Page 40 of Wayward (Wrecked #4)

Making Port

C alvin

It’s the fucking tone that Rocky’s laying down. It makes my skin crawl, and I want to put my fist into an iron plate. Or his face.

“Dad.” Easton stands. “We’ve been through a lot. And we’re together now. It works for us.”

Rocky’s eyes flick around the room, stopping on each one of us. “That’s . . . As long as it works for you and you’re happy.” His head bobs.

I want to believe he means it. While I was on Rocky’s old boat for a couple of seasons, I wasn’t out and about in the owner’s area much. But I’ve always gotten the sense that he’s the kind of guy who says what he means.

“You want Mike to come up with the verbiage?” Rocky points to the door the PR guy walked out of.

“No.” Easton’s quick with an answer.

Haley stands. “It wouldn’t hurt to see what he comes up with. As long as we have the final say.”

“You are as smart as your father says, Haley Brewster.”

“You really talk to my father once a week?”

“Yes. To begin with, it was a couple of times a week. We had big online video calls with all the family members. We still do that once a month.”

“I should call my mum. But first I want to make sure that Ed doesn’t go trying to get revenge through my mum and sister.” Zane crosses his arms over his chest.

“Once Susan is under arrest, Easton can get his will changed. Then there’s no reason to go after any of you anymore.

” Rocky holds out his hand, and Zane shakes it, but then Rocky pulls him into an embrace.

He’s a lot frailer than last year. And when Zane squeezes him back, I’m afraid he’s going to cut the old guy in two. “Your mom is going to be thrilled.”

“She’s going to go mental,” Zane says.

“I don’t claim that I understand what all this is, Easton. But I know all of your families. And they’re good people.” Rocky’s lips thin.

A knock vibrates the door Mike left through.

“Come in,” Rocky says, emotion lingering in his voice.

“I’ve got Henry Goodstone coming up here in thirty minutes.

He was about to leave for Paris, but he’s delayed his flight until tonight for exclusive coverage of the castaways’ return.

I’ve given his producer a few things to not ask.

Personal relationships and the like. The guard is still at Susan’s door. ”

Rocky nods. “Good. Thanks, Mike.”

“The clothes will be here right before Henry gets here.” Mike pivots and heads out of the suite.

The front door to the suite opens, and Mike ushers in ten people. Two Rockwell private security guards stand next to the door, watching everything that comes into the room. “We’ll set up over there,” Mike says.

“And you all can get ready in this room.” Mike ushers us into the second bedroom space.

“Let them get ready in my room, Mike. I’m ready from the press conference earlier. There’s not much you can do with this mug, anyway,” Rocky says.

Mike nods and pushes through the cluster of people coming into the suite. The crew moves furniture and sets up lights on the other side of the room.

“This is Rina. She’ll fix your hair and put a little powder on you all.” Mike steps to the side, and a middle-aged woman wearing a BBC jacket and pink pants appears from behind him.

“Oh, this lot won’t take much work. A good-looking group.

” Rina walks around each of us. “Right, we’ll have to find you a chair or me a ladder if I’m going to powder that nose.

” She pats my arm like a grandma. Her gaze lands on Haley.

“Oh, you’re lovely. That’s an interesting haircut.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like it before. ”

“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” Easton puts his hand on Haley’s shoulder.

“You let this handsome devil cut your hair? I guess I might have too. Is this something you like?” Rina’s brown eyes flash at Haley.

“I don’t hate it. But if you wanted to tidy it up a bit . . .”

“Anything you want. I’ve done it all. I gave Darlene Smootworth a fantastic touch-up last week. You know she’s on The Garden Flat. ”

Haley smiles and nods. If she knows who that it is, I’ll be surprised. I don’t have a clue.

“Didn’t she win Sunset Cove a few years back? It’s a dating show,” Zane says, handing me a shirt.

“Exactly, love,” Rina says.

“Oh, yes. A little symmetry would be nice.” Haley pulls on the ends of her hair.

“I’m just going to close the door to keep out the distractions.” Rina pushes the bathroom door shut, and I bounce backward into Sam. Dante and Easton are on my other side.

“Oi, it’s weird, right?” Zane elbows me.

“Weird?” I ask.

“Yeah, I feel like a little kid. Like I don’t mind you all, but sharing Haley with even the makeup gal has me itching, you know?”

“I suppose I do.” With some effort, I tug my fingers through my hair. It’s a bit different for me, though. I’m sure Rina is nice, but I don’t want her touching me.

I open the door and watch what’s going on in the living room.

Lights and cables are being moved around.

This is far from some guy holding a video camera.

I close the door and peer out the window.

We’re on the top floor, and far below, the crowd of protesters marches around with their homemade signs.

Nolan’s long gone. Though we’ve got the key to his apartment.

Honestly, I think I prefer that shithole to this place.

At least there you know what you’re getting.

Out in the other room, we have no idea what will happen.

Will this Henry Goodstone make us out to be a bunch of lunatics or tragic victims?

“Rockwell, do you still have your dad’s phone?” I ask.

“Yeah, catch. You going to call your mom?”

My shoulders hitch, because I wish I was. “Not yet.” I dial his number—or what was his number the last time I called him. Before I blocked him. It rings once. There’s a large part of me that wants it to go straight to voicemail.

