Crew Hates by Deana Birch
Chapter Four
Day Four
Wind kissing my face on the open water gave me extra pep. And I wasn’t the only one it was affecting. Everyone was in a chipper mood. I even caught Mrs. Phillips smiling at Abby. And Nick, I clocked three smiles—dimples included—before lunch. The guys were on the top deck with Mr. Phillips in full on boy-toy cruising mode. Mrs. Phillips settled next to Landry on the deck below and Ding and Dong were at the front on the small private deck off the master suite.
When I had the cabins in order and the dishes from lunch in the dishwasher, I headed up to check on the girls.
“But he’s so freakin’ hot, Vic,” Abby said.
“He’s poor, Abby.” Victoria’s voice was flat and bored as she flipped through a French gossip magazine.
“I didn’t say I wanted to marry him, just have a little taste.”
I put two new fluffy towels at their feet and fresh cool water bottles on the table between them.
“Anyway… One, my mom would never let you come back. She may even send you home. And two, I don’t think you’re his…flavor.” Victoria kept her eyes on the pictures in front of her of a topless woman who seemed to be a local celebrity.
“Are you saying he would refuse me?” Abby spewed her disbelief. No self-esteem problems there.
“No offense, Abs, but yes.”
I suspected they were talking about Nick. Robbie wasn’t ugly, but he just wasn’t hot. It was confirmed as I walked away when Victoria said, “Nick prefers women, not girls.”
What did that mean? And more importantly, why was some sort of jealous heat crawling up my chest? No. Did I like him? What was I, some kind of pathetic little schoolgirl who believed that boys who were mean to me really liked me? That wasn’t how it ever worked. Assholes were assholes, no matter how handsome. I needed to put any thoughts like that out of my head.
I descended to the kitchen with the remnants of the girls’ lunch, only to be sent to the top deck by Rosa with fresh water for the men. Robbie and Nick were alone at the controls as Mr. Phillips and Cameron lounged on the chairs in open air. I replaced their water and headed to my crewmates. Neither one heard me come in, and I took the opportunity to put the cold bottle on the back of Robbie’s neck, which made him expel what sounded like a whale being murdered. He continued to secure his spot in the friend zone but brought out a giggle on my part. Any amusement from the ‘women-loving dimple boy’ was hidden well, and he turned his attention back to the open sea in front of him.
“It’s nice up here.” I scanned all the electronics then out of the windows to the sea.
“Yeah, beats making all those beds,” Robbie said with sympathy.
“I don’t want to go back down,” I pouted. “Rosa will only send me back up.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was in earshot and scrunched up next to Robbie to reveal my new gossip. “Abby has the hots for…” I pointed at Nick’s back.
Robbie let out a chuckle that could have double for a seal’s mating call, and Nick shot us both an evil eye.
“I’m standing right here.”
“Just because you don’t know how to have fun doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some at your expense.” Ah, there she was, my feisty side had finally shown up to the dance.
“Oh, I know how to have fun, Emilia.” He lowered his eyes to meet mine.
It sounded like a threat—like the sexiest threat I’d ever heard. My mouth went dry, and I dug into my heels to stay steady. I held his gaze for too long.
Water. I need water.
“I don’t think she was referring to sex, Nick.” Thank God Robbie didn’t catch on to me absolutely thinking about sex.
Nick shrugged before moving back to guiding the yacht, and his indifference made me wonder if I was crazy.
“I’d better get down to the galley.” I half-smiled to Robbie and backed out. For the rest of the afternoon, I tried to convince myself that Nick’s heavy stare meant nothing.
By cocktail hour, we were in front of Saint Raphaël, and everyone on board had changed into their eveningwear. Rosa made a frittata and a salad for Nick and me and the meat eaters were all having steak. At dinner upstairs, Mr. Phillips and Cameron spoke about finding a golf course to try to fit in their other passion, and Abby attempted—very unsuccessfully—to catch Nick’s eye. Mrs. Phillips watched Abby disapprovingly, and when dinner was over, she pulled her daughter aside for a brief chat outside. There was no doubt in my mind about the subject of their conversation.