Page 48 of Royal Shark
Me:We leave at ten a.m. I’ll arrange a car to drive you to the airport.
Chloe:I’m excited.
I wish I were. I’m dreading it more than anything. I text rapidly.Good. I’m psyched to be with you. Our mini vacation.
I’m going to pack. Goodnight.
Good night. Love you.
Love you too.
I take a deep breath. I can do this. I’ll have Chloe by my side. Adrian, too, though I know he’ll be busy catching up with work stuff. Plus, I’ll probably be so busy with the guys I won’t have time to focus on anything else. I don’t have to see the two-bedroom cottage where my family crowded close every boisterous joyful summer. It’s probably occupied by new summer renters. There were only ever a few cottages available to rent on the island, and the only reason we always got that one was because the elderly couple who owned it knew my father’s family in France. The owners went to England every summer to visit their daughter and her family. I’ll tell Chloe about the cottage in case she wants the memory jog, but I won’t be going there.
I clean up, memories flooding my brain—
The scent of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. Mom always baked cookies at the cottage. It was a distinctly summer activity. She was too tired after work during the school year.
My dad sitting on the small back patio with his coffee, admiring the view of the island and the sea. The cottage was near the top of the hill, the palace at the very top, and we had a spectacular view.
My father speaking French to the locals. He was from France originally and had visited Villroy every summer as a boy. He never spoke French at home. Villroy brought out that side of him.
Long days of sun, sand, and salt water. My parents holding hands, walking everywhere. And then that summer when they stopped holding hands, and I feared they’d divorce.
I never thought they’d die. Never once crossed my mind. They were going to live forever.
A sob escapes, and I cover my mouth with my hand. I don’t want Adrian to hear, so I go into the bathroom, lock the door, run the shower, and get in, letting it all out with the noise of the water and the exhaust fan covering for me. It’s been so long since I cried over them. I knew this would be torture. Better than a panic attack, still, ithurts.
I dry off, exhausted, get dressed again, open the bathroom door, and let out a yelp.
Adrian is standing there, his gaze sympathetic.
He wraps me in his arms without a word, hugging me close. Then he guides me to bed and tucks me against his side, his arm around me. I’m getting too used to being held by him, but I don’t have the strength to put up my usual defenses, keeping my distance. Instead I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
~ ~ ~
The guys are pumped the next morning. They love the royal jet, and the moment we’re on board, sitting on the tarmac, they start betting on just about everything—what time we’ll arrive, the number of poker tables at the casino, and who will have the best full beard by the end of the weekend. I made arrangements with the flight crew for food, so we’ve got caviar on board along with champagne, vodka, and fresh fruit. Plus whatever they normally have for the meal service. I planned to put my special requests on my credit card, but Adrian insisted it was his treat.
There’s four rows of reclining seats up front, as well as a few four-chair seating areas farther back. I stay standing in the aisle, waiting for Chloe to board. The jet’s still sitting on the runway.
Sergei shows up, surprising me. One of the guys must’ve invited him. “I hope you do not mind, Sunny Sara. I couldn’t resist a comped trip.” He palms my hand, giving me a folded check.
I resist the urge to peek. “Of course, you’re always welcome. I’m glad to see you.”
The moment he takes a seat in the back, I look at the check. It’s half what he owes me. I knew he had the money! He was just agitated by having so many people witness my collection visit that day. Not to mention the fact that I turned him down. Half is a good start. Now I have the January tuition bill for Chloe and next summer’s bill too. I won’t be covering his bets, though, until he pays in full.
Chloe is the last to board, and the men go silent. She’s in her usual cardigan, tank, and jeans. White cardigan with matching white tank today. She looks cute. When she smiles, she lights up and is truly beautiful, but she rarely smiles, only when she’s excited about something she’s learning or a tight smile out of politeness.
I rush over and hug her. I turn to the guys. “This is my little sister, Chloe.”
Chloe lifts a hand. “Hello, Sara’s friends.”
I point out everyone, naming them as I go.
“Not so little, little sister Chloe,” Ivan says. “All woman.”
I stiffen. They’d better not eventhinkabout trying to get with her. But before I can say anything, Adrian crosses to her, greeting her warmly and offering to stow her backpack for her. She declines, wanting it with her to study on the flight.
I turn to Ivan. “She’s only eighteen. Don’t go there.”
