13. Jones
13
JONES
Fuck.
I set the metal bar on the ground and begin to dismantle the weighted plates, my muscles thoroughly spent.
As soon as I woke up this morning, I could already tell it was gonna be an off day. It’s like my mind alerted me I’d be struggling.
Getting myself out of bed and ready feels like a blur. I was going through the motions, knowing if I didn’t get to the gym and work out some of this tension, I’d lose it.
I’d like to consider myself mentally strong, but days like this make me question that. There’s not anything particularly wrong with me. I miss my mom and feel useless being this far away from her.
But for whatever reason, today, I feel a load of bitterness.
Bitterness toward my father. The man isn’t even here anymore, and he still has a way of fucking with my head.
After cleaning up my station, I take the elevator up to my penthouse and shower quickly before making some breakfast. I open the fridge, scanning through my lack of groceries, and make a mental note to schedule a delivery for later.
It looks like toast and eggs it is, seeing as that’s all I have.
It takes me less than five minutes to prepare it before I’m seated on the couch, papers spread across the coffee table in front of me, and my breakfast begging to be eaten.
Fuck. Will I ever be caught up? I really would have liked to spend this day with Capri, but I’m so far behind on sorting through plans for the next year that this needs to be done before I head to the States.
I rub my temples, breathing through the anxiety I feel coursing through me. If only I was capable of lessening my load and delegating more. But there are not many people I trust to lead Archer Chartering. Hell, I hardly trust Romeo and Luca most days.
It’s crucial for me to have the rest of the year planned; that way, when summer rolls around again, I can book parties accordingly. Families travel from all over to be chartered with us, so it’s crucial I have a plan in place to make that happen efficiently.
Since Luca handles the bookings, I run through the inquiries and make sure they’re feasible before sending them to him to schedule.
Honestly, this is something I should be trusting him with, but in time.
One glance around my house reminds me of the neglect I’ve shown it. It’s not dirty by any means, I’m as clean as they come.
However, tidy, it is not.
Papers are tossed across every flat surface from the long nights I’ve been up working. Just from where I’m sitting, I can see sand from the island trip the other day dusted across the floor.
And suddenly, my thoughts go elsewhere, a smile ghosting my lips, thinking about Capri on her knees for me.
Fuck. That’ll help with my sour mood.
I really should hire someone to help, but I’ve already established with myself that I have a difficult time asking for it.
Shit, I have the money to do it.
I need to get my ass up and clean—do something to show some productivity around here.
After scarfing down my breakfast, I take my plate to the sink, preparing to wash the dishes, when the sound of my doorbell ringing stops me.
The voice of Enzo, the building’s doorman, projects through my intercom speakers.
“Mr. Archer. I have a Capri Meadows here to see you.”
Capri is in my building? How does she know where I live?
Fuck. I’m not in the right headspace to have company here, but hell if I’m gonna turn her away.
“Send her up, Enzo,” I tell him frantically. The disarray of my house is heavier now than before. Shit. There’s no way I can get this place cleaned up in the duration of an elevator ride.
Fuckkkkk. She’s gonna think I’m a disaster and call off the rest of the week. I wouldn’t blame her. I’ve pulled out all the stops: the charter sail, the chair lift, and the good fucking on the mountaintop.
Now, to this—a rich dose of chaos.
Without any time to prepare, the elevator doors open and the soft beeping alerts me of Capri’s arrival.
“Hey, Captain.”
I turn, finding Capri in the cutest little dress. Except it’s not a dress because it has shorts instead of a skirt. I don’t know what girls call those things, but whatever it is, it’s cute as hell on her.
Doing my best to appear happy, I smile and pull her in for a hug. “Hey yourself. How’d you find me?” I ask, leading her into the kitchen.
Capri’s focus is on everything but me. I figured that. She’s probably planning her escape. With her blue eyes wide, she draws out a response, “Romeo…gave…it to me. What happened in here?”
There’s no judgement in her tone, more like worry. Rightfully so. She almost just tripped over a laundry basket filled to the brim beside her…in my kitchen.
I grab two glasses from the cabinet to fill with water, anything to keep myself occupied. “I’ve been a little…busy,” I draw out.
“I’d say.” She laughs. “I guess inviting you to a wine tasting with me is out of the question. We’ve got some cleaning to do.”
