Zoey laughed. “All aboard?” she asked looking around.
“Six couples.” He nodded. “Ready to head out.”
This was the part of the evening he loved. The first few moments heading out to open water. For the first half hour, Zoey filled everyone’s drink orders while he navigated them out of the narrow canal and headed out to the bay and then into the Gulf’s crystal-clear waters. Once they were in open water, he shut off the onboard motor, and Zoey helped him raise the sails.
He let several couples take pictures of themselves standing behind the wheel with the sunset behind them before someone spotted the first dolphin. After that, everyone was glued to the water, looking for more.
Zoey made her way towards him and lowered her voice.
“Not to raise any alarms, but I’m going to suggest that we not allow the Steins to return.” She motioned to the middle-aged couple staring out at the water with sour looks on their faces.
He hadn’t known the couple’s names or, for that matter, cared too much. It wasn’t as if he normally got close to any of the guests. Sometimes, there were those who had extended stays or had booked him for private trips, and he grew familiar with them.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
“Just a heads-up, I doubt you’ll be getting a tip from them.” Zoey sighed heavily. “Honestly, if we weren’t in the middle of the Gulf, I’d kick them off the boat right now.”
He turned to her and for the first time since she’d started talking, noticed the anger in her eyes.
“Did they say something to you?” he asked, immediately going on guard.
He understood that not all guests were cordial. Since opening the gates, they’d had a few run-ins with guests. Some had to be asked to leave, while a couple others had to be hauled away by the police.
Zoey moved closer and lowered her voice even more. “Since stepping foot on your boat, they’ve complained constantly about you.”
“Me?” He frowned and glanced over at the couple again. Hell, he couldn’t remember saying two words to them. What would they have to… He saw it then in the man’s eyes as he glanced his way. Utter disgust. Not at anything Damion had done or said, but at who he was.
It wasn’t the first time he’d seen that look in someone’s eyes, nor would it be the last.
“Don’t worry about it,” he told Zoey, giving the couple no more of his attention. After all, that’s what haters wanted. Attention. To spread the way that they felt like a disease. He’d learned long ago that the best way to win was to ignore them when you could. “They’ll soon be on their way and off my boat.”
“I just can’t fathom that in this age there are still those out there thinking they are better because of the pigment of their skin,” Zoey said, sitting beside him.
“It’s not the first time I or others of darker skin have had to deal with people like that.” He motioned. “Remember what happened to Lea?”
“Yes, which is why the moment we dock, I’m having security escort them off the campgrounds. River Camps does not condone that sort of behavior.”
“They haven’t harmed anyone,” he pointed out, not sure why he was defending the couple. Then again, he hadn’t heard what they’d said. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad was what they said?”
Zoey seemed to think about it. “Five.”
“Let’s see how the rest of the trip pans out,” he suggested. “We don’t want to spoil anyone else’s good time.” He motioned to the rest of the group having fun taking pictures and sipping their drinks.
“Fine, it’s up to you. But if you want, I can have them off the grounds tonight.” Zoey went over to refill someone else’s wine.
Most of the time, people like the couple tended to grumble but rarely said anything in situations like this to cause attention from anyone other than the person they were hating on. This couple seemed to fit that bill perfectly. Even though looks were aimed at him, not once did they say anything directly to him.
He was pretty sure Zoey had overheard the man saying something to his wife, since neither of them talked to anyone else during the entire trip.
By the time they docked, Zoey had calmed down and had agreed not to take any action against the couple. At least for now.
Zoey had been correct—he hadn’t received a tip from the Steins. Not that he lived off tips alone. The camp paid him well enough to keep him in comfort. Besides, he really loved what he did for a living.
He enjoyed waking up in the early hours to make sure all three of the swimming pools were cleaned. He added any chemicals needed, cleaned the filters, and scooped out leaves. Then he headed down to the boathouse and helped guests check out paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes. Occasionally, a couple would book a special day sail, and at least twice a week there were enough to take out for the sunset tour.
Since he was a camp employee, he got two free meals in the employee lounge a day and discounts on all the services, such as massages, horseback rides, zip lining, and other events. He was also occasionally called on to help out at one of the weekly dinner events, where he earned plenty of tips.
All in all, his life was like one big party filled with fun people, events, and things he enjoyed.