Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) (10 page)

“Of course.” Cadence replied. “We understand. Right everyone?”

“Yes.” We all answered.

Jinx smiled. “It’s getting late anyway so I’ll just see you in the morning then. As I’m sure we have plenty to catch up on.”

He leaned down to Cadence and they kissed each other’s cheeks. “See you tomorrow.”

Jinx nodded as he left the galley and headed to his office. The rest of us stayed behind for a while longer and finished our dinner then returned below deck to our room for the night. I was glad of it. This trip wasn’t going to end fast enough.

Chapter 21

Cadence

I should have predicted it. Seth wasn’t fine. He clearly didn’t want to be here. So, to save ourselves from a fight, we left the guys asleep the next morning and headed to the upper deck. It was a bright sunny day with clear blue skies as far as the eyes could see and no clouds in sight.

I took a nice deep breath just to breathe it all in. “What a day? It’s so beautiful out.”

“It really is.” Naomi replied.

Lana smiled. “Even despite where we are, I’ll even have to agree.”

We headed to the helm, thinking Jinx would be up there but Miles was still the one at the wheel. “Morning, ladies.”

“Morning Miles.” I smiled. “Have you seen Jinx around?”

“The captain is pool side at the moment. You can find him there.”

“Thank you.”

We walked back across the upper deck, passed the galley and up the stairs on the other side. Jinx was lounging alone on one of the sleigh beds but saw us. “Good morning! Come join me!”

“I’m afraid we’re a little over dressed.” I said, seeing him in just his shorts.

“No worries. You can still sit out here with me.”

We smiled and got out of as much as we could to sit with him under this warm sun. Naomi laid on his left with her back up against the back support like he was with her knees brought into her chest. Lana laid on his right on her back with her legs up over the back support and I laid directly across from him between his legs with my feet resting up on his stomach.

“So, what have you been up to since the war?” Lana asked.

Jinx held out his hands and looked around. “Well.”

“Oh, right. I should have known that but is that all?”

Jinx sighed like even he was disappointed in it as he started giving me a foot massage. “Pretty much but what about you? You must have been living well just by the companions you brought with you. You know you want to brag about it. Well, go ahead. I’m listening.”

“It’s been fun.” Naomi answered. “And kind of nice to always have them around.”

“I’d say.” Jinx replied. “But do they always act like that?”

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like they were last night. They seemed out of step a little for how I imagined them.”

“No. They’re not always like that. I don’t really know what was wrong with them.”

“I don’t think they like me.”

“Oh, don’t say that.” Naomi cut in. “They wouldn’t have any reason to hate you. They don’t even know you.”

“And yet I was sensing a strange vibe from them but I don’t know what it could be from.”

“Well, let’s find out.” I said.

“How?”

“They’re right there, watching us.” I could see behind them and Seth, Dirk and Bryce were standing at the top of the stairs. Lana, Naomi and Jinx got wide eyes as they paused there but didn’t say a word. I didn’t know what was going to happen but Seth didn’t look very happy and I guess, looking at the situation, he had a right to be.

Chapter 22

Seth

“What are they doing?” Bryce asked. “Is this a joke?”

I was asking the same question in my head but came up with no rational response.

“No joke.” Dirk replied. “It looks like he’s making a move on them.”

“We can’t let this continue.” I said. “We must fight back.”

“So, how do we do that without making the girls hate us? We can’t just kill him, even though I’d like to.”

“He’s got a point, Seth.” Bryce said. “How do we get around that?”

I smiled when I thought of a way. It was easy. I mean, we were us. How could we have not thought about it sooner? “By simply upstaging him, of course. They know we’re better. We just have to remind them. Stage one: competition.”

Dirk and Bryce smiled. Of course they were onboard. It would have been easy for us and we all started to walk over there.

“Well, good morning.” I said in a well-played good mood. “Beautiful day, is it not?”

“I’d say you’re right, Seth. It is a delectable day.” Bryce replied.

“Most definitely. Do you mind?” Dirk asked as he held out his hand towards the seating arrangement.

There was a pause. Everyone was kind of confused by our demeanor but they never mentioned a thing.

“Of course not.” Jinx answered. He and the girls repositioned themselves to kindly make room for us.

Dirk smiled. “Oh, good.”

We sat down on the edges and took off our shoes before standing back up and taking our shirts off. It was nice out so it didn’t seem that weird that we were like this and we sat down to get comfortable.

