Page 75 of The Situation Ship
“You came up for air, and then I knocked you down,” Poppy said, glancing at the brace on Phoebe’s wrist. She hoped she hadn’t hurt her. It looked like the one her songwriters used for carpal tunnel, although it matched the pink bikini under Phoebe’s paint-covered overalls.
“Please don’t apologise. Clearly, we were destined to run into each other.” Phoebe beamed. “I know you aren’t staying long, but if you’re interested, we’re holding an auction tonight to help raise funds for the centre; the event is casino-themed. All winnings go towards research for underfunded diseases and disorders, and the auction will help those who are chronically ill and disabled and want to get involved in the arts. It starts at 8 and takes place at a boutique hotel on the beachfront, so you can return to the ship well before midnight.”
Poppy glanced at Isaiah. He shrugged, leaving it up to her.
“We would love to. Thank you so much. Would you mind if I brought a friend, Mina, with us? She’s travelling with me, and I’m sure she would love to come,” Poppy said, wanting to support her. It also meant they could delay getting back on board a while longer.
“Of course! The more the merrier,” Phoebe said. “It’s black tie, so dress to kill.”
Isaiah smirked, and Poppy glared at him.
“Did I miss something?” Phoebe asked, looking to Axel, who looked just as confused.
“Nothing – he’s just excited to wear the tux I got him again,” Poppy teased, and Isaiah’s smirk disappeared.
“I’d love to help you with the centre when we get home. I can make donations, or I can stop by and help. I have some time nowthat I’ve finished touring before I have to start filming,” Poppy said, eager to do some good.
“You aren’t going back to the States?” Isaiah asked her.
Poppy realised they had never spoken about what would happen after theMidas; they had been too focused on surviving.
“No, Ireland’s my home. I’ll go to and from for work, but I want to stay in Ireland,” she said firmly. Her relationship with him had nothing to do with her decision. It had been her plan all along to come home.
Isaiah looked relieved, and she realised he must have been wondering about their future. She felt guilty for not considering his feelings or thoughts about it.
“We’d love to have you involved in whatever form suits you best,” Phoebe exclaimed, breaking the tension.
Poppy’s heart leapt in her chest as a sudden camera flash caught her off guard, a stark reminder of the current state of her raw nerves. She was used to being in the spotlight, but this sent her pulse racing.
“Sorry, they tend to pop up now and then when they know we’re here,” Phoebe said, and Axel looked over his shoulder to wave away the pap.
“It’s fine,” Poppy said, her voice steady but her panic growing. “I need to wash my hands before the food arrives.” She hurried off, determined to regain her composure, before anyone noticed.
Poppy braced herself against the copper sink in the bathroom and took some deep breaths. It wasn’t the paparazzi that bothered her or having her picture taken, but the unexpected intrusion. Her body was so on edge after recent events that something as trivial as a flash had made her spiral. She wished it hadn’t happened in front of Phoebe and Axel. She didn’t want Isaiah’s friends to think she was a drama queen.
The ornate tiles in the bathroom started to blur, and she flexed her hands to try to stop the shakes.
“Poppy?” Phoebe knocked lightly on the door. “Are you alright? It’s me.”
Her soft voice drew Poppy’s attention away from the tightening sensation in her chest. She opened the door, feeling as red as the tomatoes in the bruschetta she had ordered.
“I had a similar reaction to paparazzi a while back, so I understand how overwhelming it can be. Run your wrists under the cold water. It’ll help calm you down,” Phoebe suggested, her tone warm and non-judgmental.
“Thank you,” Poppy said, doing so. “I don’t know where it came from. I haven’t had an anxiety attack in public in a long time. I think I’m just overwhelmed at the minute.”
“That’s totally understandable, and nothing to feel bad about. I hope you don’t mind my invading your space. Isaiah might have mentioned that you’ve recently been struggling with unwanted attention. I wanted to check you were alright,” Phoebe said kindly.
Poppy admired her for being so open with a perfect stranger, and then remembered that Phoebe was the Phoebe Fletcher who’d been accused of causing the death of her boyfriend after a fight while he was driving. Poppy recalled her ex-assistant telling her how merciless the press had been, practically driving the poor woman underground.
“I should be used to people taking my picture. I saw the flash, and it was like the world went white. I couldn’t sit there a second longer,” Poppy confessed, her vulnerability laid bare.
“Sorry, the guy wanted Axel’s autograph. Since we’ve become regulars, it’s been happening more often. This used to be our secret spot, but for the most part, we’re left alone.”
“Nothing for you to apologise for. I don’t know how much Isaiah told you, but it’s been more than a little unwanted attention,” Poppy said, looking at her in the mirror.
“I guessed as much when I saw Isaiah carrying his gun when he sat down. You’re in safe hands with him. You couldn’t have picked anyone better to protect you,” Phoebe assured her.
“It’s been hard to trust someone new, and we didn’t exactly see eye to eye in the beginning, but he won me over. We’ve only known each other a matter of days, but I trust him, and I know he has the best intentions,” Poppy admitted, breathing a little easier. Phoebe was one of those people who made it easy to spill your secrets if you weren’t keeping guard.
