21. DAY FOUR: MEMORIES
Ava
Last night I told Dax I was going to bed early, but I really just needed time to sort through my thoughts without being distracted by him. I want to pretend what happened on the surfboard never happened at all. And we didn’t even kiss. So really the only thing to forget is the fact that I wanted to—the point that has been eating at me since.
Flipping open my sketchpad, I look at the pictures one at a time, stopping at the one of Preston I must have drawn on the plane. I have to admit—the sketch looks exactly like him. Maybe because I’ve spent so many countless moments studying every aspect of his perfect face—the contours of his jaw, the outline of his soft lips, and the depth of his stunning eyes each time he leaned in to kiss me.
The only color on the page is the green of his irises, blended to create the perfect shade that would captivate the beholder from beneath black lashes. And I succeeded. Bright, seductive eyes stare back at me. His face blurs through my tears, and I turn the page.
I don’t remember making this list, but Preston and Kirk have added extra items. I switch back and forth between laughing and crying as I read through it.
TO-DO
1. Give 30-day notice to landlord
2. Get passport and birth certificate from home
3. Shop for good camera
4. Return books to library
5. Look up more info on Aunt Vivianne and mystery man
6. Kiss Preston
7. Go with Preston to get a marriage license
8. Kiss Preston
9. Get a wedding dress
10. Kiss Preston repeatedly
10. Check to see if you have a long-lost twin sister for Kirk
Every item, other than kissing Preston and finding a girlfriend for Kirk, involved preparing to leave for Europe. Fate dangled that dream out in front of me, and then cruelly snatched it away. My mother always told me wishes never come true if you say them out loud. But I did, repeatedly, so I guess fate made its final move in the game to make sure I’d never win.
I could hardly wait to tell Preston in person about the trust money, and I didn’t have to wait long because he showed up on my doorstep the morning after my birthday to surprise me with a weekend getaway to Catalina Island.
“So how are you planning on getting rid of my shadow?” I had asked him as he pulled away from the curb in a rented convertible Jaguar. The Mercedes jumped in behind us.
“Isn’t it a little early for you to be worrying already? Besides, it’s your birthday weekend and worrying is against the rules,” he told me.
Preston drove to the marina where Miss April sat waiting, and after he helped me on the boat, he put my bag in the master stateroom below. He moved quickly and precisely, and as soon as we were unhooked, we drifted away from the slip and into the harbor. I watched him hoist the sails like a pro, and then admired him as he stood at the helm with his shirt unbuttoned halfway down, blowing gently in the breeze and exposing his tan, muscular chest. The black car remained parked in the lot behind us, completely helpless as we sailed away.
Preston had reserved a VIP suite on the top floor of a Mediterranean-style hotel, and nineteen dozen red roses were scattered throughout the entire room. Aside from the roses, the room itself was incredible. The leather couches and chairs were sleek and modern. Just beyond them were large windows boasting a private deck with a small table, coupled with two lounge chairs and a breathtaking view of the ocean. A fireplace, positioned in the middle of the room, separated two doors leading to bedrooms on either side, and to the left sat a small, modern kitchen and eating area. I was utterly speechless.
“I feel terrible you had such a rough week—first the library disaster, and then thinking someone broke into your house. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I hope the rest of the week went better,” he said with a wink, and then placed his hands gently on either side of my face.
He didn’t even know the extent of it.
I told him all about Sergio waiting in my house when I got home the day before, and I also told him I was sure it wasn’t the first time. Preston’s jaw feathered with irritation so I fast-forwarded to the end because I refused to let Sergio ruin my birthday weekend.
“But I made it clear I wanted him to leave—and I might have said something about blowing out candles on my birthday cake and wishing to never see him again.” I bit my lip, holding back a smile.
His expression relaxed into an amused grin.
“Really? Well, that can be arranged. He and I are going to have a little chat.” He laughed away his concern. “What’s the matter? Satan’s not your type?”
