The Jolly Dodger (The Soul Seekers Book 8) Read online

  “You sound a bit more optimistic about this.” I smiled.

  “Maybe it won’t be so bad after all. As long as we don’t sink.”

  “Let’s explore the ship and then find somewhere to grab a coffee,” Rob said. “Then we can decide what we want to do tonight.”

  “Let’s just hope this place does have a coffee bar along with the regular one,” I muttered.

  The one thing about an authentic pirate ship experience was that pirates drank rum. And beer. Or so that was my impression. I wasn’t about to break my sobriety, and I could murder a coffee right now.

  “It will, don’t worry,” Olivia said. “Come on, this way.”

  She was holding a map. I glanced at it and saw that the ship was outlined in a cross-section.

  “How very organised of you,” I said.

  “You didn’t find yours? The map was attached to the activity sheet.”

  “Oh, I must’ve missed it.”

  My cheeks heated. I hadn’t gotten past admiring the border of the paper that the activity list was printed on.

  “That’s okay. As long as we have one between us, it’ll be fine.” She smiled and waggled her map in the air. Thank God someone’s organised.

  The ship was modern on the inside. In my estimation of what a pirate ship should be, I didn’t reckon they would have metal doors, fire extinguishers, life jackets, or rooms for that matter. But all of those things were important so I was willing to let it slide. Although I hoped that the communal rooms were more authentic, I was glad that some of the ship had been customised. As much as I loved spending time with Olivia and Rob, sharing a living space for two nights would have been too much and having time alone with Jake was perfect.

  As if he was thinking the same thing, Jake slipped his hand in mine, and I fell back. Rob moved up to talk with Olivia.

  Jake leaned over. His lips met my cheek in a quick kiss. “Don’t worry. I brought the activity sheet with me.”

  “Good thinking.” I grinned.

  “You think we got caught?”

  I glanced at my best friend. “Who knows? Either way, I’m glad I got distracted.”

  “Me, too.” He winked.

  A set of stairs appeared ahead, and Olivia slowed her pace as she looked at the map. “If we go down, it’s just to other bunks and rooms. Straight ahead there’s a common room sort of area, and if we go up, we go to the next level, where apparently the bars and things are.”

  “I vouch for that,” Rob said, with a grin.

  “Ahoy, Captain.” Jake saluted.

  Decision made. We hiked up the stairs, one by one, each of us holding onto the handrail as if for dear life. I wondered if I would ever get used to the steepness of the stairs and was glad it was a trip away rather than a lifelong venture.

  The next level was as advertised, and I realised how lucky we’d been not to end up on the bottom deck. At least we only had to battle with one set of stairs.

  I skirted around a couple at the top of the stairs who were poring over a map of the ship on the wall. The woman was pointing at the deck, while the man looked at the bar. I smiled as we passed.

  “I think we should just have a wander along here and see what they’ve got.” Olivia tucked the map into her bag and snapped the popper closed.

  “Okay.” I nodded.

  Rob said, “For a pirate ship, it’s not very—”

  “Piratey,” Jake said, with a grin.

  “Exactly.” Rob nodded. “I expected more . . . I don’t know, skull and crossbones, Jolly Roger flags, parrots. That sort of thing.”

  “I wouldn’t worry,” Olivia said. “I think there’ll be plenty of that during the activities.”

  “I hope so,” I said. “I was hoping for a swash-buckling time.”

  Jake grinned.

  Olivia gawped at me. “You’re a dumbass, you know that.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “There’s a restaurant.” Rob pointed towards a glass-fronted area.

  We stepped a little closer, and I read the sign that hung on a wooden board overhead.

  “The Plank. Interesting name.” I mused.

  “I think it’s stupid,” Olivia said.

  “What’s the menu like?” Jake leaned closer to the window.

  I did the same and spotted some personal pub-grub favourites.

  “It’s not a restaurant. More like a pub or something,” Olivia said.

  “It’ll do for me later.” Jake patted his belly. “But I’m not hungry yet.”

  “Let’s keep going and see what else there is,” I said.

