Part 10 (1/2)

Chapter Nine.

Any relief at leaving JoJo was short-lived. I should have known there was something wrong when I asked for Seth to put the heater on in the car. The Gold Coast was experiencing a spring heatwave. It was thirty degrees. Gorgeous weather and I was s.h.i.+vering like it was snowing. Seth even asked if I was sick.

In the back seat next to Macey, Sanctimonious Simon offered the suggestion that perhaps my temperature fluctuations were due to lack of sleep; that I should tone down my wild life, rest up and let up on the booze. Me? Snow White? Boring goody-goody Snow White?

And based on what? His in-depth knowledge of me? His a.s.sumption Id partied all night? Okay, that was it! Seth and Macey both dived to defend me, but I was over this holier-than-thou know-it-all! This was my fight. Uncaring of safety, I slipped open my seatbelt and spun to face him, ready to give him a mouthful.

He got it alright. But not exactly as Id planned it. The mouthful he copped was part scream, part froth.

She was there!

JoJo was there! Right in the middle between Macey and Simon.

Her smile was pure feline. 'Surprise!

And then she tucked her arm through Simons, staring at him like she was going to devour him. And not in a sultry way. I swear this chick only needed the knife, fork and tomato sauce! Sca-ry. Not that he knew. The guy was oblivious. Probably because he was too busy looking at me like Id flipped. For that matter, they all were. Except JoJo.

What was I supposed to say? I wanted to yell that she was supposed to haunt Simon not wind herself around him like some ectoplasmic body wrap. But I couldnt. Seth, especially, was still grappling with the whole ghost thing. More to the point, would they all want to know she was right there in the car with them? And would they believe me? Oh G.o.d, JoJo was trying to lick Simons ear! Eeoprehension hit. 'She was beside me in the car? Beside me?? Eoww. I wondered about that smell Eau de Decay? Chanel Number Death? Where is she?

'See? I knew youd freak. And shes just in front of us. I didnt go into the whole Simon thing. Some things are just better blocked out of the psyche.

And I so wasnt surprised to see that familiar expression slide across Maceys face as she angled her head straight ahead. And projected her voice. 'Oh, look at those birds! Do they look like vultures to you, Willow? Good thing were not dead, eh? They pick over the flesh of dead people, you know . . . Pick, pick, pick . . .

Catching my eye-roll reply, she lost the grin shed been shooting at me. 'Not losing your sense of humour, are you, Cartwright?

And yes, she copped another eye-roll. 'Well gee, not that thered be any reason for that to happen. Right?

She tucked her arm through mine. 'Chin up, Wills. Youre not on your own with this.

Yeah well, funny, but thats what it felt like.

We cut the conversation as our feet hit the deck. The boat was huge, a ma.s.sive gleaming white thing of beauty that bobbed on the gentle swell of the deep waters of The Spit marina. It was named for Demi, her sixteenth-birthday present, but everyone knew it was a tax dodge for her dad. Still, that didnt stop her being Queen of Everything. White sarong tied low, beaded aqua bikini, perfect tan, she held court smiling and making small talk. Giving the occasional order. Caterers were handing out chilled gla.s.ses of champers and prawns on sticks as we climbed on board. I nabbed a sparkling water and slurped a huge gulp. The aroma of barbequed fish and steaks wafted across the deck and two guys and a girl in uniforms scurried about and got us ready to sail.

I watched them all around me the A-listers in their element. Bored. Childhood-deprived. Not that mine was much better. Thankfully my grandparents had kept my life relatively normal.

But then looking around, I didnt suppose too many of them were complaining now.

Despite all that, I wasnt going to be a hypocrite. Even though after last night they were looking a bit grim, and even though I didnt eat animal products much there were still worse ways to spend a Sunday.

Then my eyes found JoJo. All Id had to do was find Simon. She was hanging off him like last years accessory terrified of being cast aside. Naturally Simon was a hit. It was like every girl on that boat sniffed out the fresh meat and moved in for the kill. Shoulders back, chest forward . . .

I claimed a yellow, floral, padded sun-lounge up on the top deck. The white fringe ruffled in the ocean-scented breeze and above, the huge sails, still secured, strained against their ropes as though they were trying to get free, anxious to sail away. I totally empathised. The sun-lounges covering was warm and it felt great against my back. Better still, the seat was a great vantage point. From here I could watch everyone.

And it was interesting.

They were all going through the motions theyd trained in so well. Small talk. Flirting. Drinking. Eating. (Unless you were an Angel and then you pretended to nibble. Id never seen so much food NOT pa.s.s someones lips.) But even with my scant experience, it was pretty obvious that, just like last night, this was a party without the party.

Laughter just didnt sound true.

Talk was forced.

Eyes wary.

There was an elephant in the corner and no one was going to mention it yet every single one of them was aware of it looming there in the shadows.

JoJos legacy.

Or maybe they had their own legacies. Pete hadnt even looked my way since we got on board, which was a good thing but totally weird, since hed been all over me the past few days. Right at that moment, though, he had his hands full with other stuff. He and Chloe were really getting into it and not in a good way. Their voices were low, but I didnt have to be smart to see it was no love-fest.

I also didnt have to be smart to see that I was a popular topic of conversation with them all, judging by all the little looks shot my way.

Great.

Macey wandered over with a plate of fruit skewers to share and proceeded to dip each piece into her champers before swallowing it down. 'Remind me, she drawled between mouthfuls, 'does silicone float?

'Why?

She shrugged. 'Just thinking. Im hoping it does because I havent seen many life rafts and if this baby goes down, I reckon we should just tie all those Angels to the side. Theyre bound to keep us afloat.

As the boat began moving away from the marina, Simon sprang up the stairs, oblivious of JoJo attached to him like glue, and leaned back against the rail beside us, eyes gleaming as they raked over Kristie as she paraded past.

Seth wandered up and took up his place on the other side of me, against the rail. So close I could feel the heat radiating off his body. Oh, wait. Maybe that was my heat radiating out because the guy certainly had a way of making me totally combustible.

And aware. I tried to ignore him but it was hopeless and finally I braced myself and turned. His eyes were hidden behind his Ray-Bans, his face framed by the sun and clear blue sky, totally cool fedora perched on the back of his head, forehead hair tickled by the breeze. Even without those incredible eyes visible, he was gorgeous.

'You feeling okay now? he asked softly.

As I stared back at him, so many emotions welled up. Yeah, I was confused, but I also felt this amazing connection; like he was always there, you know? Whether Seth was crazy about me like I was about him or not deep down, and all this JoJo stuff aside, I knew he cared. It might not be the same caring, but he cared.

And all I could manage was a nod.

Like a newsflash, right then I knew that being Seths 'sister was way better than never having him in my life at all. Anything else was going to be icing on the cake. Icing on the cake? Oh G.o.d was it really bad and pathetic to hope that the icing had it all? Smooth, creamy, sprinkles, nuts and a huge cherry on the top? Was it bad to secretly want the works?