Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Emma shook her head on a smile, but took my card anyway and told me to give her a list before noon so she could get everything I needed.
I spent the better half of the morning planning out the meal, considering what type of salad I wanted to make, what appetizer and dessert would complement the trout, and thinking of the best wine pairing. Even though I didn’t drink, I knew Theo appreciated a good bottle of wine, and I wanted the night to be perfect.
Once Emma had my list, she took the second stewardess to shore for provisions and I changed into my swimsuit, climbing my way up to the sun deck with a fresh lemonade in hand, thanks to Claude. I spent the afternoon sunning and reading and waiting for four o’clock when I could video chat my sister without her killing me for calling too early.
“Well, if it isn’t my too-busy-traipsing-around-Europe-to-call-home sister,” Juniper answered with a yawn, her dorm room still completely dark. I knew by now she was back at CU, and when she flicked on the lamp on her bedside table, I smiled at the familiar set up of a dorm similar to the one I had called home for four years.
I smiled even more at the familiar sight of my tired sister with a messy bun piled on top of her head.
“Good morning, Juni,” I said cheerily. So much so that she groaned and rolled her eyes before sitting up more in bed.
“Morning. A little too early in the morning for my taste.” But she smiled with the jest. “It’s good to see you. We haven’t talked in forever. How the hell are you?” She paused, frowning at the screen. “I guess the better question is where the hell are you.”
I laughed, getting up out of my chair and walking the phone over to the railing. I showed Juniper the coast of Athens in a slow panoramic while she groaned in jealousy.
“I can’t believe that’s your life right now.”
At that, I turned the camera back around to face me with a grimace. “Um… do you have a Keurig or something there in your dorm?”
“Yes,” she said, cocking a brow. “Why?”
“Because you’re going to need some caffeine for everything I’m about to tell you.”
I hadn’t talked to Juniper or anyone back home since before Joel left the boat. Everything had just happened so fast, and then I was caught up in Theo, and before I knew it, a month had gone by.
So, I started where we left off last time, telling my sister about my frustrations with Joel, how he wouldn’t talk to me about the pool party incident, and how things just got colder and colder between us while everything between Theo and I sparked into a hot flame. I told her about Capri, about Joel breaking up with me and how I was supposed to be kicked off the boat, but then lo and behold it ended up being him who was kicked off. I told her about the grand theft and how Theo asked me to stay and filled her in on all that had transpired between me and Theo since.
There was a myriad of emotions coming from her end, from red-faced punches into her pillows at what Joel did to me, to running her hands back through her hair like a crazy person as she tried to understand everything that went down, to leaning her chin on her hands close to the screen, swooning over Theo’s little gallery surprise.
By the time I finished, I’d practically worn a hole in the sun deck from pacing back and forth, and Juniper was on her third cup of coffee.
“Say something,” I said after a long silence.
She shook her head, sipping her coffee with a dazed look on her face. “I’m speechless. I mean… I’m appalled at Joel. I have no idea what got into him.”
I sighed. “Me either. Part of me wonders if maybe he was doing more than just drinking…”
“You think drugs?”
“Maybe,” I said. “He just wasn’t himself. Or if he was, then I didn’t know him at all, and the boy I fell in love with never really existed.”
“Maybe he has always led two lives, you know? The one here and the one on yachts. I mean, I can’t imagine living that lifestyle.” She arched a brow then. “Well, okay, I can imagine living it the way you are now, but not as crew.”
I laughed.
“Seriously — you’re dating Theo fucking Whitman, Sis.” She lowered her voice as if someone would hear her. “He said he loves you!”
“I know.”
“And you’re yachting around the Mediterranean on a million-dollar yacht.”
“I know.”
“And he rented out a whole freaking gallery and filled it with your photographs!”
I chuckled, flushing so hard I pressed my cool fingertips to my cheeks. “I know. I know!” I sighed on a smile. “How is this real?”