I shuddered. “Definitely not.”
“Well, Miss April—what exactly is your type?” he asked with a sly lift of his brow, and I couldn’t stop the blood from flooding my cheeks. I had walked right into that.
“Uhm—tall, dark, and handsome?”
“So you do like Sergio,” he said.
“What? No!” My eyes dropped to his chest. “I like serpent free—polite and nice—surfer—piloty types.”
“Then I guess it’s my lucky day.” He waited for me to look up at him to return his smile and then he kissed me again.
He had the entire afternoon planned. We started with the zip line. After lunch we went snorkeling until we were exhausted, and then made our way back to the hotel, stopping in a few shops along the way. I collapsed onto the couch when we walked in the room, but his plans didn’t stop there. He stole a single rose from one of the vases and disappeared into my room. After a couple of minutes, he returned and led me to the bathroom where a hot bath was waiting. He’d lit the candles around the Jacuzzi tub, and floating on top of the water were the scattered red rose petals.
But the magic didn’t stop there. A candlelight dinner was waiting for me when I re-entered the front room. After dinner, he led me out on the balcony. The sky was dark, and a soft breeze tugged at my hair as I watched the lights twinkle below. Preston handed me a tiny box wrapped in silver paper with a small, red bow on top. Inside was my bracelet covered entirely with emeralds and light green peridots, and in the center of each clover was a diamond.
“It’s one of a kind, just like you,” he told me. “More importantly, it’s a symbol of good luck. Definitely something you need.” He laughed quietly and lifted the bracelet from the box, then stepped closer to fasten the clasp around my wrist.
“I love it. Thank you.”
After he kissed me, he dropped the news that he’d talked to Mr. Caruso about Europe and had offered to help him find a new pilot. He also said Mr. C wanted to hire me as a flight attendant and how he planned to ask me in person on the trip back from Australia. There was something intimidating about Mr. Caruso, making the thought of being alone with him almost terrifying.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.” Preston had sounded convincing, but his expression didn’t match the same confidence. “I arranged for a charter plane to pick Mr. C up today and fly him to Australia to meet with someone. Hotel Charlie’s in the shop for some scheduled maintenance, and when it’s done, Kirk and I will fly to Australia to pick him up. Mr. C wants you to come with us, so he can talk to you on the flight back. So I’ll be there—only in the cockpit, not right next to you.”
I stared at him, still unsure. Australia was so far away. That meant a long time on the plane. With Mr. Caruso. Awkward. Then I remembered Anna.
“Will Anna be there too?”
He let out a short laugh. “Yes. But she’s not much of a talker. Please don’t worry. It’s not that big of a deal. I promise. Just let him do the talking and act like you’re giving it serious consideration, then politely decline and tell him you prefer sailing to flying.” He flaunted a mischievous smile. “Unless you want to tell him the truth—that you just want me all to yourself,” he said.
My cheeks flushed. There was actually more truth to his sarcasm than I wanted to admit. “Those are both good excuses, but I have one of my own.” I leered playfully, an
d he tilted his head with curiosity. “How about I tell him I’ll be going to school in Europe in the spring? It seems I’ve inherited some money.”
A look of shock crossed his face, followed by a look of confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“I got a letter yesterday. My parents set up a trust for me. I haven’t called on the exact amount yet, but it must be a lot judging from the monthly distribution amount. I think my parents were going to tell me for my birthday.” His shocked expression remained and he listened intently, his eyes fixed on mine. “So the letter said I’d start receiving ten thousand dollars every month following my nineteenth birthday, for four years, and then I’ll get the remaining amount in one lump sum.”
I’d been so excited to tell him but he sat very still, not seeming to share my same enthusiasm. “Don’t you see? I’ll have enough money to go to school, and we’ll have enough money to leave sooner than we planned—if you want.”
His quiet demeanor made me self-conscious, and I worried I’d said something wrong. His silence was maddening. “Preston?”
