Broken Flyght – Chapter 14

I’m devouring a giant breakfast in the casino restaurant when Skylar strolls into the place. She’s flawless as usual, her skin vibrant and glowing, her hair bouncy and lustrous with shine. I don’t know how she keeps herself looking so great when she’s on a ship eighty percent of the time. It’s magic.

“Hey, cuz,” she says, standing over the table. I viciously cut into a stack of thick pancakes while four other dishes of fruit, toast, bacon, and eggs sit on either side. “Bad night?”

I stuff the pancakes in my mouth and mutter, “No,” around them. She sighs as she slides into the booth.

“I’ve got forty-five minutes before my massage and facial. What’s up?” She leans forward to activate the menu at the table and orders a mimosa.

“Lots of things are up. Too many things. I feel like I’m being crushed by the weight of everyone’s expectations.” I sigh as I add more butter to my pancakes. “Nothing is going right. Everything sucks.”

Skylar glances at me quickly. “Yeah, I can see that. You only eat this much when things go wrong.”

Let’s not talk about my eating habits.

“You and Carlos have any luck finding Tomu? I didn’t see him here last night, and I just spent two hours wandering the casino floors hoping to spot him. I don’t know where that fucker went, but he’s not here.”

“No luck with us either. Can I have some bacon?”

I push the plate at her.

“Thanks. Carlos has been scanning all the records he can find on where Tomu went after landing here, but it’s like he arrived in Oitavo, and poof, he was gone.” She hums around the bacon in her mouth. “This is good.”

“That’s because it’s expensive. Fuck. I was really hoping we’d catch his scent before we lost him again. Where could he have gone?” I pause with the knife and fork hovering in my two hands. Shaking my head, I get back to eating.

Skylar looks between the food on the table, me and back again. Her mimosa arrives, and she ignores it.

“How much are you spending on this little vacation, anyway?” Her stare is penetrating.

“Me? I’m not spending anything. If this were my money at stake, I’d be eating second-rate pastries and bottled water from the convenience store. We got paid by Gai Reis, but it wasn’t much of a profit, so we’re poor again. Jinzo is paying for this.”

Her ruby red lips widen in a smile as she lifts the glass of mimosa. “So you like this guy? He seems great on paper, and I talked to him for a little bit while you slept. Good sense of humor, and it sounds like he has an influential family too.”

“Trust me. He’s all of that and more.” I think back on the kiss and the punch to my gut is like being knocked over by a boulder.

“Great job, Viv,” she says, elbowing me in the ribs. “I had a feeling he was a catch.”

I polish off another mouthful of pancakes, grab a piece of bacon, and coast it through the leftover sugary syrup. “He is a catch. Someone else’s catch, unfortunately.” I swap out the plate of pancakes for the eggs. “I’m going to eat as much as I can and then say my goodbyes. Hopefully, he can hitch a ride back to Ossun with no problems.”

Skylar’s mouth drops open.

“Vivian Naomi Kawabata, do not break up with this boy. Are you insane? He is everything we need to get off on the right foot. Ken Mata’s money will only go so far with the plants until we see him again.”

I shovel more eggs into my mouth and wash them down with citrus juice. Try not to think about it, Vivian.

“What is it?” She drops her voice. “Was he a bad lay?”

“No.”

“Is it because he’s shorter than you? You’ve always been hung up about your height.”

I close my eyes and huff air through my nose. “Gee, maybe it’s because this universe was not meant for tall women.”

She sips her drink and eyes me.

“And I didn’t sleep with him. He… he wouldn’t sleep with me.” My throat catches, so I take another sip of juice. “He said it was a rule of his, but now I suspect it’s because his heart belongs to someone else.”

“Who? I doubt Marcelo missed that Jinzo is with another woman. He’s really good at his job.”

Marcelo. Oh man, he can’t get here fast enough. I could call him right now, but what’s the point? He can’t do anything until we’re back face to face. I’ll see him soon enough.

“Cressida. Briar. Fucking. Stevenson,” I say, dropping my voice. Cressida could have people anywhere.

“Shut. Up.” Skylar’s eyes are wide. I nod my head. “Well, okay then. I see why you’re freaking out.”

I continue to eat while I tell her of my date with Jinzo, the kissing, and the information Ai came across, the video, everything. She should know everything. Skylar is one of the few people I trust in this universe. The current events may embarrass me, but I can’t keep this from her.

“He’s perfect for me. Perfect for the crew. Seems to know what he’s doing with the Amagi.” I shrug and finish the last of the juice. I’ve eaten enough for three people combined, but I could always eat more. “I thought I could trust him, but…”

“Wait,” Skylar insists, holding up her hand. She stares off into the distance, her fingers drumming a fast beat on the table. The silverware jumps around, so I place my hand on the forks to keep them in one spot.

“He’s been out of Cressida’s network for four months?”

I shrug.

“Then, even if he’s still getting messages from her… even if he’s watching those messages a hundred times a day? He hasn’t lied to you, Viv.”

“It’s not about whether he lied or not.”

“Then?”

“It’s… The Code,” I stress. “She wants him back. We’re supposed to be flying under the radar here. I’m being followed. I’m being photographed everywhere I go. She would find out. She probably already knows. I’m fucked if she comes after me. Those plants will be the least of my worries.”

It’s Skylar’s turn to shrug. “We all knew this would be dangerous, right? Maybe having her come after you will distract whoever is following us. If you’re too popular, it’ll be harder to hurt you.”

Skylar has lost her mind.

“No. No way. I’m Ms. Boring and Predictable. I do not steal someone else’s man. I do not thumb my nose at the rules. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to do that.”

Look, I’ve seen Crazy Vivian. She comes out occasionally and shocks the hell out of most people. She makes an excellent sidekick to Devious Vivian, but both of these Vivians have a death wish. They’re only allowed to surface if things are dire. I have to keep them locked up and quiet if I’m going to lead any kind of safe life, if I’m even going to repurchase the farm. Because Crazy Vivian has no problem with saying ‘fuck that’ to the family farm. She’s only thinking of the next thrill.

And I know this sounds nuts. How can anyone divide themselves up the way I do? Necessity. It’s necessary.

“Seems to me,” Skylar says, pushing her empty glass to the center of the table, “you need to break eggs to make an omelet. That you don’t build a house without chopping down some trees.”

I blink at her, dumbfounded.

“I’m sure I have more pithy sayings I can dig up, but I have a massage scheduled.”

She leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek.

“Do what you think is best. I’m just the pilot —”

I snap my hand out and grab hers. She squeezes my fingers. “You’re more than that. What would I do without you?”

“Live a very boring and completely inadequate life.” She laughs, letting go of my fingers and sliding out from the booth. “I’ll see you later.”

She has good points, and she may be right.

But people depend on me, and I shouldn’t throw caution to the wind and risk getting them in trouble.

But Jinzo… Marcelo picked him out for me because he’s a good match. I feel something there between us. He has the family and resources I need. But most of all, he talks to me, cares about me. He listens to me. I don’t think I’ve ever talked so much in one night. Ever. And I melt into a puddle every time I remember dancing with him last night.

Ugh, Vivian. I’m letting my emotions dictate my choices.

No.

No. I have to let him go.

It’s the right thing to do. I’m one-hundred percent positive. I should confront him. I should tell him it’s not going to work out.

I should.

Right?