Page 44 of Adrift

“Thank you.” Emily takes a small bite of cheese and goes back to her book. I feel horrible. I want to make this better for her... and then I remember. She loves cupcakes.

“Dante? Do you love me?” I cock my head sideways.

“I don’t know you well enough to love you, Sassy, but I think I could. What do you want?”

“Cupcakes. Not for me, for Emily. She’s so bummed out, I just want to give her a little joy, and the cheese didn’t work.”

“If cheese doesn’t work, there is no hope.” He laughs. “Actually, I’m personally meh about cheese. Don’t tell anyone—I’ll lose my chef’s card. But I have sad news for you, Sassy. I don’t bake. I mean, I can, but not today I have too much to rearrange.” He motions to the ten open kitchen cabinets. “What about crème brûlée or honey-glazed boozy pears?”

“I’m great at baking, and I’d love to make it up to Emily, since it was my idea she pick dinner yesterday. There isn’t much laundry yet. And Shayla is down for a nap. This will most definitely be the only time this season I can bake anything. There will be more laundry, so... And I love baking. Unless you’re one of those chefs who’s all ‘it’s my kitchen, and no one can use it.’ If you are, I can make it in the crew mess.”

“No, Haley. I share really well.” His voice is gruff, and I have to hold in a shudder. What the hell is going on on this boat?

“Great.” I pull myself out of my little Dante trance and gather the ingredients I’ll need. I’m careful to stay out of his way, using the smallest amount of counterspace I need.

“You really know what you’re doing.”

If you had told me I’d have time to bake, clean up, and have a half-hour break, I’d have told you you were crazy. But here I am, icing up the last of two dozen cupcakes.

Dinner comes and goes. The guests barely talk to each other when we step into the room. They’re eating in the inside dining area as it’s a little extra windy.

I’m out to top off their water glasses when Candy turns to Emily. “Why do you always dress like a hobo?”

“A what now?” Emily sits up in her chair.

“A hobo. You know, one of those people who followed the trains.” Candy is wearing a black evening gown with a plunging neckline. It’s Gucci. I know because I hung it back up this afternoon. But it looks like a potato sack on her. Emily, however, is wearing a white and gold sundress and looks like a Grecian goddess.

Easton stands. “You need to apologize to Emily. And now. Dad, this is insane.” Easton slams his hand on the table. “I know I told you I’d give you two weeks, that I’d stay with you. I’d be on the boat; we’d be together as a family. But I can’t do this. Not with Candy’s big mouth. Not with her here. I have things I need to talk to you about. I’ve been asking you to come to my cabin so we can discuss them. This is it, Dad. We have to talk.”

Rocky looks up at Candy and then back to his son. “I’ll talk to you about these things tomorrow.”

Easton shakes his head. “I’m done. I’m just done.” He stares over at me. “Haley, please give my compliments to the chef. Everything was delicious. Just like it was last night.” He growls out the words. He puts his chair back under the table and walks out of the room.

I’m paralyzed. I’ve seen guests fight but not like this. Usually, it’s drunken nonsense they don’t remember in the morning. I turn and see Shayla ask Easton a question. I’m sure she’s asking him if he wants his dessert brought to his cabin. He shakes his head no.

Emily’s looking back and forth between her father and Candy. Her lips are firm. “I can’t with any of you.” She pushesher chair back, drops her napkin on her chair, and leaves the room.

The interesting thing is her boyfriend doesn’t move. He sits there awkwardly with his girlfriend’s parents. Then he looks up at me. “Can I have another drink?”

“Sure.” I clear the half-eaten meals and take them to the kitchen. I drop them off next to the sink.

Dante’s hands are in the air. “They’re done already? Didn’t they like it? Something wrong with the food? There’s nothing wrong with my food,” he answers himself.

“No, it’s not your food, Dante. Your food is perfect.” And it really is perfect. He’s a master.

“They’re just—they’re fucking weird is what they are. All of them. All five of them. They’re fucking weird, weird, rich people, filthy rich people. They’re just fucked in the brain.”

We both turn to see Easton standing there.

“He didn’t mean it,” I blurt.

Dante is locked in a staring contest with Easton.

“Oh, he means it, and he’s not wrong.” Easton cocks his head. “I was just wondering if you could make up another bedroom. Emily caught me in the hall, and she said she doesn’t want to sleep in the same room as Brick anymore.”

“Oh, yeah, sure. That’s not a problem. It’s already made up, since last night when she asked. I can freshen it up for her.”

“Oh, not for her. She’s kicking him out.” Easton smiles. “Are these cupcakes for anyone?”

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