“Fort Lauderdale. You?”
“Barcelona.”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to Barcelona,” I exclaimed, squeezing her arm. “It seems so beautiful.”
“Even more so than you can imagine.Y la comida…” Gisella made a chef’s kiss gesture with her fingers pinched together. “Uf, es para morirse.When you come, I’ll take you on a tasting tour.”
“I love that we’ve only known each other two minutes and we’re already planning dates.”
“Ah, but don’t get too excited. I don’t put out until at least the third one,” she said, wrinkling her nose with the jest.
I loved my new roommate already.
“Where should I…?”
She gestured to her luggage, and I clapped my hands together. “Oh! You’ll be with me, actually, if you don’t mind? I thought it would be best to let my stews room together so they can bitch about me in private.”
“And what if I want to bitch about you?”
“Save it for crew night out,” I said, and we shared a smile as I helped her get her luggage downstairs to the crew mess. Once I showed her to our room, I excused myself, giving her space to settle in.
And like Gisella had said, workdidfeel meditative, the flow of things making it so I almost forgot I was on the same ship with my ex.
Until Captain Gary’s voice crackled over my radio.
“All crew, all crew, this is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard. Meet me in the main salon in ten minutes for our first team meeting.”
POST-PRODUCTION CONFESSIONAL
CLOSE QUARTERS
SEASON 4
BERNARD EVANS: SECOND STEWARD
PRODUCER
What was your first impression of your chief stew?
BERNARD
Oh, I liked Ember straight away. I mean, she’s fit, right? Fit and fun. Nothing better than those qualities in your boss. She set the tone right away that she wasn’t going to be on our ass as long as we did our jobs. I had a feeling she’d be fun to party with, too. And I was spot on with that, wasn’t I?
PRODUCER
Were you okay with how she structured things?
BERNARD
I loved that Ember didn’t feel the need to immediately assign the second and third stew positions. She gave Leah and me the chance to show her our specialties before those roles were given. And since I knew I’d be an absolute knockout in service, I wasn’t worried. That second stew role was mine.
PRODUCER
And what about the relationship between Ember and Finn?
Bernard laughs heartily.
BERNARD