Page 60 of The Admiral's Daughter

“Hey, we’re on the big guns today,” Ruby calls.

“Cool, um, do you know where Kit is?”

“Yeah, she’s already on deck. She and Boot are on the other big guns.” She laughs.

We begin walking, and I can’t help but look over my shoulder towards Cleo’s cabin. Of course, she steps out and sees me with Ruby. My face must convey my discomfort because she gives me a small wave and a smile.

Phew. Cleo isn’t holding my shower escapade against me or Ruby, thank God.

Once we’re both kitted in our overalls, we head for our work placement for the day. I really enjoy checking the 20mm Vulcan cannons. They are top of the line and impressive as hell. Everything on the ship has regular maintenance checks, so we’re ready to go at the drop of a hat. Being a weapons engineer means I get to work on all the coolest shit and on all areas of the ship.

I spot Kit and Boot at the second turret. “Ruby, would you be super offended if I swap out for Boot? I need to talk to Kit.”

“No sweat. As long as it’s not because of what happened?”

“Between us?”

“Yup.”

Laughing, I knock on her shoulder with my fist. “We’re good, Ruby.”

“Then send the delicious Boot over here.”

Laughing my way over, I signal for Boot to chat. She’s happy to work with Ruby because she has a low-key crush on her and I know she hates tension, so she’ll want Kit and me to work our shit out quickly.

Kit looks up and I see her stiffen. I can’t tell if she’s pissed at me or embarrassed about our dust-up.

“Hey, I’m with you,” I say. “We need to talk.”

She glances around the deck and gives me a look, because the deck of an aircraft carrier is not the quietest of places for a chat.

“After this,” she calls, and I agree. We spend the next couple of hours checking every inch of the guns and filling out paperwork. When lunch time rolls around, I take Kit by the elbow and guide us back to our bunk. There’s nodanger of Boot interrupting because Ruby asked her if she wanted to grab chow, so Boot will be on her like a fly ’round shit. Cheddar never comes to the bunk at mealtimes, so it’s just the two of us.

“So,” I say, not sure how to start.

“River, I’m so sorry,” she blurts. “Fucking hell, I was vicious with you, and I feel like crap.”

That’s one way to open the conversation.

“Itfeltpretty rough,” I reply. More than anything I want to wave her comments off, but I can’t because they hurt.

“I love you, Rome. You know that, don’t you?”

Nodding, I strip off my overalls and sit on my bed. “I do, but—”

“No buts, Rome. I was already stressed out as fuck by the time we chatted last night, and I let all my frustration out on you.”

“Okay, but you still said some things I think we both know you’ve been harbouring for some time.”

She sighs and drops her head to her hands. “Okay, let’s get real. There are times I find you frustrating as fuck, River. Your behaviour does affect us.”

“I know it does, and for what it’s worth I never meant to make you feel like this.”

“It’s Benson,” she says, and my ears prick up. “He’s just looking for another reason to take our shore leave away, and I can’t let that happen again, River. I want to see my niece and…there might be a certain lady waiting for me at home, too.”

“Is there now?”

“Yes, but I’ll fill you in on her later. The point is, being reckless was fun a few years ago, but not so much anymore. He’d just reamed me out before I came back to the bunk, so when you told me about Cleo, I snapped.”