  We spotted a couple more eateries. One posher, and one even more minimalist than the first. Looked like a cafe. I saw movement in the kitchen, people preparing for the final boarding of the ship.

  We passed a pub that was already in full swing. Inside, it was dark and the smell of sweat permeated the space.

  I wrinkled my nose. I don’t know how I ever loved being in those places.

  Further down the corridor, we came across a coffee shop, the choices emblazoned across a chalkboard, in a variety of colours.

  “Now that’s more my style.” I grinned and paused outside.

  “Hey, there’s a parrot on the menu board,” Rob said. When I turned to look at him, I saw a huge grin plastered on his face.

  He pointed, and my eyes drifted to the fake macaw perched on the board.

  “Come on then. It’s a sign. Let’s get coffee.” I led the charge into the shop without waiting to see if anyone was following.

  A woman behind the counter saw me approach, dusted her hands on her apron, and turned to face me. She wore a gold hoop in one ear, so big it reached halfway to her shoulder.

  “Ahoy, maties. What can I get you?”

  I stifled my grin. It seemed that although the rooms weren’t as piratey as I’d hoped, everything else was authentic.

  “Coffee for me, please. Strong,” I said.

  The woman nodded, and her gaze fell past me to Jake, lingering too long after he’d ordered, and then to Olivia and Rob. We all ordered a light bite since we’d missed lunch while boarding the ship.

  “Take a seat, and I’ll bring them to you, sea dogs.”

  I grinned as I walked away from the counter, then slid into a booth. The table was mahogany and polished to a sheen. The seats were wooden and covered in thin cushions in the fashion of church pews. Jake sat opposite me, while Olivia took a seat beside me.

  “I like it here,” I said.

  “You’re only happy because you can get coffee.” Olivia rolled her eyes.

  “That and the fact that it’s more piratey.” I grinned.

  “I’m thinking, if this is the way they go on in here, tonight should be great,” Rob said.

  “So about tonight. Did we decide what we wanted to do?” Olivia threw the question out.

  My mouth opened and closed and I was about to admit defeat, when Jake squirmed, hand reaching into his back pocket, and came out with a folded sheet of paper.

  “I brought this to make it a little easier to decide.” He unfolded the paper, set it on the table, and ironed out the wrinkles before spinning it my way.

  I grinned at him and then dropped my gaze to the activity list. It looked like there were a lot of choices, and each of them had to be signed up for. I wondered if the ship was full tonight and how many could do each activity.

  There was a beer guzzling competition ending in a rum shot finale. I crossed that one off straight away. A cannon stuffing contest. A rig climbing activity. A parrot parody, which gave no explanation of its content, and a sea shanty sing-a-long.

  “Wow, they like their alliteration on board the Jolly Dodger.” I shook my head.

  “I think it’s cute,” Olivia said.

  “You’ve changed your tune.” I turned to her.

  “Maybe I was a little biased because of the fact that I'm floating on a ton of water.” She shrugged. “Like you said, I’m sure it’ll be fine. And I spotted the lifeboats,
too.”

  “So what do you guys fancy?” Rob asked. His meaty forearms were crossed on the table.

  I wondered whether any of them would pick the drinking games if I wasn’t there. But they weren’t mentioned, and I doubted they’d even been considered. I had good friends.

  “I say the rig climbing is off.” Olivia shook her head. “I’m not sure I can do that over the water and keep the contents of my stomach.”

  “Fair enough.” I nodded.

  The woman arrived with our coffees, removed them from a wooden tray, and set them on the table. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  I shook my head as I accepted my drink, then took a sip. Instant heaven. With a nod, she disappeared behind the counter, where I could hear the faint tingling of piano music.

  “Canon stuffing would be fun,” Rob said as he stared at the list, upside down.

  “I think I’d like to sing a sea shanty.” Jake grinned like a loon.

  “You want to sing?” I laughed.

  “And why wouldn’t I want to sing?”

  “No reason.”

  “What do you guys think?” Jake asked.

