‘Don’t bother, chief. We ain’t stayin’.’ Stanton threw the rope back in and grabbed onto the side rail to help keep her steady while I climbed out. Caught Lonnie mouth-breathin’ over my cleavage as I was bent over to step onto the deck. Think Celeste saw the same, not that it mattered. She shot up and slid off the bow onto the deck before I had even got my footin’.
‘What the hell, Celeste? Get back in the boat!’ Celeste and Stanton met halfway as they put their arms around each other in solidarity against the common foe. The cat was out of the bag now, boy, and the captain wasn’t havin’ it. He even put his hands on those narrow hips in exasperation.
‘Go on, Lonnie, we’re done. Stanton is my man now.’
‘Are you kiddin’ me? Look behind you! The kid lives on a boat! Lives! He’s a rat!’
‘It