We? What is she talking about?
I chuckle. “Absolutely not. This is nothing I can’t handle,” I say, handing her a glass. “I’ve been slammed this week, so tidying up hasn’t really been a priority.”
It’s as if a burst of energy comes over her. “Perfect. We can do it together.” I stand frozen, watching as Capri sets her glass on the counter and makes herself at home, searching through my hall closet for a vacuum and cleaning products.
Before I have a chance to speak up, she turns to me with the most beautiful smile on display. “Well, are you gonna just stand there or you gonna get a broom and start helping?”
It looks like Capri is helping me. Helping me tidy my house and clean up the mess I’ve made. The thoughtfulness behind that isn’t lost on me.
This is her vacation, for fuck’s sake.
“Capri, you’re not cleaning my house on vacation. It’s not happening.”
She’s already on the move, making her way into my laundry room and tossing the dirty clothes into the machine before handing me a broom to get started. “It’s a good thing you don’t get a say in what I choose to do on my vacation.” She smiles fiercely. “Little do you know, I love a good deep cleaning day.”
Lost in thought, I start sweeping up the sand, gathering it into a large pile, but I’m not done yet. No, I have more to say. “You should go to the wine tasting. I’m in a shit mood anyway.”
Capri stands in front of me, looking lethal in her confidence. “Nothing a little music can’t cure. Besides, we can get this cleaned and then you can work on dirtying me up after.” She winks before shoving a bottle of bleach and a cleaning rag in my hand. “You get the bathrooms,” she directs me and turns to get started on the kitchen.
So, this is what it feels like to have a woman in my home.
I never would have asked her to help me with this. But it seems she’s leaving me with no other choice but to accept it.
Deep down, I’m grateful. And despite how I’ve been feeling today, the idea of doing dirty things to Capri later makes me hustle like a madman to get those bathrooms looking pristine.
After all, I have always worked best under pressure.
* * *
“See, that didn’t take long at all.”
Surely, I misunderstood her. “Capri, that took five hours.”
She waves me off before taking a sip of her water. “But look how great your place looks now. Not a speck of sand in sight.” She grins, proud of our hard work.
Little does she know, I’ll miss that small speck of sand. The sand that instantly reminded me of the best day with her.
I’ll appease her, though, because as much as I didn’t want to spend my limited time with her cleaning, the penthouse has never looked so good.
Shit. The floors are practically sparkling.
“You killed it, sweetheart,” I praise her, just thankful for the fact that she’s here. It seems she’s exactly what I needed today.
“ We killed it.”
Yeah, we did. The more time I spend around Capri, the more I realize she’s much more than a beautiful woman who can satisfy me in bed.
She’s caring and thoughtful. I still can’t believe she spent her entire morning helping me clean my house.
In all fairness, I didn’t think about my father or work once during the full five hours. It was a nice escape. Relaxing on the couch now is also something I need. I can’t remember the last time I did absolutely nothing without planning what’s next.
“This is nice,” I admit, pointing between Capri and I on the couch. She’s lounged back with a blanket thrown over her and has never looked more at home.
I haven’t been casual with a woman like this since college.
She sends me a small smile, and I can tell something’s on her mind. “It is. Sorry for showing up unannounced.”
I lean forward, resting my arms on my thighs, fully content just watching her. The way her little nose scrunches when she finds something amusing. And how she gets lost in a fit of giggles before she finishes a joke.
I’m noticing things about Capri I shouldn’t be.
Seeing her in my space is fucking with me.
My eyes train in on her. “No need to apologize. I’m glad you came, actually.”
“Yeah?” Her voice perks up.
I nod. “Shitty mood, remember?”
“Need to talk about it?” she asks, delicate dimples gracing her face. “I’m a really good listener.”
Do I want to talk about it? Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never had anyone ask me that. Never had anyone willing to listen, I guess.
“You’d do that? Just sit and listen to me talk? I thought that was against our rules.”
I can’t wrap my head around it. The fact that this woman I hardly know would let me vent about my life problems to her and do it willingly.
Where did she come from?
I’m transfixed as Capri lays her head on the couch, snuggling up against it and sending me the most sincere smile. “You seem like you could use it, that’s all. I know how it feels to have no one to talk to,” she admits, her understanding comforting. “Not that I’m assuming you don’t have anyone in your life, but from the small bit you told me about your family, I wanted to offer anyway. You can trust me.”
