Page 24 of Shameless

Lula

My life is a real mess.

When I arrived in Star Cove a few weeks ago, I felt safe. Despite the fact that Dad made me feel like having me with him was an inconvenience, and despite the frosty reception I got from Stefan and Jules, I was almost three thousand miles away from Evan.

Things started taking a turn for the worse after my brush-in with Trevor and after Mason caught up with me. Even the guy I had considered my friend at the worst time in New York, turned out a threat.

My stomach lurches at the thought that I lost Mason’s bag in last night’s storm and I’m sure that will be added to my tab.

Stefan and Crew are talking about what will happen to Star Thunders without Eddie and what that means for them as we ride to the main island’s port to board the ferry back to the mainland.

I only half-listen to them, holding a sleepy Napoleon in my arms in the backseat of Crew’s Jeep.

Whatever happens with Mason, hopefully we can work something out. If he wanted to hurt me, I think he would have done it already and without Trevor in town, maybe we can take over supplying the college kids and tourists who want a little chemical enhancement to enjoy their summer to the fullest.

I know selling drugs is twice as risky for me because I’m on probation, but I need to pay my debt to Mason to make sure he doesn’t carry out his threat to hurt the guys.

If I can make a deal with him, maybe I can convince Mason to help me keep Evan away from me for however long he and Tiffany will be stuck in Star Cove.

One hurdle I’ll have to face is to talk to Arianna about quitting my job at the club. As long as Evan is staying there, there’s no way I want to be around.

With a tentative battle plan in mind, I accept Stefan’s hand to climb off the Jeep once we board the ferry.

“Oh.” I squeal as the relatively small boat violently rocks from side to side.

“Jeez,” Stefan bites out, almost losing his balance as the boat moves as if it was a toy in the hands of a toddler. “What the fuck?”

“The sea is stormy,” a very pale Arianna says, stumbling toward us from where Dad parked their car a few spots ahead. “While the boat race was canceled under horrible circumstances, I’m glad they did cancel it. It looks like last night’s storm was just the beginning.”

Crew runs a hand on his mouth, as if trying to avoid the urge to barf. “Is it even safe to be on a boat right now?”

Dad is right behind Arianna. “I just spoke to the captain and we just made the last trip they’re doing today. If we had missed this one, we would have been stuck on the island for another night. He also advised us to go out to the deck. It isn’t raining yet and he thinks fresh air will help with the sea sickness. The crew will distribute life jackets and sick bags just as a precaution.”

Great.

I follow behind Stefan with Napoleon still asleep in my arms and I’m surprised when my stepbrother takes my hand into his.

We’ve agreed to keep our distance from each other in front of Dad, but he doesn’t seem concerned about it right now.

As we make it to the main deck of the ferry, we don’t even need to get to the railing to see that the sea is big and choppy; tall waves spray on the deck as the vessel cuts through the formidable currents that govern this stretch of water.

“Shit,” Stefan groans. “It feels like being on one of those carnival rides that undulate from side to side.”

“You’re right,” I agree, as my muscles tense up to keep me upright. “I could never convince you to go on those rides. Remember that flying carpet one? I begged you one entire summer but you never wanted to go on it.”

“I never go,” Stefan pants. “Because I can’t take this kind of movement, it makes me wanna?—”

Oh, boy.

Stefan’s breath is taken away by a bout of nausea and rather than whatever he was going to say, he loses his lunch on his sneakers.

“Babe,” I worry. “Are you ok?”

He went from pale to a sickly greenish complexion that promises more vomiting in the immediate future.

“I didn’t even have time to open my sick bag. I need to go find some tissues to clean my shoes.”

I point toward Jules, who doesn’t look in much better shape than his younger brother. “Jules always carries some wet wipes, you might have better luck borrowing some, rather than attempting to go down one level to the bathroom.”

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