“So, been out here long?” I asked.

“No.” Cadence replied. “Are you all right?”

“Why do you always ask me that? Of course we’re all right. Aren’t we all right, guys?”

“Yeah, sure. Absolutely.” Bryce said.

“One hundred percent.” Dirk added. “Never better.”

“Well, good.” Lana said rather oddly. “I guess a good night’s rest really did something for you.”

“That could have been it.” Dirk smiled as he put his arm around Lana but she still had that look on her face like she’s never seen him this happy before.

It was funny and I got away from laughing about it by starting up conversation. “So, what do we have planned today? Any pre-scheduled activities planned or shall we just wing it. That’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten, you know? It changed my life.”

There was another one of those pauses like they were just trying to figure us out but no one seemed to know what to say.

“No?” Bryce wondered. “No one has any ideas? Well, let me think here as I do recall someone mentioning all the great times we’d have out here, so let’s work with that for a minute.”

“Do you dive?” Jinx asked.

I looked at Dirk and Bryce then laughed. “Do we dive? We grew up in a place with nothing but waterfalls and fresh water springs to jump into. So, of course we can dive. We can do anything.”

“Then prove it. That is—if you think you’re man enough to outplay me.”

This was perfect. Game on.

“Oh. You don’t think we’re man enough, do you?” Dirk wondered. “Well, this is an opportunity I wouldn’t even dream of passing up.”

He stood up but Lana took his hand and pulled him back. “Dirk, no.”

“It’s fine, Lana. We’re just having fun besides, I’m not letting him get out of a challenge that easily.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Jinx smiled as he stood up on the bed and hopped over the back of it. “So, are we doing this alone or are you in?”

Bryce and I looked at each other and got right up.

“Yeah, we are.” I said.

Cadence sighed. “Come on you guys. I know what you’re doing and this isn’t necessary.”

“Oh, I think it is.” I said.

“Don’t worry.” Jinx added. “I’ll go easy on them but you three have to be the judges.”

“Okay, what do we have to do?” Naomi asked as she laid down on her stomach facing the pool.

“Naomi!” Cadence shouted. “Don’t encourage this!”

“Oh, come on, Cadence. Let them have their fun. Tell me what we’re doing, Jinx!” Cadence sighed but her and Lana joined Naomi facing the pool.

“All right. We each take a turn diving and you judge us for our efforts with a score of one to ten, ten being the highest but don’t play favorites because, well, that’s not fair to them.” I shared a look with Dirk and Bryce because of Jinx’s comment and we lightly nodded to each other to what this was really about. “Then by the end of three rounds, we’ll see who’s best.”

Lana sighed and put her head down. “This is going to be bad.”

“You have no idea.” Cadence replied.

“But first.” Jinx added as he turned to us. “Care to take your test run?”

“No.” Dirk cut in. “We’re ready.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

“Let’s just do it.” Bryce said.

Jinx laughed to himself. “All right then. You’re up.”

Bryce gave Jinx an evil look as he turned toward the ladder and started climbing up to the platform.

“This one is on the record, ladies!” Jinx shouted. “Keep a sharp eye!”

Bryce stood at the edge of the platform and looked down into the pool. It wasn’t that much higher than one of the waterfalls we’ve always jumped off of back at the mountain palace, about twenty feet. He stood ready and took a deep breath while Dirk and I waited below and encouraged him.

“Come on, Bryce.” I said, clapping my hands together a few times.

“Yeah, show him what diving looks like.” Dirk added.

Bryce smiled then took a leap off the platform. He fell into a single somersault then a half twist, landing head first, straight down into the water with his arms extended forward.

There was virtually no splash whatsoever and I smiled while looking at Jinx. “We’re the ones that are going to make you regret it.”

“It’s not over yet.” Jinx muttered.

Bryce climbed out of the pool and the girls held up both their hands, revealing his score. Cadence gave him a seven, Lana also gave him a seven and Naomi gave him an eight.

He wasn’t happy. “Twenty-two? You’ve got to be kidding me. It was better than that.”

“Not according to the judges and that’s us.” Naomi said.

“Fine. I’ve got better ones.”

“Then show us.

“Oh, I will.”

“Can’t wait.”

Bryce smiled and they shared a kiss before he walked back to us.