Somehow, I believe her, and I already do.
The fact that I won’t see her again helps with that trust, but my gut tells me she’s a really fucking good person. A person so good I’d be fortunate to have her in my corner, even if it’s for a short time.
“Okay, yeah. I’ll talk. As long as you don’t mind,” I say, preparing myself to open up to someone for the first time.
“Not one little bit. If at any point you want advice, just tell me, okay? Otherwise, I’m all ears.” Capri smiles, and my chest warms from her kindness.
Here goes nothing.
I take a deep breath and say the honest truth, “I was nothing but a disappointment to my father. Growing up, I could always tell he favored my brother, Tommy, over me, but the older I got, the less he cared about hiding it. I made a mistake years ago, and he never forgave me for it. Some days, I wake up and I’m just fucking mad. I can’t explain it, but I hate that I’m running the company he built. I could have sold it when he died and considered it a wash, but I love chartering. Sailing the coast and meeting new people along the way. I loved it even as a kid. But I hate that he’s attached to it. It takes away the excitement in it, you know?”
Capri listens, waiting for me to finish before speaking, “It must be really hard to navigate loving and hating something at the same time. Your father and sailing.”
I never thought about it like that.
I think through her words. “The sad part is, I never hated him. I think I just loved him so much, I wanted him to love me the same. It’s taken me a long time to accept that we never got that closure. Or at least I didn’t.”
“Jones.” Capri sighs. “I’m sure he loved you even if he never said it. Which, shame on him for that, but I can’t imagine a world where a father doesn’t love his child.”
“Maybe,” I murmur. “I wasn’t the only one he treated poorly, though.” Capri’s focus doesn’t waver. “I’ve always suspected he mistreated my mom. To what extent, I’m not sure. I don’t have proof, but she always seemed so reserved around him. She never spoke up but was also never rushing to see him after a long day. Those things matter.”
Capri nods, and I never realized how good it would feel to admit it out loud. “They do matter,” she whispers, reminding me that she knows from experience.
I hate knowing she was in a marriage that lacked love.
“I don’t know,” I mumble. “Most days, I just wish things were different. That I wasn’t alone in this big penthouse with my only living family member across the globe from me.”
“Permission to offer advice?” Capri asks sweetly, lifting her hand as if we were in a classroom. She’s definitely a teacher.
I laugh. “Go for it.”
“So, why not downsize? Maybe you need a change of scenery,” she offers, looking around my space. “It is a bitch to clean, after all. Sounds like a good excuse to hightail it out of here.”
I chuckle, feeling lighter already. “And where would I go?”
She shrugs. “Anywhere. If you stay in Capri, find something smaller and start fresh.”
That’s not a horrible idea. But it would require taking off work to move and that’s free time I don’t have. Not even considering the fact of finding a new place. Again, time.
“Or,” she retorts. “You do it for you.”
My brows rise. “For me? You mean run the company?”
“Yep. Do it for you,” she tells me. “If you love it as much as you say you do, then why not? It’s your company now, Jones. You’ve kept it running and successful. You should get to enjoy that.”
It’s my company now. Capri’s right. All these years, I’ve acted as if my father were the one still in the captain’s seat.
But he’s not; I am.
It’s all about my mindset. It’s time I remembered that.
“I needed that reminder,” I tell her, thankful for her taking the time to offer sound advice. “It may take me a while to fully grasp it, but I needed to hear it.”
Capri smiles. “From what I can see, you seem like you’re doing a great job, Jones. You should be so proud of yourself. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, but I’m impressed. I’m sure your dad would be, too.”
The sinking feeling I get when talking about him will never go away, but maybe accepting the outcome of our strained relationship will help. The fact is, my father is gone, and nothing will bring him back.
I can use that to be a driving force. To make Archer Chartering something I’m even more proud of, while still giving my mother the best possible care and enjoying what I do at the same time.
I know it’s possible. I just needed someone to tell me.
“Thank you, Capri. You’ll never know how much your listening has helped me. I feel less shitty now.” I chuckle.
“Good.” She smiles brightly. “And if you ever need to talk again…in the next four days…I’m your girl.”
I grin and it’s so damn cheesy, it feels fake. “I’ll keep that in mind.”