He seemed to snap out of his trance.
“Wow. That’s—awesome,” he said. “Maybe I was wrong about your luck. I guess you don’t need the bracelet after all,” he teased. He reached for my wrist, but I stopped him.
“Are you kidding? Of course I need it. The trust money isn’t luck, just good planning on my parent’s part. Now I know why they never seemed to be worried about how they’d pay for my college. Anyway, that’s a good reason, right? Mr. Caruso can’t argue with that.”
“Yes, school’s a great reason. But just don’t mention anything about the trust money, okay? I already told him I was footing the bill.”
We danced for a little while and then lay on the couch in front of the fire.
I knew something was bothering him. His mood change was obvious, and I fought to shove this concern to the back of my mind. He ran his fingers through my hair while we listened to the sound of the quiet music.
Soon, I drifted to sleep in his arms and dreamt that we were sailing in the middle of the ocean when a sudden darkness surrounded us. A storm came out of nowhere and rain started to fall, stinging my cheeks from the blustery wind. Preston fought to take down the sails that flapped madly in the gale, struggling to prepare the ship for the sudden hurricane condition that fell upon us. I felt useless, not knowing what to do to help him. Scared and panic stricken, I stood up and squinted through the night, the water trickling down from my hair in a steady stream that almost blurred out my vision entirely. Without warning, the boom swung around violently and hit me in my side, causing me to lose my balance and fall overboard.
My face surfaced and I saw Miss April in front of me, being tossed back and forth in the angry sea. I tried to scream Preston’s name but each time I opened my mouth, salt water poured in from the turbulent waves cresting all around me. Finally, I managed a scream, a desperate plea for him to hear. I cleared the water from my eyes long enough to see him walk from the helm to the side rail and look in my direction as if he heard me calling his name. I drifted further away by the second. And I watched in horror as he stood there motionless and did nothing to help me as I floated away.
Preston’s arms tightened around me. “Are you okay?”
We were still on the couch, and his eyes were alert, as if he’d been watching me and not sleeping.
“Yes, just another nightmare. I’m sorry. Did I wake you up?”
He shook his head and guided my head back to his chest.
“What time is it?”
“I don’t know. Three o’clock last time I checked.”
“Why can’t you sleep?” I asked, content that he was there next to me, but very aware of the concern in his voice that replaced his usual carefree manner.
“I’m just thinking.” He paused. “Let’s get you to bed.”
He led me to my room, where he turned down the covers and tucked me in, then sat on the edge of the bed.
“Besides your parents, and me, who else knows about the trust money?” he asked, and even in the dark, I could see his serious expression.
“I don’t know. No one, I guess. I haven’t told anyone but you. Why?”
It wasn’t a question I expected him to ask me in the middle of the night. I yawned, struggling to keep my eyes open and on him.
“Never mind. Go back to sleep.”
He kissed me on the forehead and started to get up, but I grabbed his hand and gave him an exaggerated pout. Forcing a smile, he crawled on top of the covers to lie on his back beside me. Looking at his profile in the dark, I saw him focused on the ceiling above us. I should have been worried that he didn’t answer my question, but I was too tired. I felt content and safe and soon fell back asleep.
The next morning, I slipped out from under Preston’s arm and ordered room service. On my way to the balcony, I paused to peek at him. He had rolled over onto his stomach and lay sprawled comfortably across the bed in a fitted T-shirt and plaid pajama pants, looking like a dreamy model in a Hanes’ ad.
I’d taken the first bite of my French toast before I noticed him standing in the doorway of my room. He leaned against the frame. His hair looked a bit disheveled, but on his face was my favorite smile.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he said before sitting down across from me.
“You needed sleep,” I told him, “and I need to apologize. If you want to wait until next year to go to Europe, that’s fine. I didn’t mean to be one of those pushy girls, so concerned with myself that I didn’t even stop to think you had reasons to wait until—”
“Ava.” He interrupted before I could finish. He stopped eating and set the fork down. “You think I don’t want to go with you?” His voice was full of alarm.