  “Well, honestly, I’d have to have a few drinks in me for that.” Rob’s vision flicked to me.

  “Hey,” I held my hands up, “if that’s what it takes to see you guys make a fool out of yourselves, it suits me.”

  “You wouldn’t mind?” Jake asked.

  “Hell, no. I might not join you at the bar, though. I can come here instead and talk to my parrot friend.” I pointed at the board over the counter.

  “You are way too interested in that parrot.” Olivia shook her head.

  “So it’s settled then? Sea shanty singing?” Jake eyed the group.

  Rob grinned and nodded. Although Olivia looked nervous, she was nodding too.

  Good. At least we had a plan. I just had to hope my nerves held up enough to sing out loud without having a drink. Life as a pirate looked pretty good from where I was sitting.

  “Come on, let’s take a look around,” Rob said after he drained the last of his drink.

  Shuffling to stand, I knocked my own mug and the dregs of coffee spilled across the table. I shot an apologetic look at the woman behind the counter and hurried out of the shop.

  We moved from the coffee shop to the top deck which was authentically pirate ship-like, with rigs and masts and a wheel. I suspected it wasn’t used to steer the ship, but it still looked the part. We walked around the top deck, Jake and I hand-in-hand, Olivia and Rob in front also with their hands linked. I smiled.

  My best friend had been single for as long as I’d known her, and while I’d seen her ogle over guys for short periods, she had never settled down. I always wondered if she’d just never found the right person, but even toward me, she was mute about the whole situation.

  Olivia met Rob at the end of our funfair case. I would’ve never put her and Rob together. She was reedy and high-strung, while he was broad and laid back. But whatever it was, they worked. They’d been going strong, and I only saw things progressing. It was good to see my best friend happy.

  “Hey, look,” Rob shouted over his shoulder. “They have a plank!”

  I craned my neck, and sure enough I saw a plank set in a hole in the side of the boat. A metal gate was locked in front of it, preventing anyone from walking it without supervision.

  I peered across the side, stopping Jake mid-stride as I did. The water looked as grey as it had against the porthole window.

  “So, Olivia, it looks like they make people who don’t play the game walk the plank.” I grinned.

  She rolled her eyes as she turned to face me. “They can’t use that. Surely.”

  Pete appeared from nowhere, hands clasped behind his back. “We have. And we do.”

  “You use the plank?” Olivia asked, tone flat.

  “Yes. For people who don’t comply. And for those we just don’t like.” He winked. “No, but seriously, at the end of every trip, The Jolly Dodger invites people to try their luck at diving. This is our diving board.”

  Olivia peered over the side, her eyes wide. “There’s no way I’m diving over there into that.”

  “Don’t worry. Participation is voluntary. But of course, most of the gentlemen on board like to partake.” His gaze flicked from Rob to Jake in a way that I knew meant challenge.

  “I’d dive off there any day,” Rob said, his shoulders straightening as he stared over the side.

  “Me, too.” Jake nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  “Great to have you on board, fellas.” Pete grinned. “Now I know you’re out,” he said to Olivia, “but how about you?” He turned his attention to me.

  “You want me to dive off the plank, into what I assume can only be shark-infested waters?” I held my hands to my chest. “I’m not sure on that.”

  “Well, the ball is in your court, lady.” He shrugged, turning on his heel. “But just in case it sways your decision, there’s a prize at stake.”

  “A prize for what?” Rob asked.

  “There’s a few, really. Most streamlined, furthest from the boat, biggest splash.” He grinned. “You look like you’d fare well on that one.”

  Rob beamed.

  “You’re not seriously thinking about it?” Olivia rounded on me.

  “Hell, no.” I shook my head. “I don’t mind swimming, but I haven’t got a death wish either. That being said, I think you two are stupid.” I looked between Rob and Jake.

  “Hey, it’s a dive. What can go wrong?” Rob said. “And if Pete thinks I’m in with a chance of winning biggest splash, what have I got to lose?”

  “After a skinful at a sea shanty sing-a-long, I reckon a lot,” I said.

