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“Oh, yeah! I saw that one. Terrifying!” Another elf shakes her head, the bells on her hat jingling.
“Gators can attack, but mostly they avoid people. Still not a great idea to get too close.” I stare pointedly at the elf who flipped me off, who shoves her phone into her pocket, cheeks flaming.
“I can probably fit two more people. I’ll drop this crew off, then circle back for the next round.”
“Sea Captain to the rescue,” Josh says, rolling his eyes from his perch at the back of the boat.
“Right? He’s a real hero!” The documentary elf beams at me and I shrug.
“It’s no big deal.” I extend my hand to Ivy, helping her into the boat, and she squeezes tight.
“Thanks for the rescue.”
“No problem. I’ve got you.” We lock eyes for a second, the crowd blurring away, and I wish I could lean over and kiss her. But I get that she needs to stay professional in front of the cast.
“We moving out of here today?” Josh sneers, interrupting our moment.
“Yep, right now.” I turn the engine over and we idle away from the dock, then pick up speed as we head out into open water.
“This puts us further behind,” Josh grumbles, raking a hand through his hair. “Hopefully we’ll be done filming the damn movie by Christmas.”
“I’m sure we’ll pivot and get the town scene’s today. Maybe a boat scene or two,” a cameraman shouts out over the roar of the motor.
“I hope so. Because I have other commitments; I have to be done by the end of the month.” Josh scowls at everyone and no one in particular as we near the bait shop.
“Here we are.” I throttle down, easing the boat alongside the dock.
“Thanks so much for saving us!” The hyperventilating elf throws her arms around me and I stiffen, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder.
“Sure, no problem.”
“Please. All he did was drive a boat,” Josh mutters, moving around me and the elf to cut the line and disembark.
“More than you did,” Ivy says, smoothing her long hair over her shoulder.
“I don’t have a boat at my disposal like the Sea Captain here,” Josh snipes back, his eyes narrowed at Ivy. Tension crackles in the air between them, and not in a good way.
“Happy to help,” I say, chiming in and trying to diffuse the situation.
“Of course you are.” Josh hoists himself onto the dock, glaring at me before taking off toward town.
“Sorry about that,” Ivy says, her voice quiet.
“Not your fault. That guy’s kind of a dick, huh?” I lower my voice so only she can hear.
“He’s not the most pleasant.”
“Maddox—” Hyperventilating elf interrupts our moment. “You want to come to happy hour tonight? Me and some of the other extras are hitting up that Hemingway bar.”
Ivy’s lips press together and her jaw tenses.
“Thanks for the offer,” I say smoothly. “But I can’t tonight.”
“Oh. Maybe next time.” She flips her hair, batting her eyelashes at me. “See you around.”
Waving, she sashays down the dock.
“Hey.” I take Ivy’s hands in mine, now that we’re alone. “Don’t worry—I’m not interested in anyone else.”
