Chapter 5
“So, are you going to finally tell me what your plan is?” I ask Fallon.
We just finished eating breakfast, which was delicious.
I told the chef about my dairy allergy and preference for gluten-free, and he whipped up some mouth-watering allergen-free pancakes that were the most incredible pancakes I had ever eaten in my entire life.
That was after we enjoyed a selection of scrambled eggs, sausage links, and cantaloupe wedges.
I hadn’t eaten anything since dinner yesterday, with the exception of the banana Fallon brought me, so I was ravenous.
Now we’re back out on the top deck enjoying our coffee and watching the sun rise.
I have a feeling that I will crash hard very soon after being up for over twenty-four hours, the side nap I had at Fallon’s notwithstanding.
“In about two days, we’ll dock near New York City so I can take you shopping for some new clothes.”
I think my mouth drops opens. “Fallon, you’re not buying me clothes and I’m not taking your money.”
“Kitten, who the heck do you think you’re talking to? You should know by now that money is not an obstacle for me. A few clothes and shoes are nothing. Besides, you have to do what I say. It’s in the verbal contract.”
I mouth the word “jackass” at him, and he gives me a cocky salute with his coffee mug. It would be nice to have some new clothes and not have to wear his sister’s.
Knowing I’m batting zero for a thousand at winning arguments with him, I relent. “Alright, new clothes. Then what?”
“We’ll stay in New York City for a couple of days, take in the sights, see a show, do the normal touristy things. Dad is going to help with getting you a passport, but we still have to go in for you to take a picture and sign the forms. Dad will get your birth certificate from Daniel.
“I don’t even know if Daniel has a copy of it,” I reply.
“Then Dad will get it another way. You’d be amazed at how fast things get done with a little money and knowing the right people.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I say sardonically.
I have to admit, a part of me gets excited about the thought of touring New York City. I’ve never been there before. And a passport means I’ll be able to go anywhere in the world. Is that what Fallon wants to do? Take me out of the country?
I place my mug down on the small side table between us. “And then?”
“And then it’s up to you where we end up.
“Are you serious?”
“Operation ‘Finding Elizabeth’ has begun. Wherever you go, I follow…but I’m still in charge. So, where do you want to go?”
“Fallon, this is too much. I’m just a high school student from a small town in the middle of nowhere. You don’t even know me that well. Why are you doing this for me?
He narrows those pale blue eyes at me. “Where do you want to go?” he asks again.
He’s not going to answer me. “You are so flippin’ frustrating!”
For a third time, he asks, “Where do you want to go, Elizabeth?” He sips his coffee while watching me. Waiting.
I bite my lip, so many possibilities run through my head.
“Elizabeth, I’m serious about doing this for you. Stop making things more difficult than they have to be.” His phone rings. “Sorry, it’s my dad. I’ve got to take this,” he says and gets up to answer the call.
I lean my head back on the deck chair and scan the morning sky.
The pinks, oranges, and yellow along the horizon look like a watercolor painting.
Standing up, I bend over and stretch my legs and back, then decide to look around.
I wasn’t able to see the details of the yacht when it was dark.
Robert pointed out a few rooms that I will want to explore more later.
I think I’ll start with the fitness room first. I’m so used to running with Julien in the mornings, so I might as well utilize the treadmill I was told was in there.
I stroll around the deck and see Fallon walking back towards me, his head down.
The early morning sun makes his dark blond hair appear almost golden.
“Thanks, Dad.” He looks up and sees me. “Look, I’ve got to go,” he says into the phone and hangs up.
“What if I want to go to Europe?” I call to him as he slowly approaches.
“Done.” This guy. I could probably tell him to buy me a Lamborghini and he would give me the same response.
“Which city?” he asks.
“London. Paris. Venice.”
“Okay.”
I scoff at his easy acceptance. I continue, “Reykjavik. Barcelona. Sydney.”
“Fine, even though Sydney’s not in Europe,” he reminds me with a crooked grin. “We’ll take the family jet. I’ll call Dad and have him get it ready. We can fly out of JFK in a few days once we get your passport.”
“I will never be able to pay you or your father back.”
“I would never ask you to, nor would I let you. Neither would Dad.”
“There’s something I’ve been wondering, Fallon.”
Fallon stops in front of me, the wind ruffling his hair in every direction. “And what would that be, kitten?”
“Seriously—why me?”
Even though I tried to ask him something similar to that earlier, I don’t think he was expecting me to ask again, point blank. Why me? Two words. So simple yet packed with so much meaning.
He takes a lock of my hair and rubs it between his fingers.
“I could say that it’s because Ryder is my friend and you’re his girl and I’d do anything for him, which would mean that I’m being a good friend to him by helping you.
Or I could say that I’m a nice guy who sees someone in trouble and wants to help her out of the kindness of my heart.
Instead, I’ll give you a partial truth because you wouldn’t be able to handle the whole truth. ”
I snicker at his last words. “You did not just semi-quote A Few Good Men to me.”
