Page 12 of Viktor at Sea

“How long is this going to take?” I asked, gesturing to the ship where the chain mechanism was still yet to be installed.

“Maybe a few days. Probably not more than a week. It’ll be in place for your next mission.”

“Thank you. I appreciate this. I’m glad we’ve finally gotten round to doing this.”

“No worries. I’m just doing my job. Plus, it’s nice to be able to help the Captain of the sea,” he joked.

“I wouldn’t consider myself the Captain of the sea. The Captain of The Serpent? Sure,” I laughed. “Why is this the first time I’ve met you, Crosby?” I asked. “You seem like a smart man. Where have you been hiding?”

“In my parent’s house,” Crosby chuckled. “I’m a few years younger than you, and when you moved to Jorvik, I was still a young teenager so not someone who would be on your radar. That, and I’m a little socially anxious.”

“Well, you did a good job of pushing past your social anxiety to help us,” I complimented him, knowing how hard it could be to defeat your inner demons. “Thank you.”

“Fake it till you make it, right?” He joked, and before I could say anything, his eyes caught on something in the distance over my shoulder. Knowing that look all too well, I chuckled and followed his gaze, my eyes settling on a large group of young women who were going for a walk down the shore, clearly very interested in what was going on with The Serpent.

“Can you say the same thing about your love life?” I laughed and set my eyes back on him. “Socially anxious when it comes to that too?”

He blinked in question, snapping out of the daze. “Sorry, what?”

“Which woman have you got your eyes on?” I chuckled, my eyes flitting over all the women in the group. A few of them were easy on the eyes, but none of them were my type.

That was code for: none of them were Astrid Skau.

“I don’t have my eyes on a woman,” Crosby denied, but his tone wasn’t convincing.

“Then you were staring at that group of women simply because you’re a pervert?” I countered, quirking an eyebrow. I was only pulling his leg, but he didn’t know that.

“I’m not a pervert,” Crosby was quick to deny, his cheeks flaming in embarrassment.

“Well, if you’re not a pervert, then you must have your eyes set on one of them.”

“Fine,” he exhaled deeply, refusing to meet my eyes as his cheeks burned even more red. “There is a woman…I hope to propose soon,” he said in a small voice.

“That’s a pretty big step,” I whistled under my breath, impressed. “Have you spoken to her father already?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to save enough gold so I’d have something to offer her.”

“I have to say. I’m rather impressed with your intuitiveness. You seem very wise for your age, Crosby.”

He released a shaky breath. “Thanks, but there’s still a chance that her father may turn me down.”

“What happened to fake it till you make it?”

“You’ve got me there,” Crosby laughed, the sound a little strained.

“I know I’ve spent more time at sea than anyone else on this island, so I’ve missed out on some valuable time with the superior sex, but I’ve got some advice for you if you’re willing to listen.”

“I am.” He nodded his head frantically, very eager.

“In my little experience, women like confidence. It aligns with what you’re saying:fake it till you make it. Try to be more positive. Don’t worry about the small details. Try to focus on the good. If her father gives you his blessing, and then you propose to her, and she accepts, then you’ll find yourself married to the love of your life in no time at all.”

“And if her father says no?”

“Then you can either give up because you’re not willing to put in the effort, or you can stay persistent and prove to him that you’re worthy of his daughter.”

“You make it sound so simple,” he sighed.

“That’s because it is simple,” I chuckled. “It’s just us humans that make it complicated.”

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