Wilder

Apparently Paxton’s nickname for me had traveled fast.

“You, too, Penna. Or do you prefer Rebel?” I asked, realizing my error.

She had a supermodel smile and matching legs. “Penna’s fine for you, Leah.” The genetics in that family were seriously enviable. “Of course Wilder is late. I barely got him up when I walked out the door.”

“Oh, you room together?” That would explain the balcony.

“Yeah, it’s a three bedroom, and they thought the team should be together.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say. Conversation wasn’t something I was particularly skilled at, and nodding usually saved me from whatever awkward comment was undoubtedly going to come out of my mouth.

My watch read 9:05 a.m. Of course he was late, but I saved the seat next to me anyway.

“Good morning, students, I’m Dr. Paul, Dean of Academics.” A middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair appeared from behind the curtain center stage. “Welcome to the Athena. I trust that your first night went well?”

A cheer went through the auditorium.

“Good. Now it’s time to buckle down. Today is your first full day of classes. The ship functions as a self-contained college campus. You’ll have regular classes, exams, homework—all the fun. You should have registered for the relevant shore excursions, but if you find that you need extra credit, contact your professors to see if they’re offering any extra field studies to boost your grades.”

“Morning, Firecracker,” Paxton whispered in my ear as he slid into the empty seat next to me.

“You’re late,” I chided, trying to ignore the way my stomach tightened at the sound of his voice.

He simply winked and slid a steaming cup of coffee my way. I took a tentative sip and nearly moaned in ecstasy. Where I’d had an outright battle with the huge espresso machine, he’d obviously had no issues with his.

“Thank you,” I said with a soft smile, more than aware that I hadn’t exactly been nice to him yesterday.

He winked.

My stomach nearly dropped to the floor. How was something so simple so incredibly sexy? At least he has a shirt on today. I called that a win for womankind. After all, we had to study somehow.

“All classes occur during at-sea days. When it comes to shore days, if we’re in port, you’re given free rein. You’re adults, after all. But you’d better be on board when it’s time to sail, or we will leave you behind. If you are so unfortunate as to be left, you’d better make it to the next port before we leave, or you’re out of the program. No exceptions. That includes you, Mr. Wilder.” He pointed up to Paxton, who grinned.

“Hey, I made it on before we left port.”

“Uh-huh.” Dean Paul didn’t seem amused. I liked him already.

He went on to explain meal times, activities on the ship, locations of the bookstore and our classrooms. I took copious notes while Paxton sat with his arms folded across his chest, looking bored.

“Now this is the first excursion of its kind. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Semester at Sea program, and that is not what we’re doing here. It’s a full academic year on board the Athena. You’ll go home for Christmas and return in the new year just like any other college. You’re expected to keep up your grades, and you can be expelled like at any other school. This program is unique in its makeup, its opportunities in port, the freedom you’re given, and its work-study program. Respect all the students aboard, stay out of my office, and we’ll get along fine.”

The differences in the programs were what made this one so much more expensive—hell, it catered to rich kids—but the work-study made it possible for people like me. The expense afforded the luxury for kids like Paxton.

“Ready for Lit?” Paxton asked as we exited the auditorium.

“No cameras?” I asked, looking both directions down the hall.

“I think the crew is still hungover. Besides, they’re not that interested in the academic side of this. Hey,” he said to Brooke as she started to pass us. “Little John said you had the Bermuda papers.”

“I did,” she answered. “Don’t worry, I popped them into your safe after I faxed them over to the permit office.”

“Sweet. Thank you,” he said before she went ahead to her class.

“It must take a lot of coordination to do…whatever it is you do.”

“It does. I’m lucky I’ve got some great friends to do it with.”

As we walked down the narrow halls, I was acutely aware of the eyes on us, but I did my best to ignore them. If this was the cost for taking the trip, then so be it.

“So, I met Zoe this morning,” I said, sneaking a sideways look at Paxton. “She’s…um…”

“She’s something else,” he said, shaking his head. “Was she a bitch?”

“She was…unfriendly.”

He flinched. “I’d apologize for her, but she wouldn’t be sorry. When they opened up the reservations for the team first, I figured she’d skip out. College was never her thing, but then she signed up, and I couldn’t tell her no. She’s a Renegade.”

He held the door for me into our classroom, and I buried my instinct to smile. This wasn’t a date, for God’s sake. He was just being a gentleman. “How many of you are there on the ship?”

“Three of the Originals who started the channel, and we do the majority of the stunts and all the larger ones, but the entire team is about fifteen of us, plus camera crew. Landon is another Original. Brooke and Penna handle a ton of our tech, but Penna’s also a badass on a bike. Don’t let her cute looks fool you.”