Page 89 of Mail Order Splash

“Yeah, my brain? I couldn’t think straight for days. I’m severely scarred.”

“Asher, I can show you how to overcome that.” Kleine gave me a stern look.

“He’s messing with me, don’t buy into it,” I scoffed. “He practically lives in the water going to the island every other month.”

“That is for relaxation, not swimming.” He grinned.

“See, I knew it.” I pulled him under water pushing each other until Netty came between us.

We surfaced laughing, then looked up into the faces of Kleine, Josh, and Charlie.

“Don’t make me have Charlie put you two in the holding pool to work this out,” Kleine scolded.

“It was a joke. I want nothing to do with water at night, not even behind gates.”

“Both of you are punished from the pools, you worried Netty.” She pointed to Netty watching us. “What do you suppose Scrapper would learn from that? What if he went to save you and a boat hit him?”

“Yikes, that’s dark.”

“It’s fact. That’s why dolphins get injured a lot of the time. They befriend humans, then get hurt.” She crossed her arms, upset. “Scrapper wouldn’t have a chance against a boat blade.”

“Kleine, it was a joke. I’m sorry, I had no idea.” Asher looked to me for help. “I won’t joke like that again around them.”

“And you, Dalton?” she demanded. “Did you not see what happened to him when he trusted humans enough then got bladed?”

“I saw it. I forgot we were in the pool with them. He started it with his phony nose holding.”

“Gotcha.” She laughed out loud then gave Netty a command and dove in.

“Oh, you found the girl for you. She had me going there.”

“She was joking but the words were real. That is what happened to Scrapper and the others.”

“That’s awful. So glad she is going to be able to teach people what is happening.”

Kleine worked with the dolphins on commands while we watched. She whistled then cupped her hands around her mouth. It was a new command I was curious to see what was, until I was less curious when Netty came up in front of me and spit water on me.

“Now, that is priceless,” Asher laughed.

Kleine gave the command again but this time I covered my face. But it wasn’t me she was out to get. Asher received a mouthful of saltwater laughing at me hiding.

“Who wants to go get dinner?’ Sawyer came out of the office.

“I thought we were having a bachelor party?” Asher asked.

“Eli, said he was picking us up at eight o’clock for it, I’m worried.” I sighed.

“You should be if you let Eli plan it.” Sawyer shook his head. “I’m not going.”

“You have to go, if not for anything other than to protect me from Eli, and perhaps Asher. Besides, you wife isn’t here.”

“She wouldn’t care, she’d say ‘go have fun, I’m staying with the dolphins.”

“Are you saying your playboy charms have worn off?”

“They were never a match for her work in the ocean. It’s sad, don’t you feel bad for me?”

“Nope, Jade is the best.” I dragged myself up out of the water. “I better get showered. Does anyone know where we’re going?”

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