Page 23 of Billion-Dollar Attitudes

Chapter Fifteen

Daniel

“Why do you look like you’re physically here, sitting at your desk, but your mind is on some other planet in a galaxy nowhere near here?”

Ryder’s voice shook me from my thoughts. I didn’t know how long it had been since I had drifted off into another world, but I had enjoyed every minute of it. “Sorry, what’s up?”

Ryder lifted a brow. “I texted you Saturday night to come out with us.”

I cleared my throat, anxiously grabbing a pen even though I didn’t need one. “Yeah, sorry. I was at the surf competition thing and my phone died.”

“Mhmm. And then Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday you were missing in action.”

I shook my head. “I had that tech summit at the convention center, remember? The one you guys stuck me with. I was exhausted by the end of it and crashed right after.”

“So, this whimsy look on your face is dreams of the next big tech boom?”

Chuckling, I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t have a whimsy look. I was just mentally checked out, doing my meditation.”

On visions of Sicily’s body.

Ryder put up his hands. “Alright, man. If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine too. Whatever you need to do. Anyway, what are you doing this weekend?”

I grinned. “I am off starting tomorrow. I’m going to be sandcastle drunk all weekend. Stopping by random garage parties, playing beer pong, drinking liquor slushies and eating fish tacos. Oh, and some surfing of course.”

Ryder laughed, shaking his head. “I swear every year you become more of a child.”

“You stopping by this weekend?”

Ryder stopped at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder. “If I can find a place to park my bike.”

I smirked, chuckling as he walked out of the room. We had gone to sandcastles in IB for the last six years. Why? I had no idea but three days of drunken antics and bad ass sand castles was something I loved. Plus, it was an excuse to basically wear a bathing suit and flip flops for three days straight. I always skipped Sunday and Thursday I took my time since it was really just a day of building and setting up. Not to mention that I had fully planned on tap tapping on Sicily’s door while I was there.

I rented the same house every year. The thing looked like a boat, sat right on the water and was actually right across the street from where Sicily lived. I was feeling suffocated in my place, looking over my shoulder, investigating every creak and crack in the house. I tried to keep my mind off of it, checking in with the detective from time to time. Still, there had been very few developments and we weren’t any closer to figuring out what I had to do with any of it. Luckily, nothing else had happened.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out, feeling that twinge of adolescent excitement to see Sicily’s name on the screen.

Sorry I crashed last night. Didn’t see your text until now.

It’s cool. I see how it is. Use me for my body and then ghost me. I chuckled as I pressed send, then momentarily panicked thinking maybe it was a bit too forward.

Ha! Well, at least you know the truth. She finished with a winky face.

I let out a sigh of relief. The car pick you up on time today?

Yes. Thank you. I’m so glad my car is parked and not moving all weekend. Harper brought the driver a muffin, but unfortunately she had it clutched in her tiny hand when she gave it to him.

I chuckled at the adorable picture in my head. Mmmm. Everyone loves a little sticky fist muffin early in the morning.

…why did that sound like something I’d have to google, and then be upset I googled it?

Tilting my head back, I laughed loudly. It probably is. Some crazy Canadian sex position.

She sent back several laughing emojis followed immediately by a picture of a brooding man. Boss is coming. Gotta go, don’t want detention. Oh wait. You’re his boss…where are my perks?

I’ll give em’ to you this weekend at sandcastles. *wink *wink

She sent back a blushing emoji and I set the phone on the desk. I had a serious case of vacation and couldn’t get focused on my work for anything. That and a serious case of Sicily. I couldn’t get her off my mind all week. I didn’t think she would actually text me as much as she had. Part of me wanted to ask her and Harper to dinner in the city when I was at the tech event, but I didn’t want to crowd her. While she opened up…in many ways, the weekend before, I still felt like she was keeping me at arms length. It was especially noticeable when I was around her in person. I hoped that she would open up to me that upcoming weekend more, letting me know what had been going on and where her brain was.

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