“Because I can’t go out to the pool which is apoorsubstitute for the ocean.”
Garcia nods a second time as he slides his hands into his suit pants pockets.“And?”
“Because this bathtub is so fucking small.A terrible consolation prize for the pool being unavailable.”
His head arrogantly cocks to the side.“And…”
“And because it’s fucking raining,” she finally grouses on a glare.
“See,” he haughtily grins wider, “you like to argue for no reason too, Princess.”
“I argue withpurpose.”
“The purpose being to piss off as many people as possible during it.”
“Absolutely.”
Her retort gets him chortling along with shaking his head.
“Is that why you said I can’t read?”I inquire, rejoining the conversation to prevent myself from obsessing over how hot Garcia looks in his light gray linen suit.
Or how I can practically outline his package with my eyes.
Or how it’s okay that Iopenlyoutline his package with my eyes.
At least while we’re here.
On this mission.
Tucked away from everyone who really knows him.
“For the last fucking time,” Salay seethes, “I didnotsaynor implythat you.Could.Not.Read.ABCmouse.”There’s no time for my mouth to even twitch in response.“What Isaidand theninferred-”
“Synonym for implied,” the attorney tauntingly inserts.
“-was that maybe youmisread the cluesormisinterpreted them.”
“I-”
“Oh, no you don’t, Hooked on Phonics.”A stern finger is swiftly pointed in my direction, water flying across the short distance.“I listened to you have your ‘nobody puts baby on a laptop’ tantrum long enough.”
Additional sniggers out of Garcia have to be hidden behind a balled fist.
“Yes, you have programs and algorithms and Skynet approved assistance;however,it doesn’t meantheydon’t make mistakes or can’t make mistakes or are even capable of conveying shit that was not intended to be deciphered like a number rather than an event.”
Pulling my lips to one side helps me remain silent.
“And yes, you speakcoding.You speak all the 1s and 0s and alphabet shapes of the computer world, but you don’t speakmaritime.And even the best programming out there can’t translate drunken pirate.”
Guilt glides itself up my spine prompting me to curl inward.
“All I wastrying to suggestwas that maybewe – with our human eyes and brains– re-evaluate some of the clues.Maybe double check some of the ocean pattern changes withactualinformation and insight from oceanographers.Real life humans who can give us thoughts and opinions and ideas.Who knows.Perhaps we may have even missed some geological events that didn’t make it into the online archives.”
“That’s not a thing,” I quietly rebut.“People don’tnotupload ancient shit.”
“I don’t know which part of that sentence to take more offense to,” Garcia good naturedly grumps.
Bewilderment has me furrowing my brow.
