Jillian Dodd: Adore Me

Me: Is The Crab’s new driver one of yours?

Garrett: How did you know?

Me: His posture is too stiff for the islands, he's not very friendly, and he has no tan.

Garrett: I sent two men. They’ve fully briefed the usual staff about your situation and about how your friends don't know the old you. They have also removed all photographic evidence of you with your family.

Me: How did you know my friends ended up coming?

Garrett: Cooper was insistent that there be men at the airport. They were scrambling when you went inside the office.

Me: Oh. I just bought more hours.

Garrett: Yes, I heard. Planning on doing a lot of traveling in the near future?

Me: Maybe.

Garrett: Don't you dare take off on your own. You get your butt back to school when break is over.

Me: I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

Garrett: Tommy told me about your conversation. I agree with getting your mom and sisters to France, but why would you be ready to do a movie at Christmastime?

Me: Because I'm going to get my life back. Did he get Mom to agree?

Garrett: She agreed, but they still have to get out of her contracts. It’s going to cost them a lot of money, but Tommy doesn’t care. I’m flying to Nice on Friday to vet the security.

Me: OMG!! I'm so relieved.

Garrett: As am I. Your mom is a wreck.

Me: Make her feel safe, Garrett, and she'll get better.

Garrett: You can make us all feel better by not doing anything stupid. When you get back, I'll come to town and we can discuss this plan of yours with Cooper. Because I highly suspect Cooper knows nothing about it.

Me: I'm tired of lying.

Garrett: Don't do anything rash.

Me: Don't worry. Everything will be well thought out.

Garrett: That worries me more.

Me: I gotta go. I’ll call you after the break. I promise.

We enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful drive from the airport to The Crab, where we are greeted out front by the staff.

“Miss Keatyn,” the long-time cook, Inga, says as she gives me a mama bear hug, “it's been too long.”

I introduce Aiden and Peyton and then say, “I’ll show them to their rooms now.” As they follow me across the great room, I tell them, “After I show you to your rooms, go ahead and get unpacked, freshen up, and change. Then we’ll meet back here and I’ll give you the full tour.”

Peyton stops at an expanse of glass to admire the oceanfront view and the infinity pool below. “This is beautiful,” she says, jumping with excitement.

“Wait until you see your room,” I reply, leading them both down the south breezeway to her guest suite.

“Oh, my gosh,” she says, running from the view of her private tropical courtyard through one set of French doors to the view of the ocean through the other.

I press a button on the wall to light up a screen and quickly explain how to control her music, lighting, room temperature, and curtains, as well as send requests for food, drinks, or any amenity she might need.

“Your closet and bathroom are here,” I say, opening the door to the bathroom that my mom describes as heaven on earth.

“This is amazing,” she says in awe, standing in the middle of the bathroom and taking in the mirrored glass tiles that glitter from every corner of the room. The sleek, pale gray travertine that reflects the colors of the ocean. The spa tub that fills like a rain shower from the ceiling and has views of the ocean. The walk-in shower with its mosaic design on one side and its glass walls opening to her private courtyard on the other.

Aiden jokes, “We may never see her again.”

“Wait until she smells all the food cooking. She’ll wander out.”

Peyton swats her brother but pulls me into a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for letting us come here. This is so incredible.” Then she goes over and plops down on her bed. “I’ll meet you in an hour. Freshening up may take longer than I expected.”

“You can come back through the breezeway or go out on your veranda, take the stairs down, and follow the path back.”

Aiden grabs my hand as I lead him to his room. Even though we slept in the same bed at my loft, I didn't want to assume we would here, and now I'm glad I didn't because I need Aiden in his own room. I cannot fall asleep or wake up in his arms at any time during this trip. It will only make leaving that much harder.

I show him his suite. It’s amazing too, but in a different way. It’s decorated in a traditional British colonial style. Dark wood, pale blues, and amazing views of both mountains and ocean. It also happens to be conveniently located near the path leading to my room.

“This is great,” he says, not really looking. “But I wanna go see your room.”

“Don’t you want to throw on a swimsuit or go to the bathroom or something?” I ask, hoping that he does. I have something that I need to go do by myself.

“I’ll come back for my swimsuit,” he says firmly.

“Uh, well, um, okay. Why don’t you take that breezeway there?” I say, pointing to the one that leads to the turret. “And I’ll meet you there in a minute.”

“Why can’t I just walk with you?”

“Um, well, I have this thing I always do when I first get here. Kind of a tradition. So, I need to go do that and then I’ll meet you there.”

He takes my hand tightly in his, letting me know I’m not going anywhere without him.

“Fine,” I say, rolling my eyes and quickly giving in.

I lead him out onto the veranda, down the stairs, and follow the path to the mermaid fountain.

“This is the fountain you told me about," he says excitedly.

“I always visit it when I first get here.”

“Why?”

I take a couple of pennies from my purse and make a big gesture of handing him one, trying to convince him that this is just a fun, silly little thing I do.

“I make a wish,” I say, avoiding Aiden’s eyes as my voice betrays me by sounding hopelessly romantic. I turn toward the mermaid and her prince, close my eyes, toss my penny into the fountain, and make the same wish I always do.

I wish that someday I'll find my prince.

When I open my eyes, I notice that Aiden’s still holding his penny. “Aren’t you going to make a wish?”

He pulls me into his arms. “I’m standing here with you. I already got my wish.”

I flash him a lame attempt at a smile. Why can’t I hide my emotions around him? It’s the same way with B. It’s like they can both see right through my act.

“Do you always make the same wish?” he asks me.

“Um, yeah.”

He nods and hands me his penny. “Take mine and wish for something new.”

I look into his eyes and know exactly what he wants me to wish for.

Him.

But there’s only one way that could ever be possible.

Aiden holds my hand—I think to give me extra luck—while I toss in the penny.

I wish I could have my life back.

After I open my eyes and watch the penny sink to the bottom, Aiden says, “So, let's see this room of yours.”

I give the mosaic one last, fleeting look, then lead Aiden to the turret entrance, up the spiral wooden staircase, and to the big wooden door. I show him into the round suite with walls of stone, curved window seats, and views of the ocean in almost every direction.

“Wow,” he says. “This is quite a view.”

“You should see the bathroom,” I say, pulling him into it. I show him the big tub that sits on a raised stone pedestal and how it opens up to the outdoors. I lead him out onto my curved balcony.