Page 20 of Love Overboard
What was your first impression of the crew?
Eli snorts, shakes his head.
ELI
Mate. You ever seen a group of people so good-looking and that bad at making good decisions? I clocked it straight away — this was going to be a messy season.
PRODUCER
What made you think that?
Eli holds up fingers, counting them off.
ELI
One — half of us were clearly using this job to run from something. Two — we were all so ready to let off steam that we got gees’d every night out with the crew. Three — there were exes on board, and that’s never a good thing.
PRODUCER
I assume you’re referring to Ember and Finn?
ELI
Listen, I didn’t know the full backstory at first. But from day one? Ohhh, you could feel the tension. The way they looked at each other? The way they didn’t look at each other? You didn’t have to be a genius to know there was history there. I scoped it out early because Ember is mooi andI wanted to go for her. Nothing like a fun little boatmance to get you through a season, right? But I had to check with the other okes, get a feel for where everyone’s head was at. And when I brought it up around Finn? When he saw me flirting with her?
Eli whistles.
ELI
Should have seen his face. Oh wait — you did. I think the way he blew steam out of his ears and nearly chopped his finger was our first sign that we were all in trouble.
PRODUCER
Did you think they’d be able to stay professional? Once you found out they had history, that is.
Eli deadpans, sucks teeth.
ELI
Absolutely not.
Eli pauses, laughs, kicks back in chair and crosses ankle over knee.
ELI
Nah, I mean, they tried. I’ll give them that. But let’s be real — when you mix past heartbreak, close quarters, long nights, and alcohol? Eish, something was always gonna give.
PRODUCER
Are you still angry about what happened?
ELI
Angry? Nah, man — that’s not really my vibe. Was I disappointed? Sure. A bitgutted, even. But ja, it is what it is. Life moves, and I happen to dig life quite a bit.
PRODUCER
Do you blame Finn for ruining the season?