“Well, done.” Jinx said. “Who’s next?”

“I am.” Dirk stepped to the ladder next and started climbing up to the platform. He reached the top and walked out to the edge. He looked down at the pool before turning his back to it and facing the other direction.

“Ooh, tricky.” Jinx muttered.

Dirk bent at the knees and did a back flip off the platform, falling into a two and a half twist and landing head first, straight down into the pool with his arms extended forward.

It was pretty amazing. Bryce and I nodded at each other and smiled as Dirk swam to the edge of the pool in front of the girls and climbed out, waiting for his score. Cadence gave him an eight, Lana gave him a nine and Naomi gave him an eight. Dirk didn’t say anything. He mentally took his score of twenty-five and walked back to us.

“Nice one.” I said.

“Of course. You’re next.”

I stepped to the ladder and started to climb up to the platform. I wasn’t nervous. I was ready for this. I stood just in front of the ladder facing forward and got a running start. I did a single forward handspring off the platform and fell into a double somersault, single twist and landed head first straight down into the water with my arms extended out. It felt amazing and I’m sure it looked just as amazing. I mean, I’m the one that did it so of course it looked amazing.

I swam to the edge of the pool and saw my score. Cadence gave me a nine, Lana gave me a ten and Naomi gave me a nine.

“See if you can beat that.” I said to Jinx.

“Oh, I know I can.” He stepped to the ladder and started to climb up to the platform.

He reached the top and did a handstand on the edge of the platform facing away from the pool. He bent his arms so his head was almost touching the platform then quickly pushed off, flipping backwards and falling into a double somersault with two and a half twists and landing in a head first straight position with his arms extended forward.

We were actually impressed as Jinx climbed out of the pool by the girls but of course we wouldn’t react. It would only spark him to say something and we didn’t need that yet. Cadence gave him a ten, Lana also gave him a ten and Naomi gave him a nine.

“It looks like round one belongs to me. Still wish to continue?”

“You bet.” Bryce walked to the ladder and started to climb up to the platform again. “This one has potential to take round two.”

He walked out to the edge of the platform and turned his back to the water. He slightly bent his knees as he jumped backwards into one and a half somersault pike with a half twist, landing head first in a straight position with his arms extended out.

It was incredible and the girls only proved it by giving him a score of all tens. “Now that’s more like it! You can’t do any better than that!”

“Yes, well, you’ve clearly have taken the second round but let’s take this last one to the next level.” Jinx replied.

“How?” I asked.

Jinx didn’t answer but he did smile and look up.

“Jinx, no.” Cadence said as she got off the bed and walked over. “They’re not doing that.”

Lana and Naomi got up as well and walked over but I was still considering it. Jinx had looked to the mast hanging fifty feet over the pool and I wasn’t scared.

“Up there?” Dirk wondered as he pointed.

“Yeah.”

“No.” Lana said as she put her hand on Dirk’s chest to stop him from moving. “Jinx, call it off.”

“Can’t. It’s already been played. If they refuse, they’ll be forfeiting and the third round is mine, giving me the win.”

“We’re in.” I replied.

“No, they’re not.” Cadence said as she stepped in between me and Jinx. “Drop it right now.”

“It’s fine.” I told her.

“No! Jinx, I won’t let you do this.”

“It’s not really up to me anymore. They’ve decided it.”

“But you can stop it.” Naomi cut in. “So do it!”

“Well, that wouldn’t be very good for them. You’re taking away their chance to prove themselves, you know?”

“I don’t care.” Naomi said as she stepped closer to him and got right in his face. “Call it off.”

Jinx looked over at Cadence and Lana while they waited for his response. He sighed and was about to reply but a member of the crew reached the top of the stairs and called out to him. “Captain! Forgive me but your presence is requested.”

Jinx nodded and looked at us with a smile. “Saved for the day. We’ll continue this some other time. Ladies.” He slightly bowed his head and Cadence stepped closer to him.

“Thank you.” They embraced and kissed each other on the cheek. Jinx just smiled and nodded as he turned and walked away from the pool to where he was needed.

“Well, that was fun.” Bryce said, breaking the silence. “But I think I’d like to take a break for now and just sun dry.”

We agreed and we went back over to the bed and laid on it under the sun for the remaining of the day. We didn’t see Jinx at all after that and got to go to bed without another word from him. He was beat. We won and we basked in the glory of it.