Fallon’s light chuckle when he realizes I’m right has me grinning up at him.
“Why you, you ask?” he casually questions while twining the lock of my hair around his finger and giving it a slight tug to bring my face closer to his. “I have my reasons.”
“And they would be?” I goad.
“What part of they are my reasons did you not get?”
I give his shoulder a slight shove. “Fallon, come on. Why are doing this for me? Why is your dad? It makes no sense.
“It makes perfect sense to us.”
His reluctance to tell me has me stomping my foot in frustration like a four-year-old. “Why do you have to be so flipping obtuse about every single thing?”
He just smiles.
God. Fine. Secretive, pig-headed man.
“I have a condition, Fallon.”
“Name it.
“I want my phone back so I can call Daniel.”
“Alright. But you can use my phone.”
I inwardly growl at him in exasperation.
“I also want to call the guys.”
“No.”
This time I do growl at him. I cross my arms with a loud huff and open my mouth to argue. Fallon stops me.
“I said no, kitten. Part of the agreement, remember.
“Then you have to call them every day, so they all know that I’m okay. Otherwise, turn the boat around and take me back.” I stand tall and pop my hands to my hips in a show of defiance.
Fallon heaves an annoyed sigh. “Deal.”
“How can I trust that you’ll keep your word?
“Because New Elizabeth would kick my ass if I didn’t.
My irritation at him evaporates and I can’t stop the small grin that appears on my face.
“You know what, kitten? I have a feeling that we’re going to have an awesome adventure together. Starting today. It’s Halloween.”
Oh my God. He’s right. It completely slipped my mind.
I wonder what the guys are doing for Halloween.
Every year, we would dress up and walk around the neighborhood with Hailey and Brea.
We would then head over to Ryder’s house and chill in the backyard around the firepit, stuffing ourselves full of candy until we were sick.
“Want to do some trick-or-treating?” Fallon asks. The boyish look his gets on his face is priceless
I spin around, arms wide. “Fallon, if you’ve forgotten, we’re on a boat in the Atlantic. I doubt we’ll be getting any trick-or-treaters.
“Still doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. Go get some sleep first.
I shake my head. “Phone call to Daniel first, then nap.” I hold my hand out and gesture for his phone.
He starts to place it in my open palm, but then pulls it back. “Just Daniel.”
I give him the biggest eye roll I can muster. Of course, Fallon hovers over me while I make the call.
“Hello?”
“Daniel, it’s Elizabeth.”
And cue the yelling
“Elizabeth Penelope Fairchild! Have you completely lost your mind! You get your butt back home this instant!”
I have to hold the phone away from my ear. Daniel has never raised his voice to me before. “Daniel, I’m so sorry.”
“Not as sorry as you will be when you get home. You’re grounded for the next twenty years, young lady!”
He goes on another irate tirade. I keep the phone to my ear and let him get it out of his system. When he finally stops, I tell him, “Daniel, my memories came back.”
“Christ, Lizzie. I know, sweetheart. Ryder told me.”
“Ryder? Is he there?” Fallon tries to snatch the phone from me, and I smack his hand away and spin around.
“No. I sent him home.”
Fallon makes another grab for the phone. “Will you cut it out? Ryder isn’t even there,” I snap at him, and he backs off
“Is that the Fallon boy Ryder said you were with?”
“Yeah. He’s right here.”
“Put him on.”
I pivot to look directly at Fallon. “Daniel, please don’t be mad at me.”
“Too late for that,” he clips out and I hear a thud. I can’t stop my lips from twitching. Daniel has a habit of thunking his head on the table when he can’t figure out how to handle my ‘teenage drama.
“I love you,” I tell him solemnly, and my grin deepens when he starts mumbling about not knowing how to parent a rebellious, stubborn girl. “Daniel, please be okay with me doing this. I need to do this.”
“Lizzie, are you okay?” Just like that, his anger flips to concern. “You need to see your neurologist and get checked out. Are you having headaches? Are you dizzy?
I walk back over to where Fallon and I had been sitting and drop down into the deck lounger. Fallon sits next to me and hands me a fresh cup of hot coffee. I swear the guy is half magician.
I mouth a silent “thank you” and take a grateful sip as I continue to talk with Daniel.
I spend the next hour telling him everything.
When I hand Fallon his phone back, he spends another hour trying to allay every one of Daniel’s fears while I repose in the deck chair and close my eyes, fatigue hanging heavy over me.
Fallon ends the conversation by informing my uncle that his dad, Phillip, will contact him later today.
“I hate that I’m worrying him,” I tell Fallon when he ends the call. A huge yawn escapes my lips. “Daniel has been really great about everything. I would be in foster care or in an orphanage right now if he hadn’t stepped in as my guardian.”
“Never going to happen. I would make my dad adopt you first.”
I know he’s messing with me, but it was a sweet thing to say, nonetheless. “Then I’d be your sister.”
His aquamarine eyes bore into me. “Never.”
Tread carefully. Fallon-sized minefield up ahead. “I think I’ll take that nap now.