Chapter Nine #2
Cassi didn’t get off work until four so she said she would meet us there and true to her word, she is waiting in the parking lot inside her silver Civic that has to be from the nineties at the newest. That color too, I can only imagine how completely invisible she becomes against the roads when it’s overcast and raining out here.
One bad accident in that thing and she’s done, yet she seems completely unbothered by the tin can she rolls around in.
Cassi steps out of the car, huge sunglasses covering her face. She’s wearing a pair of blue jeans and a cropped band t-shirt. Not exactly what I picture for a receptionist at a dental office.
“Did Carly seriously not come?” she asks as she looks between all of us.
I shake my head and she scoffs.
“Fucking bitch.”
“Watch your mouth,” Henry says, his words holding absolutely not heat in them.
“I’m just speaking the truth,” she says, tossing her hands out by her sides before looking to me.
“Alright Mr. Twenties, lead the way.”
I choke on my next breath as I look to her.
“Is that really going to be my nickname?”
She shrugs. “I haven’t decided yet. It’s a solid contender.”
Letting out a heavy breath, I gesture for Mary and Henry to follow me as we make our way down the dock. At least, that’s what my assistant told me to do. I have no fucking clue where I’m going but the water is this way, so it’s a safe bet.
At the end of the dock, a man dressed in black dress pants and white captains shirt is standing with his hands clasped in front of him. When he sees us approaching, he smiles and reaches his hand out to shake.
“Mr. Sanders. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is Darryl and I’ll be your captain this evening. Who do we have with us?”
“Please, call me Nico. This is Cassi, Henry and Mary,” I introduce.
“A pleasure. Right this way, I’ll let you folks get settled and we’ll depart momentarily. I heard we’re in the mood for some fishing?” he asks as he gestures to Henry who is holding a fishing pole.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, we have four poles set up and at the ready for you at the stern, though I’d take a guess that’s a lucky pole,” he asks as he helps us onboard.
“You’d be correct, Captain.”
“Just what we need,” he smiles warmly. “If you folks need any food or beverage, Jackie is inside to take care of anything you may need.”
“Thank you,” Cassi says as she steps on before I follow.
“Thank you,” I nod to him as we begin exploring.
I’ve got to be honest. I’ve seen some nice boats, acquaintances own nice boats.
This isn’t a nice boat. This is a goddamn mansion on the water.
The craftsmanship is spectacular. The finite details make the entire space feel refined and elegant while still being functional.
Plush seating, marble countertops and glossy wooden floors has me quickly forgetting where we even are.
An older woman with a pleasant smile emerges from the dining area as she speaks.
“Hello, my name is Jackie. Can I get you all anything to eat? Drink?”
“Do you have any beer?” Henry asks.
“We do,” she smiles.
“Then we’re in business,” he says as he follows her towards a fully decked out bar.
Mary walks alongside him as Cassi and I exchange amused looks. Instead of following, she wanders over to the railing, staring out over the water as the sound of the engines fire up. I can’t help but swallow roughly, taking a healthy step away from the edge.
“Step back,” I tell her.
She frowns at me, looking over her shoulder.
“Why?”
“The boat is going to start moving. I’m sure we need to take our seats.”
Cassi’s head tilts to the side in curiosity.
“You’re sure? Have you ever been on a boat before?”
“Yes,” I snap.
No.
Her green eyes drill into me for a second longer before she smirks.
“You’re full of shit. Are you…scared of the water?”
“No,” I practically snarl. “I’m not scared of water, I’m not a fan of what lies beneath it. Especially in practically black waters like this,” I say as I gesture around us. “Now will you please get away from the edge?”
She raises her hands innocently and steps away from the edge, heading inside the dining area before getting a glass of champagne.
“I’ll have the same, thank you, Jackie.”
Once we all have our beverages, we all fan out across the boat as we begin to move through the water. I opt for a secure recliner inside the dining area while the others are out on the decks. The view is just fine from in here, though.
I’m catching up on some emails on my phone when I hear someone sit down across from me. I don’t have to look up to know who it is, though. I can practically feel them. Like my body knows it’s them before even I do.
Not allowing her to distract me from my work, I continue typing out my response when she speaks.
“Are you going to hide in here the whole time? Kinda hard to fish from inside.”
“I’ll exit the dining room once we have stopped moving.”
I hear her mutter something akin to ‘big baby’ and it has me setting my phone down in irritation.
“You want to know why I don’t like the water? I was eight years old and I went out on a boat with my dad. We ended up breaking down and were trapped in the middle of nowhere. He decided to go swim for help and was eaten by a shark right in front of my goddamn eyes.”
Cassi’s eyes round with horror as she stares at me.
“Are you serious?”
“No, but imagine if I was? You’d feel pretty shitty for judging me.”
Her mouth hangs open in shock before I’m assaulted with a pillow. She is smacking me over and over again and I can’t help but laugh at her outrage.
“You’re such an ass! Just when I started to feel sorry for you! Jesus, you’re the fucking worst. So you’re dad isn’t really dead?”
“Oh no,” I say. “He is, it was just too much whisky and cheeseburgers that took him out, though.”
She stares at me in disbelief, shaking her head like she’s in complete shock.
“Shouldn’t judge others. Things aren’t always so surface level, bunny.”
“Bunny?” she asks with a wrinkle of her nose.
“Yeah, it’s your new nickname. I can make them up too.”
She scoffs and shakes her head. “Well, could you come up with one that makes sense? That’s just stupid.”
I cock my head as I lift my glass of champagne.
“Not really. You’re a little rope bunny. I shortened it up. Unless you prefer the whole title.”
Her cheeks instantly flush a deep red as she drops her eyes, a reaction that I know is a rare one for her.
“I thought we were going to forget it ever happened,” she mutters quietly.
I lift a brow to her in question. “Have you forgotten?”
Slowly, her bright eyes come to me and all the answers I needed lay right there. That’s what I thought.
“If I’m the rope bunny, you’re definitely the rope master,” she throws out, like she will somehow gain control of the conversation.
I take a considering sip of my champagne and nod.
“You would know.”
Her eyes dilate and that flushing of her cheeks intensifies as she pushes herself to stand, shaking her head as she promptly exits the conversation. I can’t help but be a little disappointed that she does, though. I was having fun riling her up.