GISELLA
Oh, I don’t know. It happens sometimes with chefs and chief stews. They work together really closely, and they usually both have their own way of doing things. It’s normal to have some high tension. And look at how great dinner was the next night. It all balances out in the end, they just have to find their footing.
PRODUCER
So, you’re not worried about it being a problem this season?
GISELLA
No. I think this crew is going to be the best one this show has seen.
PRODUCER
Love that energy! Yeah, maybe they just needed to yell at each other and get some of that frustration out. It’s got to be hard working so closely with an ex.
Gisella frowns, tilts head.
GISELLA
I don’t understand… ex?
PRODUCER
Yeah. Finn and Ember used to date.
GISELLA
They…what?
Once the boat was in decent shape and the post-charter interviews were done, we all retreated to the crew mess to getready for the night out. It was all music and laughter, the doors to every cabin open as crew members flowed in and out, asking about outfits, getting opinions on colognes, and pouring pre-game shots.
When we piled into the two van cabs that would take us to dinner and then to the bars, I ended up sandwiched between Eli and Cameron.
Not a bad place to be, if I was being honest.
“Ember, this top…” Eli said, biting his knuckle as his eyes shamelessly raked over my cleavage. His other arm was draped around the seat behind me, and I didn’t mind at all that we were touching from knee to hip.
“Easy, killer,” Cam said from my other side. “You need to respect the authority on our boat.”
“Palmer’s my boss, not Em.”
“I’m higher rank than you, though,” I reminded him.
“Maybe I like a woman in power.”
He smirked, casting me one of his signature winks that made me roll my eyes and shove at his chest. We were all already a bit tipsy, and even though I pretended to be annoyed by his advances, I welcomed them.
It was nice to feel wanted, and to take my mind off my ex who was riding behind us in the other cab with his girlfriend.
“Did anyone else catch the iciness from Gisella after interviews?” Leah asked from the backseat.
“I thought I heard her and Cheffy getting into it in his cabin,” Cameron chimed in.
I frowned. “Like fighting? Why? They seemed fine at the tip meeting.”
“Shit. You don’t think Cheffy saw me whip G’s ass with a towel when we were shammying, do you?” Eli pretended to be scared before sinking back with an even bigger smirk on his face. “Or maybe the horny bastard just wants a spanking himself.”
I chuckled with the rest of the crew, but lost focus on the conversation as Leah shifted to talking about how hungry she was. I racked my brain, trying to think of anything that could have happened to make Finn and Gisella have a fight. Then, I chastised myself for caring.