Page 33 of Adrift

“You’re delusional, Brianna. I’ve made myself clear. You’re off the boat whether it’s the police taking you or a derelict cab. I never want to see you again. I don’t know how much clearer I can be. Do you understand?” She nods, tears streaming down her face. I don’t feel sorry for her, not now, not ever. “The money for your therapy is still in the account. Use it. Get some help,Brianna.” It pisses me off that the captain and Haley had to put up with Brianna because of me. Not to mention what she did to Shayla.

“Anything else you need from me?” I ask.

“No. Thank you for the clarification.” The captain glares at Brianna.

“Watch her,” I say to the two crewmen left on the bridge. I give a cock of my head at the first officer because Brianna’s not stable. She’s likely to bolt. The captain walks me to the door, and we step out into the hallway. Shayla and Calvin are still there.

“Depending on what Shayla decides, would you be willing to talk to local law enforcement?” the captain asks.

“For sure.” I glance over at Shayla.

“I don’t want her in jail. I just want her gone.” Shayla crosses her arms over her chest.

“You’re sure?” the captain asks.

“We do not have time to deal with a crazy person like her. We have a boat to clean. If I go talk to the cops? No. She cut my hair. She’s wackier than a clown at an adult birthday party. And I want nothing more to do with her. I wanted her gone before she went all nutso. Let’s cut our losses and move on. That’s what I say.” Shayla looks the captain up and down and nods at Calvin and me.

“All right, then, it’s done. I’ll give her thirty minutes to clear her stuff out. I need to order her plane ticket.” The captain disappears into the bridge. Calvin wanders off too.

Shayla turns to me, a calm mask slipping into place. “What time would you like dinner?”

“You don’t have to serve me. I’ll go check out what the chef is doing in the kitchen in a little while.”

“Okay. Can I make you a cocktail?”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.” It’s horrible?I know I said for them to not fuss over me today, but I was kind of hoping it would beHaley to ask me these same questions. I could tactfully say no, and she’d see what a down-to-earth guy I am. Instead, she saw that I once had horrible taste in women. And I led her to them, causing a whole layer of hell. “I have some work to do. I’ll come out later and go talk to the chef.”

Back in my cabin, it’s really not too bad. I’ve taken away six different horse accessories and put them in the closet. And now it’s nice. I pull out my computer. My inbox is bursting. I’m a long way from taking over from my dad. But while my dad has horrible taste in second and third wives, his associates and board members are top-notch. The team isn’t changing, and as far as we can tell, there isn’t anyone remotely unhappy with Dad passing the baton to me. And I’m not happy about digging into a hundred-page report from a factory in Burma. But I do.

I’ve made a good dent in what needs to be done and skipped most of the busy work, when there’s a knock at my door.

“Come in.” I don’t look until I’ve finished the last few words on the email I was working on. Mostly because I figure whoever is at the door is going to have a hard time opening it like I do each time I leave the room.

I’m a little shocked to see that Haley is standing there when I look up, her hands behind her back, her eyes flitting about the room. “I’m sorry to bother you,” she says.

“No bother at all. Sit down.” Shit, I just told the chief stew to sit.

“I’m good, but thanks. Shayla said you were going to go down and talk to the chef. I’d be happy to do that for you.”

“It’s no big deal. I know you’re busy.” I shut my computer. I want her to know I can focus on her.

She tucks a hunk of golden-brown hair behind her ear. “It’s no problem at all. With your help clearing out the boxes and getting them donated, plus getting us another day, we’re ready for the rest of your family to join you.”

“No one is ever ready for Candy.” And I’m hoping that she doesn’t become family. But I don’t say that out loud.

Haley laughs. “I’m sure she’s a lovely lady who just likes horses and to shop. Speaking of which, what happened to your room decor?”

“It’s in the closet.” I point to the enormous wardrobe by the bathroom.

“Not a fan of horses?” She opens it and eyes the pieces. I wrapped them in a towel I stole from my sister’s bathroom. But I’m not going to tell Haley that. Which I suppose is kind of a dick move, because Emily will have to ask Haley for more towels. But my sister would never yell at anyone for anything. She’s not a fan of a private yacht. But she’s not going to not come, because she is a big fan of water and of family. She loves my dad, and I suppose she loves me too.

“Horses are wonderful.” I flick my eyes to her and back to the closet.

“I see. But you’re not a fan of them in such high quantities?”

“I’m not a fan of them anywhere but in a barn or a pasture.”

“I like horses. But it’s a lot.” She smiles at me. “So, what would you like?”

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