But the smarter half of me screamed not to even think about it. I’d learned my lesson about boatmances, and I was not encouraging any type of romantic entanglement while on board this time. I was a woman on a mission, and that mission didnotinclude getting my heart broken again.
“So, how do you feel about the interior crew so far?”
“They’re great,” I said honestly. “Going to make my first go at chief stew easy, I think.”
“Careful. Famous last words.”
I knocked on the teak wood just in case. “How about you? Deck team cool?”
“Oh, yeah. Team’s solid so far. Palmer’s a good bosun, and I’ve worked with Cam before — good bloke, knows his stuff. Gisella might be stronger than him, though, judging by how she was hauling those provisions around yesterday. But hey, don’t tell him I said that. Let’s keep his ego intact.”
He winked.
“You know anyone?” Eli asked next, pausing to finish the last of his cigarette. He put the butt out in the small ashtray he’d brought out with him. “From before the show, I mean.”
Heat crept up my throat. “I do.”
“Who?”
“One guess,” I said, looking up at the moon breaking through the thin clouds above us. When I looked at Eli again, he smirked.
“Ah. Cheffy.”
I rolled my lips together, eyebrows raising into my hairline as I pointed at him as if to saybingo.
“Any story there?”
I chuffed a laugh, draining the last of my water.
I was in love with him.
He said he loved me, too.
I thought we’d travel the world together.
He let me think it.
He said he was done with yachting, that he was opening a restaurant in Dublin.
Now, he’s here, back on a superyacht.
With Gisella.
But I didn’t say any of that.
I just stood, groaning a bit at the way my muscles protested the movement. “Not one worth telling. Goodnight, Eli.”
“’Night, Em.”
CHARTER CONFESSIONAL
CLOSE QUARTERS
SEASON 4, EPISODE 1
CHARTER 1
PALMER HUGHES: BOSUN