Page 92 of Wayward
“You want Mike to come up with the verbiage?” Rocky points to the door the PR guy walked out of.
“No.” Easton’s quick with an answer.
Haley stands. “It wouldn’t hurt to see what he comes up with. As long as we have the final say.”
“You are as smart as your father says, Haley Brewster.”
“You really talk to my father once a week?”
“Yes. To begin with, it was a couple of times a week. We had big online video calls with all the family members. We still do that once a month.”
“I should call my mum. But first I want to make sure that Ed doesn’t go trying to get revenge through my mum and sister.” Zane crosses his arms over his chest.
“Once Susan is under arrest, Easton can get his will changed. Then there’s no reason to go after any of you anymore.” Rocky holds out his hand, and Zane shakes it, but then Rocky pulls him into an embrace. He’s a lot frailer than last year. And when Zane squeezes him back, I’m afraid he’s going to cut the old guy in two. “Your mom is going to be thrilled.”
“She’s going to go mental,” Zane says.
“I don’t claim that I understand what all this is, Easton. But I know all of your families. And they’re good people.” Rocky’s lips thin.
A knock vibrates the door Mike left through.
“Come in,” Rocky says, emotion lingering in his voice.
“I’ve got Henry Goodstone coming up here in thirty minutes. He was about to leave for Paris, but he’s delayed his flight until tonight for exclusive coverage of the castaways’ return. I’ve given his producer a few things to not ask. Personal relationships and the like. The guard is still at Susan’s door.”
Rocky nods. “Good. Thanks, Mike.”
“The clothes will be here right before Henry gets here.” Mike pivots and heads out of the suite.
The front door to the suite opens, and Mike ushers in ten people. Two Rockwell private security guards stand next to the door,watching everything that comes into the room. “We’ll set up over there,” Mike says.
“And you all can get ready in this room.” Mike ushers us into the second bedroom space.
“Let them get ready in my room, Mike. I’m ready from the press conference earlier. There’s not much you can do with this mug, anyway,” Rocky says.
Mike nods and pushes through the cluster of people coming into the suite. The crew moves furniture and sets up lights on the other side of the room.
“This is Rina. She’ll fix your hair and put a little powder on you all.” Mike steps to the side, and a middle-aged woman wearing a BBC jacket and pink pants appears from behind him.
“Oh, this lot won’t take much work. A good-looking group.” Rina walks around each of us. “Right, we’ll have to find you a chair or me a ladder if I’m going to powder that nose.” She pats my arm like a grandma. Her gaze lands on Haley. “Oh, you’re lovely. That’s an interesting haircut. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like it before.”
“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” Easton puts his hand on Haley’s shoulder.
“You let this handsome devil cut your hair? I guess I might have too. Is this something you like?” Rina’s brown eyes flash at Haley.
“I don’t hate it. But if you wanted to tidy it up a bit . . .”
“Anything you want. I’ve done it all. I gave Darlene Smootworth a fantastic touch-up last week. You know she’s onThe Garden Flat.”
Haley smiles and nods. If she knows who that it is, I’ll be surprised. I don’t have a clue.
“Didn’t she winSunset Covea few years back? It’s a dating show,” Zane says, handing me a shirt.
“Exactly, love,” Rina says.
“Oh, yes. A little symmetry would be nice.” Haley pulls on the ends of her hair.
“I’m just going to close the door to keep out the distractions.” Rina pushes the bathroom door shut, and I bounce backward into Sam. Dante and Easton are on my other side.
