Jeez. The multiple implications of his words hit me at once, and I’ll have to come back and work through all of them one by one. But the biggest surprise is that we’re getting somewhere. “Okay. I’m sorry. Last night it was late, and I thought you’d like to get home to be with—”Fuck me. I don’t know her name. Instead of making an ass of myself, I rake my hands through my wet hair with a groan. “Let’s have some real talk. You hold the fort. I’m getting us some beers.”
I take a blitz shower in the washroom and dress in shorts and a T-shirt. When I come out, he’s still busy packing things away, so I rush to the nearest bar and get two cold beers from the barman. I bet there’s a no-drinking rule for staff on the job, butthis is bro time, and I’m not going to mess this up by talking to Roger without a drink in hand.
When I get back, I point to the beach. “Let’s go.”
We walk some twenty yards away from the dive center to a cluster of palm trees and sit down, our backs against the trunks. “Do you dive?” I ask him after we’ve each had a deep pull.
“Yes and no.”
“Right.” Lots of those coming my way. “Why yes and why no?”
“I’ve gone down many times, never deep, but I’m also not qualified so?—”
“Why aren’t you qualified?”
Roger shakes his head and takes another drink. “I was learning with Peter—he was here two guys ago, before Setiawan and now you—but it’s always so busy, and we didn’t finish, and then he left.”
Weird. Basic scuba training can be done in a week. “Okay, that we’ll sort out within the next couple of days. I’m qualified to sign off on your training. We can even take you beyond the basic level while I’m here, if you want.”
Roger studies me, his gaze no longer angry, but more curious. “Why would you do that?”
Isn’t it obvious?“I want to help you, and this place can’t have only one dive master. It’s insane.”
He laughs, if a bit bitter. “People aren’t usually so keen to teach us new things.”
“Why’s that?”
“Once we know something, we leave. Go to better places, like you.”
I nod, finally seeing how the current flows here. This young man is frustrated and stuck in a job at a place that won’t get him anywhere beyond being the boat guy. If he ups his skills, he will also earn more money and I bet that girl has something to dowith half of what goes on here. I have zero scruples in helping him out. If he wants to up his skills, I’ll make it happen. This is what’s needed to have Roger all-in during dives with guests. He must know what it’s like down there, but he hasn’t experienced it fully. “I’ll teach you everything I know in the time we have. No problem.”
“What about all those cameras you dive with?”
“What about them?”
“Show me how they work?”
He’s giving me the perfect excuse to go out and film and work on my series without it seeming dodgy. “Sure. Let’s get some lunch, and we’ll start this afternoon.”
Roger shakes his head. “You for real?”
“Yeah, why not? Do you have any other plans?”
“No. But I don’t know. Mike might not like it.”
“Who’s the boss here? Me or Mike?” Technically the correct answer is probably Lexi, for all I know, but when it comes to diving, this is my show, and I’ll direct Mike off the stage if he wants to interfere.
Roger shakes his head and flashes me a shy smile.
“So what’s up with you and the girl from the spa?” Now that I have him here and the words are flowing, I can find out how deep Roger’s frustrations run.
“Deshni? She’s theone, man. She’s theonefor me but—” He shakes his head, and now the poor guy looks like he’s about to cry.
“Hey. It’s okay. This is why you need to up your game? I totally get that.”
“I’m trying, but it’s a lost cause.”
“Why?”
