.
You are not a threat.
My throat felt like I’d swallowed sandpaper.
Captain Gary called over the radio that guests were approaching, and I’d never been so thankful for a charter starting in my life. “Let’s get out there. Pull your hair back for me, will you?”
“But it looks so much nicer down.”
I smiled wider. “I understand, but it’s more professional to have it pulled back and tidy.”
“The guests won’t care.”
I ground my teeth. “Well, Captain Gary will.”
“He’s already seen me. He—”
“Gisella, put your hair up and get on deck.” My voice was steel, my patience at its frayed edge. “We may be friends, but right now, I’m your boss. And you’re wasting my time and energy arguing over something you should know after two years in the industry.”
Gisella snapped her mouth shut, head popping back a bit like I’d surprised her.
Good.
She may have been stepping in to help, and she may have been the queen when it came to Finn now. But that was where her power ended.
I was in charge of this interior.
And I was not having another subpar charter on my watch, no matter what the universe tried to throw at me.
If Poseidon were real, he was certainly sending us a gift with the current charter guests, because them being a cool group was the only reason interior wasn’t completely falling apart.
Captain had Leah go to the hospital, mostly to make sure what she was suffering from really was food poisoning and not something the rest of the crew could catch from being in close contact with her. He also wanted her to get fluids to help her stay hydrated. She was back now, but still feeling rough, and I knew we were going to have to survive another day without her.
Bernard wore his exhaustion like an extra stripe as he helped me and Finn prepare for the beach picnic the guests had asked for. He’d been a rockstar on dinner service with me last night, despite the fact that Gisella had acted like she was an extra deckhand just floating around with nothing to do. I’d had to repeatedly call for her on the radio to help carry plates when they were ready to go. As soon as we served them, she was gone again. But she always had an excuse when I called her on it.