11. Blaise
CHAPTER ELEVEN
blaise
After making sure Elodie made it safely to the boat, I slowly make my way back to the bar by the shore. Knox should be here anytime. I look around to make sure he’s not already waiting for me.
After having a glass of bourbon, Knox prances up with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Are you ready?” He beams at me as if he’s won a million bucks.
If I ignore him, maybe he won’t tell me.
Of course, that doesn’t work.
The silence spurs him on. “We’re going on a fishing excursion with that awesome company from earlier.
Same captain and one of his deck hands. They supposedly know a good spot beyond the reef where there are a ton of Mahi.
We can skin them on the boat and just bring the fish back on ice.
Say yes, because I already paid for it and we leave in ten minutes. ”
Knowing there is no way I can say no and we both do enjoy a good Mahi dinner, I say yes.
I pray that fucker who flirted with my girl isn’t one of the hands on board. I’d rather not deck someone in the face today.
Following Knox’s go-with-the-flow attitude isn’t as easy as he makes it out to be.
Taking our drinks to go, we make our way to the boat where the captain is waiting with the other deck hand, Emilio.
Without delaying any further, we make our way out to the perfect fishing spot. On the way, we chat and laugh about the huge fish Knox and Emilio have caught prior. I’m not sure when it turned into a fish measuring contest but it helps to pass the time.
Before we know it, the anchor is down and lines have been cast.
The waves in the distance fill the silence as we all lock in on our lines.
The smallest twitch of Knox’s line begins and we hold our breaths to see if it takes the bait.
Sure enough, it does. The fish takes off, line flying, causing Knox to let out a string of curses as he fights to reel it in.
Back and forth, Knox and the fish fight for dominance. The rod curves hard and his eyes widen a fraction as he pulls back against the fish.
If this line snaps, Knox might too.
Finally, we see a fin surface with the last pull Knox makes. It is a Mahi and it’s easily forty pounds.
Seeing that he actually has something on the line worth keeping, the rest of us jump into action. Emilio and I grab the gaffs to help haul it up while Knox beams with pride at the massive fish.
Once it’s in the boat, we weigh it before trying to skin and filet it.
Throwing the head overboard, we chum the water.
The captain cuts the fish with precision I admire.
Noticing me watching him, he explains each step, letting me try my hands at it.
By the time we’re done, the guys have already caught another one.
The captain moves over, letting me try from the beginning.
While the smell is not great and I’m in need of a shower, it’s fun.
We go to hook another when it jumps, causing the hook to pop out.
“Back to square one it is then, amigos!” Emilio pipes up, trying to brighten Knox’s spirits after that blow.
We all chuckle and recast the line once it’s fixed.
Moments pass when the captain's cell starts ringing. He excuses himself and takes off to the bow for some privacy.
He comes back minutes later, apologizing profusely and saying he needs to cut the trip short due to an emergency.
Rolling all the lines in, we’re heading back to shore at breakneck speed.
Knox arches his brow at me, and all I can do is shrug my shoulders.
Whatever it is, it must be really important for him to be taking off in the middle of such a high-paying job.
We get back to shore and they usher us off, promising a refund.Confused, we make our way up to the bar again as I try to ignore how gross I feel.
The whole beach is buzzing with energy as we get back. Police force is everywhere and a section is taped off.
We notice a white sheet lying on the ground and we look at each other, giving a knowing look at what that means.
We get seated at the bar and nosey barely waits for him to get our drink order before asking the bartender questions.
“So, what happened down there? Doesn’t look good from the sheet there.” Knox tries to keep his tone casual.
The bartender hesitates before getting closer and leaning in. “Shark bite, while he was out in the water. The body just washed up so it’s fresh. He was a local and a good friend. So it’s hit everyone hard. He knows better than to get in the water with tigers.”
We both mutter our condolences, trying to down our drinks and get out of here to avoid any more uncomfortable interactions.
Walking back, I can no longer stand being covered in fish guts and blood.
The smell is horrendous.
Stopping into a local shop, I grab a different shirt to change into.
Tacky, but it doesn’t smell like fish, so fuck it.
Knox waits for us to leave the shop before ragging on me.
“God dude, can you go ahead and change? The fish smells fucking terrible. It looks like you massacred every fish you saw today,” he whines, trying to make it a big deal that I smell so badly.
“Normally, I wouldn’t give a fuck what you think, but honestly, the smell is awful. Now that the fish are taken care of, I want out of these gross clothes.” I stop at the closest trash can once we get to the dock.
Throwing the bloody shirt into the trash, Knox salutes it. “Goodbye, fishy boy.”
Laughing at his comment, I pull the new shirt over my head and throw the bag it came in away as well. “Good riddance.”
We go to walk away when the back of my shirt is pulled on and a high-pitched voice rings in my ear. “You bastard, you’re a fucking murderer! I knew it!”
Knox and I whip around at the same time to see Elodie’s best friend, Jade.
She looks disheveled and has a crazy look in her eye with makeup running down her face.
What the actual fuck?
“Hey, babe. What the fuck did you just say?” Knox’s tone is lethal; he’s as caught off guard as I am.
“I said, your brother is a fucking murderer. You probably covered for him! First the guy that was flirting with Elodie on the boat, then Rafael from the excursion. Can you not take a hint that she doesn’t want you?
You just go and kill them?” She shoves her finger in my face and stares into my eyes.
“You’re a psycho! I’m going to tell her everything! ”
People give us a wide berth as they pass us to head back to the boat, avoiding the crazy-looking woman.
Is she serious right now?
“You want to accuse me of murdering them but where I am at all times is either with your friend, or my brother. Also, weren’t you the last one seen with the frat brother on night one?
He very literally was talking shit about your supposed best friend and you laughed then disappeared with him.
I assume you fucked him? Am I wrong?” I keep my tone even, not willing to be further embarrassed by this girl.
Jade tries to argue back but fumbles over her words so I continue, “Actually, if I’m not mistaken, you stayed at the bar while Elodie went into the jungle so you could flirt with the guy named Rafael. Did you fuck him too?”
She flushes and we have our answer.
“A jealous whore? You fuck me, other guys, and the ones chasing your best friend. Sounds like you could be the killer, babe.” Knox steps up into her face. “Did they ask for her number after they were done with you?”
Before the last word can leave his mouth, she lunges at him and I have to pull her back.
Thrashing in my grasp, she breaks down, crying and screaming.
“It’s not even like that! She’s my best friend but we both know I’m prettier!
What the hell do I have to be jealous of?
Nothing! I have money and looks and she has nothing!
I didn’t hurt anyone! I didn’t!” Her outburst catches the attention of the police, finally.
They walk over and take her from my grasp, questioning what’s going on. While she points the finger at me for being a murderer, Knox calmly explains everything that had transpired and tells the officers she was most likely the last one with Rafael.
After listening to Knox, both officers apologize to us and keep her detained to ask her questions about Rafael.
Once we’re out of ear shot and she stops screaming, Knox halts me.
“Are you sure she’s worth all that? That was insane behavior. Far beyond the normal bat shit ‘I’m crazy’ girl stereotypes."
With no hesitation, I answer honestly, “Yes. She is worth dealing with crazies like that a hundred times over. I want her Knox. I want to see where this goes. She’s wrecked me and I don’t want to know what it’s like to deal with her absence.”
He walks up to the boat with me in silence for a moment then responds, “Then be ready for crazy to tell her about what happened and to have to deal with it. She isn’t going to let that go.”
Nodding in agreement, he heads to the deck while I head to my room to shower and take a moment.
Fuck, I hate when people think they know me.