Caleb nods, smile spreading across his cheeks as he stares up at the Fijian sky.
“I’ll say this for you Stella,” he tilts his head towards me. “Having you around is certainly never boring.”
I choke out a single nervous laugh, and another, until something bursts inside me and my body erupts in giggles. Caleb is laughing too—not the charming half laugh he uses with the family, but a full-blown fit that has tears rolling down both our faces. I’ve been in Fiji for all of thirty hours and my worst fear,the thing Joanna told me would never happen, has come to pass.
And I’m totallyfine.
Better than fine, I’ve faced two of my biggest fears in two days. And I’m still here.
“That was?—”
The moment is broken with a human call that has me bolting up and grabbing the paddle like a machete. Ok, maybe I’m nottotallyfine.
“See anything out here?” Harry yells out to us as the flashy, neon tip of the kayak rounds the corner.
Caleb opens his mouth to answer, but hesitates, looking to me instead. I shake my head vehemently. If Jules hears about this, she’ll never get in the ocean again without a full-blown panic attack.
“Nothing too exciting,” Caleb calls back in his infuriatingly sexy accent. “Coupla needle fish and a big lobster.”
“Should have listened to the captain, Stella!” Harry says proudly. “Gotta stick to the West reef to see the colorful fish.”
I wonder if Harry can see me rolling my eyes.
“We found the coolest starfish, Stelly!” Jules gushes from the back. Her snorkel mask is still plastered to her face, making her look more like a Floridian tourist than queen of the pacific. “Bright indigo—it looked like it had been dipped in paint! I tried to take a photo for you, but I’m not sure I’m pressing the right buttons…”
She holds up her GoPro, and I laugh. Jules may be a genius with bronzer or a pair of scissors, but technology has never been her strong suit.
“Harry!” Matthew calls out from around the corner, and I see the edge of his yellow kayak inching into view. “We’re heading back. I’m starving.”
“We should probably join them,” Caleb says, looking at his watch. “Lunch should be ready by now.”
“Thank God. I’d kill for one of Russ’s lava brownies,” Harry says as he and Jules turn back towards the ship. But as Caleb steers us out of the cove behind them, I can’t help looking back to make sure no fins are following.
“Thank you,” I tell him as soon as the sound of our paddles is loud enough to cover up the sound of my voice. Caleb may be a loathsome creature, but at least he didn’t use me as shark bait.
“For what?”
I smile to myself as we overtake Jules and Harry’s kayak. For once, Caleb and I are actually paddling in unison.
11
Chef Russ’s brownies are, as advertised, delicious, and after eating too many to count, I return to my room to rinse off the thick, white sunscreen that makes me look like the ghost of Stella Olsen. With the amount of Latina blood in my veins, Ishouldbe a little more burn resistant. But my mosquito bites are only just starting to fade. I don’t need to add sunburn to my list of ailments.
Arthur and Patricia are arriving soon, and in a pitiful effort to blend in, I throw on one of the tired outfits I’ve brought on board—a faded blue sundress that hasn’t seen the light of day in years. Honestly, it’s a miracle I still own any summer clothes at all. I don’t remember the last time I wore anything other than wool sweaters or jeans and a blazer. After a quick attempt to tame my curly mop of hair that ends up, as it usually does, being relegated to a ponytail, I head to the salon to wait for Harry’s parents.
When my head emerges from the stairwell, the stress is immediately palpable. Gia and Allie are running around like headless chickens, folding blankets and wreaking havoc with dusters that probably get more action than Matthew. Remi isoutside on the deck, furiously polishing the handrails that were already sparklier than Jules’s blueberry-sized engagement ring. Matthew and Harry perch at the bar, the latter violently scrolling on his iPad so quickly he can’t possibly be reading anything. The message is clear—vacation time is over. The wolves are about to descend.
“Don’t mention her brow lift,” Harry instructs Matthew without looking at him. “It’s swollen and it’s still a little lopsided. And whatever you do, do not bring up the Wolf News fiasco.”
“You think Iwantto lose an eye?” Matthew asks. “Since when have I ever brought up business in like… any situation?”
“Fair point,” Harry concedes, and I make a mental note to google whatever they’re talking about later. When Harry sees me, he practically leaps out of his chair.
“Oh, Stella! Good. Can you go check on your sister? She’s supposed to be up here in five minutes, but time management isn’t really her strong suit.”
“You’re telling me,” I smile. “I’ll make sure she’s coming.”
I’m all too happy to get as far from this tornado of tension as possible. I head back downstairs and knock softly on Jules’s cabin door, but when she doesn’t answer, I shove it open.
