Emma offers me a warm smile, having seemingly accepted my long-standing lie that Bryson and Jake were responsible for her ankle injury, which only makes me feel worse.
“You look well,” Beth says after the three of us exchange awkward hugs.
And well off,I think.
Emma runs a hand through her curls without returning the compliment. “Thanks. I’m so glad I could make it. I wasn’t sure when Gigi first asked me since I just bought a prewar home in Upper Queen Anne that needs to be fully gutted, and I’m in the middle of two other huge renos.”
I slide my hands into the back pockets of my shorts, surprised to hear that Emma is still in high demand after her assault.
“But the couple whose home I am redoing in Magnolia is so high maintenance that I figured a break would be good. Otherwise, I might strangle them.”
Beth lets out a short laugh as I study Emma, wondering if she’s partly serious. I try not to think about the close quarters we’ll all be sharing over the next two weeks.
“And Gigi promised we’d have internet, so I left my site superintendent in charge.”
Emma’s gaze drifts to mine, and I force myself to return her tight smile, remembering how she and Gigi distastefully approached a documentary producer in college, hoping to talk about our notoriousrafting trip—saying they wanted to set the record straight on our innocence. They wanted Beth and me to be a part of it, too, but we refused. We’d been burned by the media before, and after the trauma we’d endured, we had no desire to insert ourselves back in the limelight.
Courtney’s parents were equally sickened when they were contacted by the film producer and declined to be interviewed. Fortunately, without more willing participants, no film was made.
Emma gestures to Beth. “Congrats on becoming the Elliott Bay University President. The youngest in history, right?”
“That’s right.”
Emma’s gaze travels to mine. “What are you up to these days, Palmer?”
Adam’s deep voice comes from behind me. “Emma, your stateroom is down below. I can show you where.”
I turn, grateful for the interruption.
“Thanks,” Emma says.
She allows Adam to take her bag before she follows him toward the narrow set of stairs.
I turn to Beth after watching Adam disappear below deck. “Does he seem familiar to you?”
“Yep.” Beth finishes what’s left of her champagne. “He looks like Chris Pratt.”
Now that Beth says it, I see the resemblance to the A-list actor in Adam’s muscular build and the hint of auburn in his closely trimmed beard.
“And he’s hot, that’s for sure.” Beth elbows me as a grin spreads across her face. “And there’s no wedding band.”
Before I can answer, Gigi’s voice comes from across the deck. “I don’tcare!”
I whip around to find her with arms crossed, glaring at Captain Nojan. Whatever she and the captain are discussing, she does not look happy about it.
The captain glances at Beth and me before returning his attention to Gigi. “I really feel that we should tell the—”
“No.” Gigi shakes her head. “I already told you. It’s fine. End of discussion. We’re all here now, and I want to leave on time.”
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” the captain calls as Gigi strides away, her thin cover-up fluttering in the wind.
“Warn you about what?” I ask when Gigi gets closer.
Gigi smiles, the irritation now wiped clean from her face. I glance behind her at the captain, who regards her with a scowl before starting for the bow.
“It’s nothing.” Gigi swipes a manicured hand through the air. “He was afraid he hadn’t brought enough vegetarian meal options. I told him it’s fine since Palmer and I are the only two vegetarians on board, and I plan to be eating light on the trip anyway.” She turns to her assistant sitting on the bow. “Hey, Carissa? Can you come here for a sec?”
I follow Gigi’s gaze to the twentysomething girl with a wiry frame who gets to her feet. She’d been so quiet, I hadn’t noticed her there.
