Isabella felt exhausted yet satisfied as she caught her breath. "That was a hard workout," she managed between breaths, her voice carrying a cheerful tone despite her fatigue. As she spoke, she leaned heavily on her knees, her muscles trembling from the grueling eight-hour swim, hike, and climb.
“I told you it would be a while before we’d be ready. What we just did; tomorrow we need to do double in half the time. By the end of the month we need to be able to do it in half an hour. Eventually we will be able to cover the same distance in under three minutes.”
Isabella looked at Aulfrick as if he was half mad. “You know that’s not humanly possible right?” she questioned him as he smirked back at her.
“Isn’t it?”
The two of them almost made it back to their room when Jack called out to them from behind. “Miss Isabella, Aulfrick, we’re going to the Peg and Whistle, why don’t you two join us?”
“O hey Jack, I didn’t even see you. I’m sorry but I’m beat tonight, I just want to do a few more stretches, shower and then head to bed.” Isabella barely stifled a yawn.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“That’s too bad, how about you Aulfrick. We’ll make it a boy’s night and you’re buying, I did cook you a nice breakfast after all.” Jack hid his revulsion especially at that last part.
“I don’t know Jack, I’m kind of looking forward to a shower myself.” Aulfrick was about to decline when Isabella spoke up.
“Go ahead Hun, why don’t you hang out with the boys tonight. I know you’re not even winded from today.” She was always trying to get Aulfrick to socialize and have fun.
Sighing, “O all right. I’ll grab a quick shower, change and meet you there.” Aulfrick agreed much to Jack’s delight.
“Don’t be too long, take the alley closer to the docks it be faster.” Jack instructed him. “Night Miss Isabella, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jack giving Isabella a big grin as him and Olic went out the door.
As Aulfrick left their room, he paused by Isabella, his lips meeting hers in a brief tender kiss before he stepped out of the Peg and Whistle.
“It’s almost sun up, where is Jack? It’s unusual for him not to be prepping the boat by now.” Sam called to Olic over the very loud fog horn from the Red Octopus.
“Don’t know, he never made it to the Peg and Whistle last night; I had to keep Aulfrick entertained most of it. Jack was rambling a bit after you left; some plan of his to finally win Miss Isabella after Aulfrick was put out to sea. Then he told me to go on ahead. That Aulfrick fella really gives me the creeps, something not right about him; especially when it comes to her.”
Sam nodded, a wistful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “That woman's smile,” he mused, “makes every man go weak in the knees.” He cast a glance toward the harbor as the Red Octopus let out a deep, mournful blast from its foghorn; she wouldn’t be back for another year. “Anyway,” he continued, his voice tinged with urgency, “enough gossiping. We'd best set sail, those fish aren’t going to just jump in our nets."