Page 89 of Wayward

The elevator opens on the top floor, and we’re ushered into a multi-room suite.

“Easton!” One of my dad’s two assistants runs at me. She’s waving her phone in her hand. “It’s true. I’ve got your sister on FaceTime.” She pushes her phone into my hand.

Em’s holding it close to her face, so all I can see is her nose. And I can’t make out a thing she’s saying because she’sscreaming into her phone. “Em . . . Em?” I look up at Haley, who’s smiling from ear to ear. “Em, I love you, but I need to talk to Dad. It’s so good to see you. Well, your nose.”

She’s crying so hard she’s hiccupping.

“It’s okay, Em. The six of us are in London.”

“Good, good,” she manages.

“I need to talk to Dad.”

“Okay.”

“Here, talk to my sister.” I hand Haley the phone.

“Emily, it’s Haley.” Haley waves into the phone.

“Haley . . .” Em starts sobbing again.

I should clear the room. Have the PR person step outside. But I don’t fucking care anymore. Appearances don’t mean a damn thing to me. My whole life has been about appearances. Don’t let anyone know you have an injury—metaphorically or physically. Don’t show your weaknesses, in business or the pool. Swimming might look like an individual sport against the clock, but who you’re swimming against mentally changes everything. If the last year is going to mean anything, I need to clear that out of my DNA.

“Dad, what the hell are you doing? Why were you doing business with the Zambrano family?”

Chapter 39

Eye of the Storm

Haley

Emily’s full-on ugly crying.

“We’re okay. I’m so relieved you are too. And your dad looks great.” It’s my stew voice. I wish I meant it. Rocky looks like he’s aged a decade in the last year.

“You do too. I like your hair short.”

“Uh, thanks. Your brother cut it rather quickly.” There’s a click, and the memory of Easton cutting off my ponytail flashes in my head. “I’ve been meaning to even it out.” The right side is longer than the left. But honestly, I hadn’t really noticed until we touched down in London. I’ve been missing fiddling with my ponytail. Something I’ve always done when I’m deep in thought. Though, over the last year I think I’ve hardly done it at all. When Calvin and Easton were missing, and a few other times. But not much at all. “I think I might keep it short.” It’s just below my chin. Easton did the best he could to protect me from the pirates.

There’s a shift in energy in the room, and everyone goes silent.

“What’s happening?” Emily asks. I’d dropped the phone to my side, forgetting I was even on with her.

Easton takes the phone from me. “Em, can I call you back? I’ll tell you everything later.”

“Sure, I love you. I can’t wait to hug you and then smack you for not telling me you were okay the second you got back.”

“Love you, too, Em.”

“Wait,” Em screams out of the phone.

“What?” Easton cocks his head to the side. It’s adorable. I can’t wait for the two of them to see each other again. Because I have every confidence that she will give him a kiss and hug and then smack him. I feel horrible that she’s been so worried. And it comes at me that Rocky said he’s been talking to my dad every week? That’s . . . that’s crazy.

“Dad, don’t let him out of your sight,” Emily says.

“I won’t,” Rocky says. “Promise.”

“I’m counting on that.”