Page 18 of The Admiral's Daughter

“Oh, um…”

Is this a good idea? Going out drinking with River and her friends? The same River I’m trying to maintain a professional distance from?

“Nothing in it, Cleo. I thought we could have a drink and start again. Just as colleagues.”

She took me completely by surprise, but I admit it felt good to get the invite.

It was going to be a lonely few weeks if I only had myself and possibly the captain to talk to outside of work.

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

I spent twenty minutes staring at my suitcase, trying to figure out what constitutes “casual night out with colleagues who aren’t really colleagues.” I’d packed for interviews and formal dinners, not gay clubs in Portsmouth.

The jeans are my only pair. The silk shirt is meant for drinks with sources, not dancing, but it’s the best I can do.

That’s how I came to be standing outside one of Portsmouth’s gay bars at 10:30 p.m.

River introduced me officially to her bunk mates before we left the ship. It feels strange to call grown women Cheddar and Boot, but it’s what they want, so who am I to complain?

Cheddar had grinned and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Everyone does.”

Boot added, “And if Romeo gives you any trouble, you just let us know.”

River had rolled her eyes, but there was affection in it.

Kit is lovely. I see her as the matriarch of the group. River is definitely the wild child. Cheddar is the younger kid who hangs on to everything River does, and Boot is the baby of the group. It’s quite the little family.

Bass is thumping through the club and out into the street every time the butch bouncer opens the door. She spies River and smiles widely.

“I thought you were shipping out?”

The women waiting in the queue eye River like she’s a celebrity. A few whisper to each other, giggling. One waves. River throws her a wink but keeps walking.

Christ, she really does have a reputation.

Several women peer around the friends to listen in and drag their eyes up and down River and her crew.

“One last night,” River says with a wide smile. I remember that smile from the other night. It’s the smile that got River access to my knickers.

“Enjoy, then!”

With a slap on the back, the bouncer lets us in. She checks me out and winks. Unfortunately, she’s not my type, and the last thing I should be doing is falling into bed with anyone right now.

Tonight is a bonding exercise. River is right. We’re going to be in each other’s lives, closely, for the next couple of months. I’d rather do that without tension. The other women seem like fun too, and it gives me hope the job isn’t going to be as shitty as I first thought.

The bar is close to four people deep. A full spectrum of queerness is on display, and I immediately relax. God, it feels good to be surrounded by queers again. I’d forgotten how much I hated tagging along to straight bars with my hetero friends back in the day.Cheddar and River are already scanning the crowd. Looking for their next conquests, I suppose. Kit and Boot are chatting away, leaning against the bar, which they’ve miraculously managed to get to. I imagine the bar bunnies parted like the Red Sea as soon as they clocked the sailor’s swagger.

Even though none of them are in uniform, it’s like the group exudes a confidence that screams military. That or they’ve been here so often, and banged most of the women, that they don’t even have to try anymore.

“What ya drinking, Cleo?” Kit shouts.

“Vodka cranberry, please.”

The music does what it always does and weaves through my body, making me move on instinct. Tonight is just what I need. A few hours of dancing, surrounded by beautiful people. As long as I leave the club alone, I’ll be great.

Boot squeezes through the crowd with my drink. The rest of them are on bottles of beer and shots. River peels herself away from a busty blonde to hand me a plastic shot glass filled with neon green liquid.

“Bottoms up,” she cries before slamming her own shot back.