Page 36 of The Trip

Gigi presses either side of her temple. “I can’t beunplugged. I have to be posting regularly. It’s why they paid for Starlink.” She looks up at Emma and Beth. “You guys will all have to help me film content. Then, I can use one of your phones to post through my account. Or we can send everything to my assistant.” She exhales and leans back against the couch. “I guess that will work.”

I stand and grab her by the hand. “First, how about you get changed so you don’t get hypothermia?”

Gigi allows me to pull her to her feet, her wet hair dripping onto my forearms. “Okay, good idea.” She lets go of my hand.

“I’m going up to get some air,” Emma says as Gigi goes into her private stateroom and shuts the door.

Beth pushes herself off the couch, staggering to the side as the boat sways. She catches herself on the table before falling over.

“I’m going to finish my book.”

“Really?” I say. “You’re going to go back to reading after all that?”

She throws me a look over her shoulder when she gets to our stateroom. “Why not?”

I shake my head as she closes the door to our room, a half smile forming on my lips. I knock on Gigi’s door.

“You doing okay in there?”

“Yes, mother.”

I smile, glad to hear her sounding back to normal. But until I make sure she’s okay, I’ll stay close. I decide to go to the bathroom while I wait. Who knows how long it will take her to change? It took her over an hour to get ready for breakfast this morning, while the rest of us rolled out of bed and came out in search of coffee and mimosas.

When I emerge from the bathroom, Gigi is still in her room. I hear the zip of her bag, so I don’t knock again. I’m getting a drink from the fridge when the door to Emma’s room opens and Adam steps out.

He startles at my presence before his face morphs into a smile. “Hey, Palmer.”

“That’s Emma’s room,” I say.

“Yeah.” He gestures over his shoulder. “I was just replacing the towels we used for Gigi. Hope that’s the most excitement we have this trip.”

I return his smile. “Yeah, me too.”

Another door opens, and I turn to find Gigi wearing a black crochet maxi dress beneath the new PFD Nojan gave her. Her mascara has beenwiped away from beneath her eyes, and a normal color has returned to her mouth. Unless it’s lipstick.

“Good as new,” she says, “Well, except for my hair.” She runs her hand down her long braid.

“You still look fabulous, Gigi. You couldn’t look bad if you tried.” It was the truth.

She grins. “It’s too bad none of you filmed my falling overboard.Thatwould’ve been great content.” Her smile fades. “I don’t know how I’m going to live without my phone for the rest of this trip. I should’ve brought a spare.”

I open my can of sparkling water. “At least it’s just your phone at the bottom of the ocean and not you.”

“True.” Gigi tilts her head. “But it still sucks.” She moves toward the deck. “You coming up?”

I shake my head. “Not right now. Don’t you think you should have a rest?”

“I’m good.”

“Here.” I grab my zip-up sweatshirt off the dining seat. “At least stay warm while you’re up there.”

Gigi eyes my faded hoodie before pulling it on.

“Now that’s a look,” I say as the shifting floor thrusts my hip against the counter.

Gigi grins, grabbing the wall for balance. “Thanks, Palmer.”

I watch Gigi climb the stairs to the deck, then take a drink of sparkling water, shifting my attention to the door to Emma’s stateroom. I take unsteady steps across the small living space as the floor sways beneath my feet. Glancing over my shoulder, I push open the door to her room.