My mind raced to reach another conclusion besides the one I’d come up with, but I found none. He reached across the table and grabbed my hand.
“Now I’m worried you got too much sun yesterday and it’s affecting your ability to think clearly,” he said with a wink, leaning across the table to kiss me. “I’m worried about you, not the money,” he explained, and I listened intently. “Don’t you see? The trust money may be the reason you’re being followed. Someone knew you were going to receive it, so they’re watching and waiting, possibly thinking they need it more than you.” Preston squeezed my hand. “Relax. I have everything worked out in my head. We have at least two weeks before you get the first disbursement, right?”
“We’ll go to Australia as planned, kindly decline Mr C.’s offer, and you can give Georgie your two weeks’ notice. It’ll be close, but that should be enough time for us to get all our supplies and everything together. You can call the investment company and make arrangements for the money to be deposited into a bank account every month, instead of them sending a check. And as soon as I find another pilot for Mr. C, then I’ll whisk you away to safety, halfway across the world,” he said, flashing me a radiant smile.
I nodded and picked at the remainder of my breakfast, unable to force down more than a couple of bites. He cleared the table and placed the tray in the hall outside the door.
“I’m sorry I worried you. That wasn’t my intent,” he said, leading me to the couch where he sat down and pulled me onto his lap. “I wanted this weekend to be perfect.” I wrapped my arms loosely around his neck and let him hypnotize me with his crystal green eyes. “Let’s go to the beach. Please try to forget I said anything. There’ll be plenty of time to worry later, but today, you can relax. It’s just you and me.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I said with conviction and a playful pout.
“Relax… or forget?” he asked with a sly grin.
“Both.”
“Mmm… maybe I can help you with that.”
He twisted to flip me onto the couch and leaned into me, kissing me just above my shoulder where my skin was exposed. Following the curve of my neck up to my jaw, he swept his soft lips across my skin and gave me
goose bumps.
“What were we talking about?” I said playfully, feeling his warm breath just below my ear. His nose skimmed across my cheek, and then he lifted his head. He waited for our eyes to meet before he began kissing me with more urgency than I was used to. My fingers entwined in his hair and then, unexpectedly, he pulled away and chuckled.
“The beach, remember?” He gloated triumphantly and helped me sit up.
I could barely remember my name.
The beach in front of the hotel was quiet. Wooden lounge chairs covered with cushions were placed neatly in the white sand with canvas umbrellas scattered around them. We spent the morning soaking up rays and taking in the view of the cobalt blue water in front of us. After lunch, we went for a swim and then left our bags at the front desk to go on a jeep tour and a cruise in the glass-bottom boat. It was late afternoon when we finally pulled out of the bay and headed for open water.
He let me steer the sailboat while he stood behind me, kissing my neck and making it difficult to remember the instructions he’d just given me.
“Which way is San Diego?” I asked again with a flirtatious smile.
He pointed to the right.
“Then let’s go that way.” I pointed to the left and started to turn the wheel, but he turned me around to face him, pinning me between himself and the helm.
“You’re not really dressed for weather in Alaska.”
I giggled. “But I don’t want to go home. Forget about San Diego and Mr. Caruso. Let’s just leave now and never look back.”
“Patience, Miss April,” he said, kissing me under the setting sun.
If only I’d tried harder to convince him, we would still be together. Maybe Dax is right, and there is a ring in the briefcase. I wipe away my tears and leave my new room in search of Dax, the one person I can count on to wipe away my sorrow.
He’s in the kitchen hut and when I walk in, his feet drop from the table and he shoves something in his pocket.
“Let’s go to the castle,” I tell him, grabbing the briefcase off the table.
“Yeah, sure.” Happiness spreads across his face, and he jumps up from his chair to offer me his hand. “Whatever you want.”