  “It’ll be fine.” Jake waved his hand. “Besides, I’m sure they have plenty of staff around for safety. I bet you probably even have to wear a life jacket.”

  “We’ll see,” I said.

  “Come on. I don’t want to be close to that plank for any longer than I have to,” Olivia said.

  I, too, was glad to leave the plank behind. Something about it lingered in my mind as I walked away, and I knew I wouldn’t be walking it.

  We finished our tour of the deck, passing groups of passengers, mostly friends or couples out for a stroll to enjoy the sea air. I wondered if they had also perused the activity menu and decided on their choice for that night. We passed a group of friends who were really getting into the swing of things and were dressed as traditional pirates. One of them tipped his hat at us as we walked past.

  “Is it time to eat yet? I’m starving.” Rob patted his belly.

  Olivia playfully slapped his arm. “You’re always hungry.”

  “I’m hungry, too,” I said.

  “I live with this gluttony.” Olivia rolled her eyes but relented with a grin. “Sure, let’s eat.”

  We headed below the deck after completing a full tour and walked past the coffee shop and the pub, which seemed to have grown darker and fuller since our last jaunt. I wondered how many of the Jolly Dodger’s patrons would be partaking in a liquid diet tonight.

  I shuddered as thoughts of the plank lodged into my mind. I didn’t like it one bit. Not only was it a health and safety hazard—god, when did I get so old—but it was also too lifelike.

  “So it looks like we’re eating at the Porthole tonight.” Jake grinned and held up his hand to indicate the sign hanging above the restaurant.

  “How aptly named,” Olivia said.

  She was right. Instead of normal square windows, the side of the restaurant was marked with portholes. As I stared into one of them, I saw dim lighting, candles on each table and strewn across the walls.

  “How many are ye?” a woman asked as Rob stepped up to the door.

  She was dressed in a dark waistcoat buttoned to her tiny figure, and beneath it a white shirt with long sleeves billowed. She, too, wore a bandana which kept her hair tied back.

  “Four, please,” Rob said.

  “Thi
s way.”

  She led us inside, and as I stepped over the threshold, I felt like I was being swallowed by the darkness. The restaurant was beginning to fill up. Each of the tables were booths with high backs and dark red faux leather seats. The table we sat at was dark wood and round, already with beer mats placed and cutlery on napkins. Olivia and I settled at the end of the horseshoe-shaped seats.

  “Can I get you some drinks?” She looked around the table.

  The guys each ordered a beer, Olivia a wine, and when I asked for orange juice, the woman grinned.

  “Trying to prevent scurvy?”

  “Something like that.”

  “It’s nice in here. I wonder what the food will be like.” Rob reached towards the stack of menus in the centre of the table, held in place by an anchor, and passed them around the table.

  I was just about to cast my eyes over the menu, when something slammed into my mind. I was rocked back, my head pressed against the back of the chair.

  Yo ho-ho and a bottle of rum.

  A deep, dark voice invaded my mind.

  “Peyton! Are you even listening?”

  The voice snapped me back to reality, and I saw Olivia on the other side of the table, staring at me with wide eyes and a sullen look.

  “Yeah, I . . .” I righted myself and shook my head. What was that?

  “Earth to Peyton! What are you ordering?” Olivia asked.

  “I’m not sure yet.” I shook my head again and dropped my eyes back to the menu, but I couldn’t focus.

  The voice repeated over and over in my mind, like a residual echo that’d been left behind, as I stared at the same spot for longer than a minute.

  “Peyton, are you okay?” Jake asked, nudging me gently.

  I turned to face him, glad to have something else to focus on. I saw the concern on his brow, his dark eyes watching me intently. Normally, I would never lie to Jake, but this was his time away, too. I couldn’t spoil it for him.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit spaced I think.” I nodded.

  “Now who’s complaining about being on a pirate ship,” Olivia said, with a smug smile.

  “I’m not complaining. I guess I just feel a bit out of sorts.” I shrugged.

  “You want to go lie down?” Jake asked. He rested his hand on top of mine, warm and cocooning.