Page 115 of Reckless

By the third day, I’m confident enough that we can leave the hotel, but I’ve got a surprise planned for later, so tell her to carry on writing while I get some work done myself. The concern is written all over her face when I tell her it’s band stuff, but I assure her it's nothing to worry about.

Fisher wants the whole band to meet up as a one off. Not enforcing us to come back to work, to discuss everything that has gone on over the last few weeks. He’s right. We do need to speak to Quicksilver about the investigation into what Cody was doing.

We may be taking a break from ‘work’ but what is going on is too huge to wait until we’re done with the planned break.

Solene sees it as an opportunity to lay down some rules with a new manager, agreeing Fisher is handling everything well enough to overlook some of the historic bullshit. She wants to make sure our health, and best interests are included in any plans going forward.

We have a quick zoom call with everyone involved and decide a face-to-face meeting needs to happen next week, with our agents and lawyers there. Knowing this is best for the band is the only reason I agree. Krista is going to be busy with her convention and won’t want me hanging around.

As everyone is saying their goodbyes, I glance up and see Krista in the doorway. She has one of those lopsided buns in her hair, is wearing one of my t-shirts and her legs are bare. I want to take a mental picture of her looking like this. Then remember I don’t need to. She’s going to be in my life for as long as she’ll let me, because I’m not going anywhere.

When I tell her we’re going out, there is only a moment of concern before she gets excited, and I’m glad I made the plans.

We don’t leave until later in the evening, and Riggs is waiting outside the room for us.

Luther has a car downstairs. I’d suggested I drive us, but Luther wouldn’t allow it. He was adamant, in fact, that we aren’t left alone, saying it is one thing wandering around in the middle of nowheresville where I wasn’t likely to be mobbed. Being in a huge, populated city, where we’re known to have an enormous fan base, is a completely different story.

Okay, so I let him have that one. Plus, Krista agreed with the security guards over me, reminding me of the incident in Rapid City. No one needed to be reminded of the one in Minneapolis.

Krista catches on to where we’re going quickly. I’m counting on the fact that as a Chicago native, this is something she saw a lot but didn’t partake of. You tend not to do the tourist thing in your own city. And even if she has, it won’t be anything like what I have planned.

We bypass the dock where all the eager tourists are queueing up for the tour boats. We head for a private boat a little further down the Chicago River. There is no one at the dock besides the staff and us. Krista glances at the boat waiting for us.

“Is that a yacht?” she asks, her eyes wide.

“Only a little one.” I take her hand.

“A little one,” she stares at the yacht.

It’s not that little. It has two upper decks and a lower one where the bedrooms are. There is a bar and seating area, and a table has been set up where we’re going to eat and enjoy the cruise. The captain is waiting to greet us, all decked out in his uniform.

I’ve never done anything like this before myself, so it’s new to me too, but I want to treat her.

“Fucking hell,” she mutters, and Riggs stifles a laugh.

Luther is busy looking all around as we’re ushered onto the boat, watching the dock behind us, his eyes moving in all directions. I’m used to it, thinking nothing more of it.

“I’ve only hired it for a three-hour cruise and dinner.”

“Jude, this is insane,” she says, gripping the handrail as we board the boat. “Are we doing the Chicago River cruise? I’ve never done it before.”

That makes my chest swell. “And out onto Lake Michigan. It’s a sunset cruise.”

“You’re going all out this week, huh?” she asks as we step onto the boat.

“It’s not something I normally do,” I tell her honestly. “After the last few weeks, I thought it might be nice to be spoilt. Have someone else look after us. And you know, like I said, don’t get used to it. You're a done deal-”

Krista pushes me. “Ass! But I’ll try not to.”

She rolls her eyes, but they’re shining with amusement and a touch of excitement.

I didn’t hire a full staff, just the chef and the captain, so I head to the bar myself and open the champagne that is waiting for us in a bucket of ice. Riggs and Luther board and head up to the higher deck with the captain after he has introduced himself, leaving us alone.

We take a seat on the couches at the back of the boat as it gets moving. Because we don’t have a guide with us, we haven’t got all the information you would get on a tourist cruise, but Krista knows this place well and keeps me informed about what we’re passing before we sail out onto Lake Michigan.

We pass by the tourist boats but sit on the opposite side so no one can see our faces. Krista snuggles into me as we finish the champagne.

“Cold?”

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