“You can handle anything. Because you’re Ember Fecking Reed.”
Another broken laugh from me.
“Because you’re chief stew,” he added, thumbing my jaw. “And you earned that title.”
I stared at him for a long beat, those words rooting deep, loosening something heavy inside me. I nodded once. Then again. A little stronger.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Finn kissed my forehead, warm and lingering.
“Now,” he said, reluctantly breaking away and rounding the island back to the plates. “Talk to me. Are we good on timing for these?” He checked the clock on the wall. “Guests seated in thirty?”
I snapped back to the present, looking up at the same clock. It was two thirty.
“Yes. I’ll go double-check with the guests now, but Tammy seemed adamant that they wanted food as soon as possible after anchoring.”
“Brilliant. Go get ’em, Firefly.”
He winked at me, and I felt a little lighter as I swept out of the galley and made my way to the sundeck.
I almost believed he was right, that I could do this, that it would all be okay.
Almost.
PRE-PRODUCTION CONFESSIONAL
CLOSE QUARTERS
SEASON 4
GARY PARKS: CAPTAIN
PRODUCER
So, part of your stipulation before signing your contract for the show was that we require a mandatory day of safety training for each crew member.
CAPTAIN
That’s right.
PRODUCER
Can you tell us more about that decision?
CAPTAIN
They should all already have a training or two under their belt, but I’m not taking any chances. It’s stressful enough running a boat this size with demanding charter guests. Add the chaos of a reality show on top and, well — let’s just say we’re tempting fate. If something goes pear-shaped, I need to know my crew’s not gonna freeze.
PRODUCER
What could go wrong?
Captain Gary laughs.
CAPTAIN
You’re kidding, yeah? Anything. Everything. Guest could get hurt, there could be a fire, someone’s off their face and making dumb choices, putting themselves or someone else in danger. Happens quicker than you think.