Page 115 of Charlie

"You got to see Pen?" she asks, pouting her lips. "I miss her so much. She’s been so busy with the pub she never has time to get together anymore."

"She’s quite the character, isn’t she?" I ask, chuckling as I take a sip of my wine.

"She really is," Isla says, laughing. "Did you get to see the Master Baiter?"

"No, but I about died laughing when I heard the name. Speaking of which, I have to tell you about Pen and dessert."

"Oooh, juicy gossip?" she asks hopefully, rubbing her hands together.

"Maybe? Lach and I met her new crew members and brought them to the pub with us for a beer?—"

"Wait," Isla interrupts, "where did you meet them?" she asks, confused.

My cheeks flush as I think back to that knock on the bathroom door. "Well," I clear my throat uncomfortably, "Lach and I were – using the facilities – and one of the crewmembers also needed to use the facilities."

"Ah," Isla says, her brow wrinkled. "Wait, what?"

I blow out a long breath through pursed lips, trying to decide how to say this delicately. Why not just go for it, right? "Lach and I were fucking in the bathroom of the abandoned fish shack near the pub. The guys came in to use the bathroom," I blurt, the words tumbling from my mouth.

Her jaw drops. "Please don’t tell me your first time with the Lach was in the bathroom of that fucking shack," she grimaces.

"I know! I know! It sounds gross, but God, it was perfect," I say, dreamily. "I might still have a couple splinters in my back."

"You’re so weird."

"There was a remote-control vibrator involved, so I can’t be held accountable for the decisions I made during that period of time," I say, holding up my hands.

"Well, that makes a whole lot more sense. I'm surprised you didn't do it in the middle of the pub," she says, laughing, "Go on with your story."

"We brought the crew with us for a beer – an apology of sorts – and I saw the moment Pen laid eyes on them. And you should have seen how they were looking at her! I thought Lach was going to leap over the table and strangle them."

"She has a new crew every season," Isla says, confused, "Is there something different about this season?"

"Judging by the way she acted, I’m guessing so."

"So, I'm guessing they’re not grizzly guys in their fifties and sixties?"

I laugh at that. "No, absolutely not. Every single one of them looks like they belong in the pages of an Eddie Bauer catalog. They’re rough, rugged, and really fucking good-looking".

"Lord have mercy," Isla says, fanning herself, "Maybe she’ll leave one for me."

"What about those guys that came into the pub the other night?"

Isla shrugs. "What’s the point when they have to return to the US?"

"It could’ve been fun for a little while at least," I say, refilling our wine glasses.

She wrinkles her nose. "I get attached too easily. Last thing I need is to be wrapped up in a long-distance relationship when I’m trying to run a pub. Has Jack told you his plans for tomorrow?" she asks, changing the subject.

I shake my head. "I haven’t talked to him since he dropped me off at the marina yesterday morning."

"Hey!" she shrieks, making me jump. "What’s on your finger?" She pulls my hand close to her face. "Did he propose to you?" she asks, looking at me and then back down at the ring. "He fucking proposed to you!" She pulls me into a hug, her arms cutting off my air supply. "Oh my God, Charlie! I’m so happy for you! Do Cam and Jack know yet?"

"I have no idea. I haven’t had a chance to talk to them yet, and Lach didn’t tell me if he had discussed it with them beforehand."

"This will be interesting," she says, laughing like an evil villain at the prospect of drama.

"I’m more worried about Cam feeling left out, but I'm thinking of proposing to him this weekend. Is that crazy?"

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