“I’m going into town. You coming?” I asked Asher, walking back out.
”Why would you go into that little town?” Asher asked from a lounge chair.
“I need a few things and I feel like some live music. You coming or not?” I tossed the towel I was drying my hair with at him.
“Can’t you just send someone to get stuff?” Asher threw the towel to the ground. “I’m totally relaxed right now.”
“Stay here. I’m going.” I grabbed my cellphone and wallet. “The chef and the guys are coming too.”
“Oh, a party. Now that’s a different thing altogether.” Asher stood and stretched. “Maybe the cute blonde you pushed in the water will be there.”
“She pushed me, and I don’t care.” I jumped off the yacht onto the dock. “Hey, guys, sorry you had to wait.”
“No problem, sir, you couldn’t go all wet like that,” Marcus, my chef, smirked.
“It’s a good thing I love your food, Marcus,” I teased.
We headed down the street in the general direction of the little town. We could hear a band playing and I was feeling more relaxed already.
“You actually left me?” Asher called out, running to catch up. “You know it’s not a party without me.”
“Life is a party to you, Asher,” I chirped.
“And it isn’t to you?” Asher chirped back. “I didn’t just meet you, my cousin.”
“Let’s grab a table over by the bar. No, wait, there’s a bar outside. Let’s go out there.” I pointed to the tiki hut area outside. “I need one of these on the island.”
“Good idea. You could have a band come over each day,” Asher smiled. “Maybe the little blonde could bring the band over.”
“Enough already with the blonde.” I turned away to listen to the band that had just started again.
We all spent the next two hours drinking, playing darts, and, for some, dancing.
“I’m gonna go talk to the band to see if they’re interested.” I turned and slipped on a drink somebody had spilled on the floor.
“Better watch out, guys. Before you know it, Sawyer is going to say you pushed him,” Asher exaggerated, pushing everyone back.
“You’re an idiot, Ash,” I growled. “And she did push me.”
“I wasn’t on the deck when it happened. Someone tell me what happened,” Jim, the captain, said.
“It’s simple. I was waiting on the dock to tie off. I reached for the rope and this girl came out of nowhere and pushed me so she could grab it first.” I exaggerated a bit.
“Really, you’re still telling that story?” Jade said, standing behind me.
Chapter 5
Jade
I’d been looking over the accounting books for the marina for a few hours when I realized it was too quiet. My watch told me it was ten. I knew my father was either passed out on the couch or he’d snuck out of the house.
“Dad, did you have any dinner?” I rounded the corner to the living room. “Dad, are you awake?”
He’s gone. Maybe he’s in the bathroom.
“Dad, are you here?” I called out, knowing he wouldn’t be answering. “Dad?”
I was right the first time. He’s gone, and I know where he is.