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As I come out at the top of the stairs the wind pushes my hair back and something feels different. Alex points in glee.
“We’re moving Auntie Jess! Look.”
With a cold sinking feeling I do look. We are definitely moving. A quick glance around tells me the dock is slipping away swiftly.
I drop Alex to the ground, and he runs to the rail to watch the big ship cleaving the water. I pull out my phone and quickly google the punishment for stowing away on a luxury liner.
The fines are ridiculous and there is even the possibility of being arrested and charged. I’m slowly sliding into panic as I read through the list.
Well. I’m fucked.
I look up quickly and see Alex still have a great time watching over the edge. I hurry towards him and almost trip over a guest.
“Watch where you’re going.” Her voice is smooth, dismissive. Her eyes appraise me with cold focus. I stutter uselessly for a few seconds before she rolls her eyes and takes a step back.
“You’re running around like a child.” She scrunches her face up as if my crime is a physical sensation. “You could have seriously hurt me.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say.
She narrows her eyes and glares and I just turn around, take one step and gather Alex back into my arms. I pick him up and head towards the back of the boat. People are looking and sooner or later, people will realize we don’t belong.
As we walk through the thinning crowd, I shoot off a few texts. Even though my friends are sympathetic, no one actually has any advice.
I walk even slower towards the back end of the ship. People are thinning out a little, but I still feel like we could be caught, there is no where Torun.
I see some official crew members walking through the crowd and I bet they are going to check tickets or something. The idea fills me with panic, and I hurry down the opposite deck with Alex.
There are a number of supply closets along the inside wall and I go through a couple. One is totally empty, and I pull us inside, shutting the door behind us.
Alex giggles, feeling like we are playing some kind of extreme hide and seek. He’s amused that we are both doing silly things like hiding in closets and he can’t stop giggling.
My brain is racing. I don’t know what to do. I’m utterly screwed. I hear footsteps moving past outside and if there is a next level above panic, I’ve just found it.
I stroke Alex’s hair, trying to shush him. My mind is racing, but in circles. I’m not actually figuring anything out I am just effectively, freaking out.
I start to feel a bit slippery, like the world is running away from me. I can’t lose my shit like this. I’ve got a kid to look after!
That doesn’t seem to help. It just makes me think about my failings. I stroke Alex’s back gently, wondering how the literal fuck I’m going to get us out of here.
Chapter # 5
Five
Ashley
I make my way onto the ship and I’ve got to be honest; I’m impressed. Sure it’s not like I’ve never been on a cruise liner before, but there is something to be said for a ship that has class and eleg
ance, all the while still remaining modern and fun. It’s a delicate balance that many seek to achieve, with only a few actually succeeding.
This particular ship definitely managed to toe that line and end up on the good side, and I’m not above saying it either.
So I spend a few minutes just enjoying the view and the quiet, relishing in the fact that I’m here on the water sand not avoiding the press or answering any of their pestering questions. Not to mention the fact that while I’m here it means that I’m not in Robin’s office listening to him drone on and on about how I’ve ruined his hotel’s image, I’m irresponsible, blah blah blah. I just know that if I were back at his office he’d be making me do some sort of interview or talk to the media about what happened, and I’m just really not in the mood for that.
Besides I’m also really not much of a fan of talking to reporters and putting on a fake smile when I’m just not feeling their vibe. Shopping and relaxing in the sun while the ship sails across the ocean is much more enjoyable than answering invasive and personal questions about my breakup on live TV, thank you very much.
The only downside to my impromptu cruise trip in Robin’s name is just the tiny little matter of how the hell I’m going to explain my lack of girlfriend. I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to do a public and extravagant proposal to a woman who doesn’t exist, but I’m going to have to try and figure this out. I’m sure there’s got to be at least one woman on this ship who wouldn’t mind playing pretend, after all. I’m a hot girl who’s rich and willing to flaunt it and spoil any girl who’s willing to play along.
I don’t think that a couple thousand dollars and a week of being pampered just to pretend to be my fiancé is a bad deal, but so far I’m not having any luck. I’ve struck out more than a couple times already while trying to flirt and catch someone’s attention, which is odd for me.
