Be Brave With Me

Chapter Four

The old-fashioned champagne glass filled with tiny cubes of watermelon to snack on went to the blonde girl, blue top, lots of tattoos, sitting around the fire pit that was lowered into the main deck at the bow of the yacht. The Old Fashioned with the single ice cube went to the "Just one big one, I don't do small" guy with the girl attached to his neck on the sun deck. After that, check the kitchen for new plates ready to be served. On your way there, pick up empty glasses, take up new drink orders from anyone who approached you - and don't trip over that one step at the end of those stairs.

It hadn't taken Theo long to find his feet on board - or sea legs, in this case. He knew what he was doing. Had done it before at a thousand other parties that looked just like this one.

As part of the staff, he was responsible for making sure everyone was enjoying themselves and having a good time. This meant, quick feed and impeccable manners, offering a smile to everyone and an open ear for anyone shouting into it over the deafening music, a relaxed handling of drunken advances, and a general inclination to carry around stuff for other people.

Avery was neither generally inclined to do so, anywhere near relaxed, nor physically able to smile. The dark, brooding frown etched between the pirate's brows below that pretentious bandana kept even the most oblivious drunk from approaching him.

Swamped with shouted drink orders and taking all the heat, Theo rushed another tumbler over the sleek counter into the waiting hands of a guy wearing his sunglasses indoors, in the middle of the night. Despite the music and noise, he heard Avery physically growl next to him as an oblivious soul approached him asking for some fresh ice.

Theo spun around to face Avery head-on. "All right. That's it. Spill, pirate boy. What's gotten up your crow's nest?"

Avery froze. "Mate, what did you just call me?"

"You heard me. Don't digress. What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing. Your attitude is scaring away the guests. And it's pissing me off. Do you even want to be here, mate? Because you don't act like you do."

Clearly, Avery had been waiting to get this off his chest for the better part of the night. "Who do you think you are, legacy? You think you can just come on board - you, a fucking nepotism hire - and start telling me about what I do and don't want?"

Theo laughed, a harsh shout. "And you're not here just because your grandfather is the captain on this thing?"

"What do you even know? I'm here because-" Avery stopped himself just in time and brushed past him to get to the gin bottles, making sure to push him out of the way with a shove to his shoulder. "You know what? Go fuck yourself."

Woah. His straight shot had hit Avery's powder magazine, it looked like.

Theo took a step back against the wall of alcohol behind them and lifted his hands in surrender. "It's all good, man. I apologize. I didn't plan to start anything with you on my first day."

He saw Avery's shoulders relax and ease down at his words.

Theo exhaled. One of the many benefits of having a girl best friend while growing up? Knowing when it was time to apologize. Having the guts and finding the words to do it right.

He lobbed a dish towel towards Avery who caught it against his chest. Theo answered his confused frown with a nod over Avery's shoulder where someone had spilled their drink. Avery sighed and turned around to mop up the mess. Theo joined him to help out with another towel.