The party was in full swing on the pirate ship by the time Scout got there. He walked across the deck, nodding at his crewman and the pirates he knew. The two crews were deep into a barrel of rum already. 

Scout crossed the deck, headed toward a pirate named Cale who he’d become close to. Cale had dark brown hair, a farmer’s tan, and a body that looked like it belonged in a painting, naked except for a fig leaf. His perfect muscles bulged against his thin cotton shirt. Cale was handsome in a ‘manual labor,’ kind of way, he reminded Scout of the guys who worked the docks back in Jamaica, where he was from. 

Scout recounted the umbrella situation, and how he’d fled to the pirate ship instead of carrying out orders to deliver a message. Cale thought it was hilarious. 

“That’s the job!” Scout shrugged. “Captain Montgomery says he wants a giant umbrella to stand under, I gotta make sure that message is delivered. It’s stupid, but that’s what I signed up for. It could always be worse.”

Cale took a swig of his rum. “How is ol’ Montgomery doing these days?”

“Captain Montgomery. Careful, they’ll flog you for that,” Scout joked. 

Cale loved teasing Scout about his vanilla job. Sometimes he regaled him with stories of his pirate adventures. He was obviously trying to recruit him to join the Boattega, and Scout allowed it because he was a fun hang. 

Also, because they banged sometimes.

Scout straightened his uniform coat. “Montgomery’s been anxious, I caught him crying on his setee the day before yesterday.”

“Oh, no,” Cale furrowed his brow in worry. 

“You don’t actually have to care about this guy, he sucks,” Scout reminded him. “He always eases up after he gets laid. The rest of this week is going to be easy.”

Cale shook his head in disbelief. “Do we really believe they’re dating? Captain Montgomery Montgomery and Captain Lawrence?”

“Oh, come on.”

“No, seriously. The guys have a bet about what they really do when they’re alone in their quarters. I think that Lawrence is a spy, and this whole dating thing is a cover so he can pass messages to Montgomery.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard!” Scout took another swig of his rum. 

Cale watched him. “Don’t drink too much.”

“I’m not!”

“I had plans this evening that would be ruined if you passed out drunk.” Cale’s green eyes licked over Scout’s body.

Scout felt himself get hot, and it wasn’t the afternoon sun. He imagined what Cale wanted to do with him. The night would probably end with a private rendezvous below deck somewhere. 

“They are definitely banging,” said Scout.

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I’ve heard it? Montgomery is as loud in bed as he is around the ship. He gives just as many orders!”

That made Cale laugh. “You’re bullshitting me.”

“I’m not.” Scout almost took another drink, but stopped himself. “My room is on the other side of the wall, I hear everything. That’s how I know that Captain Lawrence bottoms.”

“Shut up!”

“Yep, bet you didn’t see that coming. Picture that for a second, Captain Montgomery topping.”

Cale looked away, frustrating his imagination trying to picture the Captains in bed together.

Meanwhile, Scout’s eyes wandered to the top deck, where the Boattega’s First Mate stood guard. Rodrigo was intimidating, not in a fun kind of way. He was a handsome Spaniard covered in tattoos and silver jewelry. His strong jaw was coated with a light stubble, long enough that it wouldn’t scratch your jaw if you kissed him, if you were into that kind of thing. He would have been hotter but he was permanently scowling.

Scout accidentally made eye contact with him for a moment. His light blue eyes met Rodrigo’s cold, dark, gaze. 

Scout looked away, turning his head so fast that he caught Cale’s attention.

“What?” asked Cale. 

“I accidentally made eye contact with your First Mate. I think he’s gonna kill me now.”

Cale laughed. “Don’t worry about Rodrigo.”

“He scares the crap outta me!” 

“He scares the crap out of everyone! It’s kind of his thing.” Cale brushed a lock of dark hair out of his face. 

Scout was momentarily distracted by how beautiful he was. “Are you going to tell me that Rodrigo looks intimidating but is a softie at heart? Like, he looks tough but underneath the silver teeth, he’s got a heart of gold. Or whatever.” 

“No way, I watched Rodrigo eat a whole habanero pepper last week. Right down the hatch, didn’t even flinch.”

“What!”

Cale nodded. “Yeah, did it on a bet. Not even a big bet, like, two shillings. Didn’t even cry.” 

“Cale!”

“What? We’re pirates, we do dumb stuff for money.”

Scout straightened his neck kerchief. “How is that allowed? Where was your Captain?”

“Captain Lawrence was the one who bet him he couldn’t eat it without crying.”

“No! And he did it?”

 “Rodrigo’s face was like,” Cale made a blank expression. “Nothing. No emotion.”

Scout looked away. “Something is wrong with him.”

“Maybe. That’s just how Rodrigo is.”

Scout could taste the spicy pepper just talking about it. “It’s just that Captain Lawrence is such a trash fire, I thought his First Mate would be a can of kerosene, you know? Instead his First Mate is the scariest man I’ve ever met.”

“They share a room on the ship,” said Cale.

“No they don’t!”

“They sleep together in the Captain’s quarters.”

“I don’t think you understand, Cale. This is the kind of gossip I can trade for tobacco. Are they…? You know.” Scout made a face, like an, ‘Are they are banging?’ kinda face. It took a second for Cale to figure out what he was implying. 

Cale looked up at Rodrigo. The First Mate’s gaze was focused elsewhere, on a small brawl at the edge of the ship. Fights were pretty normal on a pirate ship, so they didn’t break them up.

Cale looked back at Scout, and shrugged.

“Rodrigo and Lawrence are totally boning,” Scout whispered. 

“Could you imagine? I would love to get in the middle of that,” Cale joked. 

Scout playfully shoved him. 

“What? The Captain and his First Mate?”

“I bet Rodrigo scowls the whole time,” said Scout.

Cale smiled. “Lawrence and Rodrigo are like, tens.”

Scout stepped a little closer. “And what am I?”

“Baby, you’re an eleven.”