“You’re still mathing. Eleven years your senior with nothing to show for it. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, Payden. Let me dazzle you with a piece of wisdom: if something doesn’t feel right, it’s not. Don’t ever let anyone sway you into a decision. If you decided it was a mistake to bring me on this trip, I’d hop off at the next stop, no hard feelings.”
“Honestly, it’s weird but this feels like one of the best decisions I’d made in a long time.” I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but something about Stone called to me. Maybe it was my injured heart looking for a lifeline, but whatever it was, I had no fears about it.
His smile lit up my world.
“I don’t know what it is about you, little unicorn, but I’m happy I joined you. Now, what’s next on our itinerary?”
I giggled. “How about lunch, then we can walk through the party cars.”
“I could eat.” Stone slid his boots on then stood and held his hand out. “Lead the way, little unicorn.”
I tucked my hand in his and I swear, as soon as they touched it was like everything slid into place. The zip and the zing, the birds singing. Wait, there aren’t any birds on a train. Either my brain suffered from sleep deprivation, or I’d binged one too many romcoms.
The partyers were up and moving around, some sluggishly, while others were a bit more awake. The dining car was much fuller than this morning and it took a minute to get a seat. I loved how all the tables lined along the sides of the car, so no onewas without a view. Not that they had much room to move them around, but the symmetry just fit.
“I love the beach,” I said as I glimpsed a bit of blue water. “It’s my thinking spot.”
“Can’t say I haven’t used it for therapy myself, a time or a million,” Stone winked at me and my insides went all wonky. “Wrote some of my best lyrics to the sounds of the waves breaking.”
He got a faraway look in his eyes as he stared out the window. I didn’t want to interrupt, clearly the memory he waded through was heavy.
“Afternoon, gentlemen, may I get you anything from the bar?” The waiter asked. Stone slowly turned and gestured for me to go first.
“Can I have a Sprite, please?”
“Absolutely. Would you like to order off the kids’ menu today?”
I side eyed Stone, gauging his reaction. He just smiled and waited his turn. “Yes, please and thank you.” Stone ordered an iced tea then the waiter stepped away.
“Why aren’t there any prices on this menu?” Stone asked me.
“Because it’s an all-inclusive trip. The only thing we have to pay for is alcoholic drinks. We get two free drink tickets a night. I don’t drink so you can have mine if you want.”
“No, I’m good, but thank you. Gave that up when I left the stage for the last time.” That was good to know. Daddy wasn’t always his nicest, oops, Jarvis, wasn’t very nice when he drank.
So many negatives I’d glossed over in my quest to find the perfect Daddy came to light. Why had I let him get away with that? Why hadn’t I left before he did? All along I thought if I was a good boy he’d change. Silly now knowing all I had to do was open my eyes to realize he was the wrong man for me. Hindsight and all of that wasn’t this littles best friend.
Huh, maybe that’s why my heart didn’t hurt as much. It finally caught up to my brain.
“I’m a little,” I blurted out, sipping my soda.
Stone chuckled. “I gathered that much, hence the nickname little unicorn.”
“I like it.”
“The nickname?”
“Yup. It fits me. Unicorns are my favorite.”
“That it does. You are a refreshing breath of air, Payden. I’m glad I didn’t overthink it and joined your adventure.”
“Me too.” My lips formed the words, but my brain stopped before I called him Daddy. Stone wasn’t my Daddy, yet.
#Goals and I had one week to achieve them.
Operation win Stone over was underway.
Chapter Six
