Alle rested her head upon his shoulder.“I feel I could close my eyes and drift off right here.”
“Is that a hint that you’d like to turn in?”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking of sleeping yet.”She didn’t move from her position, but her gaze shifted from the horizon to him.“I am looking forward to kicking off these shoes.”She’d worn cute heels that made her legs go on forever, but probably weren’t all that fun to stand around in for hours on end.Her footwear was usually more practical.“Also, I want the biggest, most enormous cup of tea in the universe.At least this humongous.”She demonstrated the size with her hands.
“That does sound rather appealing.”
“Which part, being barefoot or the tea?”
“Tea.”He laughed, almost able to taste it, to smell the aroma of it wafting up from the imaginary cup she was holding.“Something pungent and herbal, that’ll lull us both into blissful, contented sleep.”
“Sleep.”She turned her head and yawned into his collarbone.“Can’t say I’m not sold.So, we’re agreed, tea and cuddles?”
“Your cabin or mine?”
“Which is closest?”
She straightened, and looked at him head on.“I think we’re right across the hall from each other.How come you don’t know that?”
He shrugged.The accommodation hadn’t been a priority.They’d gone from rehearsing with Ronnie to performing the actual show with barely enough time to wolf down a sandwich in-between.Someone else had been responsible for depositing his luggage in his room.
“Have you even seen your cabin?”
“For a couple of minutes while I was grabbing a change of clothes.I know there’s a bed and a kettle.I couldn’t tell you much more about it than that.Possibly a veranda.”
“You don’t actually care, do you?”She seemed amused.Spook couldn’t deny that he was indifferent to the proportions and décor of the cabin.He wouldn’t be spending much time there.He barely remembered any of the hotels he stayed in.In any case, they’d be in Gothenburg by eleven-ish.He’d wake, breakfast, maybe have a swim, and then he’d stand on deck and watch them glide into port.In the past, he’d taken the sea route back to his beloved homeland on several occasions.It’d been cheaper than flying, less chaotic, and he liked the water, the emptiness and quiet you could find in the middle of an ocean.What he remembered about the approach to Gothenburg was the clarity of the water.The seaweed swaying, reaching out with green fingers to caress the underside of the ship.The illusion that the bottom was only inches beneath the hull.That you could stand on the soft sand, walk among this silent sea-bound forest, and maybe catch a glimpse of a mermaid at play.
“Tea.”Alle tugged upon his arm, until he released his grip on the railings, and her hand slipped comfortably into his.“Green for you, and stewed with four sugars and milk for me.”
“Turning in?”Xane asked as they drifted through the VIP lounge.
“Alle wants tea.”
“Is that a euphemism,” Rock Giant asked, and was elbowed in the ribs by Ginny in response.“I’m just saying.It’s a new one on me, if it is.”
“It means tea.”Alle playfully poked him in the shoulder.“Jeez, guys, get your minds out of the gutter.”Rock Giant had the grace to look sheepish, the rest of them exchanged scoffs and half-smiles.All except Xane, who pursed his lips, and gave Spook a curious nod with his eyes.“Breakfast at nine, so we can talk about the festival, okay.”
Spook nodded his acknowledgement.As one of the headline acts, they were expected to put on an explosive show.That meant more practice, as well as working on things like choreography.Taking to a festival stage was a million miles away from the intimate gig they’d performed tonight.Spook honestly couldn’t say which he liked best.They both had their own special charms.What was best, he eventually decided, was that he didn’t have to choose, being in the fortunate position of being able to do both.
The band and their guests had been assigned cabins on the top deck, luxury suites, he realised from the shipboard signage.It seemed like a bit of a waste.The fans, for whom this cruise was a holiday, would likely have appreciated them more.A view was definitely wasted on him.Honestly, he’d have been fine with a bunk in the ships bowels.It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to being crammed in, six to a room, and falling asleep to the drone of an engine punctuated by other people snoring.
“This deck has its own private pool,” Alle was saying, as they headed into the corridor that housed their cabins.“I always wanted a house with a swimming pool when I was growing up.I loved swimming, but I hated the noise and bustle of the local pool.And getting splashed.I hate it when my face gets wet or the water gets in my eyes.Don’t like goggles though.Rock Giant was way too splashy when we were swimming in the Med.”
“Is that why you were only in the water for half a minute?”
She nodded.“That, and I didn’t fancy sunburn.Doubt you’d have fancied me much with a lobster red stripe across my nose.”
He hoped she didn’t honestly believe that.“I’d fancy you even if you burnt to a crisp.”
“Yeah?”
“Promise.”
She tilted her head up and he gave her a kiss.“Oh,” she gasped, when they drew apart.Flynn was waiting outside her cabin door, no longer dressed in his uniform.
“I thought we could share a nightcap before you turn in,” Flynn said, his attention hyper focused on Alle, making it abundantly clear to Spook that he wasn’t invited to their chit-chat.Most likely, her brother wanted to talk to her about him, and why fooling around with rock stars was insane, a sure fire way to get burned, and didn’t she know that Spook in particular was a monumental freak?
Alle turned her pleading green eyes upon him.“So sorry,” she seemed to say.“So sorry, that my brother is being a dick.Let me talk to him, so I can smooth this out.Honestly, I don’t get it.He was such a big fan of yours.”
Yeah, but that was before big brother Marshall presumably got to him.“I don’t do conflict, Alle.”
“Wouldn’t expect you to.I’ll talk to him.Find out why he’s being so weird.It’s probably nothing at all, or something unrelated to you.It’s probably to do with Dad.Things have been weird since he passed on.”
Was that true?
He guessed, from what she’d told him about it, there’d been difficulties, also a lot of resentment even before his will had left them vastly differently compensated.But none of that changed the fact he’d thumped their other brother in the face.
“Goodnight,” he said to her, and kissed her on the cheek.“Flynn.”They exchanged desultory nods.Then Spook let himself into his cabin and closed the door.