“ Hello.” But of course the fucker picks up. The one time I don’t really want him to pick up.

“Jared, it’s Calvin?—”

“That’s not funny.”

I hold the phone away from my ear. Because only my damn brother would think I was lying. “It’s me, Jackass.”

“Oh, my god! Calvin?” There’s scrambling, then a bang as he drops the phone. Muffled, I can hear him talking to someone. Probably Trisha. “It’s Calvin. Give me the phone back.”

“Calvin?” Trisha says.

I have the very strong urge to hang up. But that’s not going to get what I need done. “Trisha, hand the phone back to the jackass.”

“You’re alive.” She breaks out into crocodile tears. There is no way that piece of trash was mourning me. Me being dead would make holidays a hell of a lot easier for her.

“Just hand the phone back to him.”

There’s more fumbling. “Calvin,” Jared says, “where are you?”

“London. Can you go over to the farm and?—”

“We live on the farm now.”

My heart squeezes in my chest.

“Mom and Dad are fine. Dad wanted to retire. They built an apartment in the old milking shed, but they spend most of their time in Florida. But they’re here for the kiddo's birthday.”

“Oh, right? Tell her happy birthday from her favorite uncle."

“Now I know it’s you. You’re her only uncle, but Trisha’s sister is dating someone.”

“I like competition.” I look up to see the four guys watching me.

“Yeah, you do. How did you get to London?”

“Listen, Jackass, I don’t have much time. Can you get Mom and Dad to watch the news tonight? I’m fine. And I’ll be home for a visit at some point soon.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“Of course you have.”

“Thank you for forgiving me.”

“Who said I forgave you?”

“You haven’t called me Jackass since Trisha and I got married. Only Jared.”

I stop and stare at the floor. Have I really forgiven him? I guess so. I don’t give a shit about Trisha anymore. But there’s not that rock of hate in my chest when I think about her now, either.

“Just go tell Mom I’m alive and I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“I will. I love you, Cal. You’re the best brother I could have ever had. And I will?—”

“I said I never want to talk about it again. Let’s move forward, Jackass.”

“I can do that.”

I end the call. And turn back to the window. Not that I mind the guys seeing me tear up. Or Haley, if she was done with the makeup girl. But I don’t want to talk about it now. Later, when we have more time. There’s a twist in my gut, because I actually think I will bring it up later.

“Anyone want the phone?” I ask.

Sam puts his hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea. I’m going to call my sister and have her be with my mom.” Sam takes the phone from me and sits on the bed, staring at the phone. He’s wearing one of the polo shirts that was dropped off while I was talking to Jared.

“What’s up, Sam?” Dante asks.

“I can’t remember my sister’s number. I’ll call Charlie.” He stands and paces, walking into the giant closet next to the bathroom. “Charlie. Where are you? . . . Fair enough. I’m in London. We’re back. I?—”

The bathroom door opens. “Who’s next?” Rina shouts.

Sam pulls the closet door shut behind him.

“Look at you, Sassy. You look amazing.” Dante gives Haley a twirl. The makeup artist has Haley’s hair in a fluffy cut that hangs just below her ears. I don’t know what it’s called, but she looks hot as hell.

“Thank you.” Haley gives Dante a kiss on his cheek.

“I’ll go next, not that you can do much with perfection,” Dante says.

“There’s room for two more.” Rina waves at Zane and Easton. “You put your shirt on.” She points a finger at my chest and pulls the door shut.

“You look good, Chiefie.”

“Thank you.” She tilts her head, and her hair swings. “I’m nervous, though. Are you nervous?”

“I hadn’t given it a thought. Nervous about the cameras?”

“Yes, but no. All of this. Our families. Your families more than my dad. I’ve never been on TV. Once there was a clip of a yacht I was stewing on, and you could see me for half a second. My friend went nuts over it. But that’s about it.”

“Just be yourself.” I yank the shirt I have on over my head and pull on the new one. It’s tight—tourniquet tight—from my shoulders through my chest. “It doesn’t fit.”

“It looks okay.” Haley smooths her hands down over the fabric.

“It’s not okay. It’s a crop top at best. If I move, I’m going to bust out of this shirt like a rotting watermelon.” I try to peel it off, but it doesn’t budge.

Haley laughs. “Here, let me help you. Sit on the edge of the bed.”

I do. I hold my hands up in the air like one of my nieces. Haley tugs on the hem of the shirt, and it gets stuck on my pecs.

“Pull harder,” I say, and she does, but it doesn’t move.

She straddles my legs and yanks, and when the fabric comes off the top of my head, she flies forward.

I tumble backwards onto the bed, and Haley lands on top of me.

My hands surround her waist on impulse, pulling her tight against my chest. Even with the too-tight shirt wrapped around my face, I can’t help but hold her against me.

“Calvin,” Haley says, with a chuckle. “We’ve got to get ready for the interview.”

The bathroom door opens, and Dante’s laughter fills the room. “We’ve got a few minutes. You look perfect, Sassy.” Dante jumps on the side of the bed.

“There’s no way in the world we are doing anything here. Not after that nice woman did my hair. And Easton’s dad is out there.” Haley gives me a quick kiss on the top of my head and rolls off me.