FERRY-LOVE-BOAT

Chapter 68

Maya's POV:

-Maya, hey! Gibson is already flirting with half of the lieutenants from the other stations! - Andy quickly approached me. - Oh, wow! Carina! You look... Wow!

-Thank you, Andy. - Carina smiled gently at the woman. - You guys look really sharp in those formal uniforms, they're my favorite right now.

-I bet they are. - Andy winked at her and I rolled my eyes. - And you, Maya, need to control your lieutenant.

-I have a lot more to do Andy, let the boy have some fun. - I mumbled and ran my eyes around the room trying to find him among the people and of course Jack was in a circle full of women. - Unless you're jealous?

-Oh, please! - Andy rolled his eyes. - We'd better take our seats and pray that we don't fall asleep during the ceremony. Beckett is the one leading it.

-What? - I asked back. - I thought Captain O'Malley would be leading.

-He's sick. - Andy grunted and I did the same.

-Who is this Beckett? - Carina asked beside me.

-Just the most sexist and idiotic captain in all of SFD. - I replied with a sigh.

-And he calls us "pretty" every chance he gets. - Andy added.

-He better not do that today. - I completed and felt Carina's fingers closing a little tighter against my arm.

-Let's sit down. - She spoke softly, relaxing her fingers again before running them up and down my arm in a discreet caress.

-Maya doesn't want to sit down so she can keep showing off her arm candy. - Jack's voice next to me startled me a little.

-I thought you were busy trying to get one of the lieutenants into your bed. - I spoke back, ignoring his comment.

-The night is long. - He shrugged and walked with Andy to the table reserved for station 19.

-What's an arm candy? - Carina asked softly as we followed them, and I blushed.

-Well... It's a good-looking person being taken somewhere and being shown off on another person's arm. - I tried to simplify my expression and Carina smiled openly.

-So, I'm your arm candy? - She asked back.

-You are. - I smiled and got a gentle kiss on the cheek.

We really had to work hard not to fall asleep and die of hatred at Beckett's inappropriate comments that drew uncomfortable laughter from most of the firefighters in the room. Looks of indignation were exchanged by the women occupying the various tables in the hall, and not even the drinks that were served made us swallow Beckett's words any easier.

-Thank you all for the welcome, I hope we do an exemplary job for our city! Let's have some fun! - Chief Ross smiled broadly from the stage and a round of applause was given, a few firefighters and their companions were quick to get up and disperse among the tables.

-Do you want something to drink? - Carina whispered against my ear.

-I can... - I started to speak and felt her hand against my thigh.

-I'll get it for you. Will you stick to sparkling water? - She insisted and I just nodded.

-Thank you.

Carina got up and walked toward the bar at the side of the hall, some people were moving tables to create a sort of dance floor that definitely wouldn't be crowded - if previous events were any guide - and a band was getting ready to start playing.

-I hate these events. - Andy commented beside me.

-Carina looks great. - Jack murmured, looking in the same direction as me, following the woman's steps.