Page 24 of Totally Wrecked
“It’s perfect, thanks.”
My hangover is finally subsiding, I’ve got Killian watching out for me, and I know how to theoretically spear a fish.
Ms. Jackson is for reels. Fishing reels.
LEANDER
My fucking pounding head. Too much whisky and not enough sleep last night. The motion of the boat is not helping my stomach any either. Ugh. I do manage to figure out what’s up with the depth-finder, though. It had a screw loose, just like the rest of us.
My head! Maybe coffee will help, something has to.
Staggering my way to the galley, I hear voices. Gray and Brooke. I stand and watch Gray make her a sandwich. He’s making her a sandwichandis chatting to her.
Who the fuck is this? Aliens must have swapped out his brain with someone socially functional.
Brooke is perched on the tiny counter and they laugh together. The whole scene is so weird. Brooke ‘Action’ Jackson would be the last person I could imagine Gray getting interested in. She seems too much of a ball-buster, but it just goes to show that you shouldn’t trust social media. In reality, she’s really sweet.
I’d already been watchingChampion of the Worldbecause Malcolm was some kind of producer on it. When your big brother finances television shows, you find yourself watching the weirdest shit to be supportive.
Brooke ‘Action’ Jackson. Even though she looked fucking gorgeous, she came off arrogant and overconfident on TV, but that was all smoke and mirrors—apparently.
As Gray is carefully laying pieces of tomato on a slice of bread I walk into the galley. “Wanna make me a sandwich too?”
“Get your own.”
The boat motors on, and the swells get larger. Brooke hops off the counter, no longer able to keep her balance.
“I can make you one…after all, the best way to start the day is a P, B and J…” she sing-songs.
I grin. “Ooh, I’d say the best way to start the day is a BJ…”
“He can make his own,” Gray growls.
I give her a grin, “Yeah, babe, don’t worry about it, but thanks.”
Keyara wanders in from the wheelhouse—not surprising, seeing as food is out. I swear that kid has hollow legs. We high-five.
“Hey, Keyara, this is Brooke. Brooke, this is Keyara.”
Key is shy—it took several months for her to be comfortable around us all, so it doesn’t surprise me when she gives Brooke a quick smile then looks down at her book again.
“Ooh, are you readingHoles?” says Brooke. “That’s one of my favorites. Zero and Stanley are great aren't they?”
It surprises the fuck out of me when Keyara replies. “I like Sam.”
“Yeah, me too. He’s so sweet.”
Keyara nods enthusiastically and gives her own sweet smile. Brooke moves closer to ask how far she has got in the book. This whole scene is fucking adorable.
“Sandwiches,” says Gray, passing one plate to Brooke and the other to Keyara. As he does the boat rocks in another large swell.
“Will it get much rougher than this?” Brooke asks Gray.
Gray reassures her. “It should be fine. We’re fixin to see a little more wind up ahead, but nothing drastic.”
Keyara gives a little wave and takes her sandwich back to the wheelhouse. That kid issocute. I hope my future children will be that cool to hang around with.
“How did you handle that whole shark episode?” I ask her, making a coffee. “I’ve been keeping up withChampionall year.”
