Chapter 38
Rowan Rafferty goes fishing
I stood at the ship's helm, staring out over the dark Gulf waters, the salty breeze doing little to soothe the ache in my chest. The noisy laughter and music from the party aboard the vessel blurred into an annoying hum in the background. My thoughts replayed the moment I caught Kendra in Jesse’s arms.
Even though I knew it was a strong possibility, I was utterly unprepared for the devastation of watching her choose him. The image of her, so close to that wanker, pierced through me like a dagger and hurt worse than losing part of my leg.
I knew we had a short shelf life, but that didn’t stop me from falling in love with her. I felt like a piece of my soul had been ripped out and wondered how long it would take for that phantom pain to fade.
The radio crackled with an incoming transmission. “Pirate ship off my starboard side.”
It couldn’t be. I turned the squelch to bring it in clearer.
“Pirate ship off my starboard side. There is a douchebag in the water about 100 meters to your port side. Requesting immediate evacuation for him.”
“Goldilocks?”
“Sea Duction requesting immediate aid for a passenger overboard in the Gulf, Over.”
“Roger that, love.”
I reached for the shipwide radio. “Attention, guests of Pegleg Pete’s Pirate Extravaganza. We need to change course to assist in an emergency water extraction. I need crew members to their muster stations. Passengers are asked to please remain seated in the dining room.”
I turned the ship and headed toward where Kendra said the person was overboard.
As we drew closer, my eyes narrowed. Fucking wanker was bobbing in the Gulf, holding onto a life ring.
He waved at me, and I briefly considered leaving him to the reef sharks, but my naval training won out, and we went to pick him out of the drink.
Decker, Kendra’s former first mate, pulled him aboard and made a face. “What the hell were you swimming in? Rotten eggs?” He waved in front of his face, then took off to secure the lines so we could head back to port.
“What? It’s my pheromone cologne!” Jesse’s teeth chattered. “Thanks for picking me up, Rowan. I don’t know why she did it.”
My eyes widened. “You don’t know why True left you at the altar after you lied to her? Yeah. Big mystery, that.”
He frowned. “No. I don’t know why Kendra made me walk the plank. Not that there was a plank, but that’s what she said. I had to walk the plank.”
I froze. “She told you to walk the plank? Those were her exact words?”
Jesse nodded.
“That’s my Goldilocks.”
“You know, you could’ve come up with a better nickname for her than Goldilocks. Yeah. We get it. She’s blonde,” he sneered.
I squeezed his shoulder. “Jesse, I don’t call her Goldilocks because she’s blonde. Now, Decker will show you some towels. I have to get this ship back to Pleasure Point. My woman is waiting.”