For a moment, the waiter stared at her blankly. Then he burst out laughing.
Sighing, Olivia took a still-steaming spring roll and watched as he walked away, chuckling so much he almost dropped his platter.
‘So, it’s not something you can just make up on the spot?’ she asked Jackson.
‘Well . . .’ He smiled sympathetically. ‘Maybe if –’
But before he could finish, the yacht lurched to a stop. The sudden movement threw Olivia forward . . . straight into Jackson’s arms.
Her spring roll fell to the deck as he caught her. His breath was warm against her hair. She thought she could feel his heartbeat racing – but that might have been her own.
Then the captain’s voice blared over the intercom:
‘Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen. There’s a slight mechanical difficulty down here, but the crew are working on it now. We should be on the move again shortly. In the meantime, everyone, just get comfy and enjoy the view.’
Olivia couldn’t help it. She started laughing as Jackson helped her upright.
He didn’t let go of her hands even after she was standing safely on the deck. ‘What is it?’ He looked down at her, his eyebrows raised. ‘Why are you laughing?’
Olivia shook her head, smiling ruefully and wondering if there could possibly be a more perfect metaphor for their whole relationship than a stalled ship? Surrounded by a wonderful view but going nowhere . . .
‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Never mind.’
‘Hey, hey, hey, Eternal Sunset cast and crew!’ Mr Harker’s voice suddenly boomed out of a megaphone, only ten feet behind Olivia.
She jumped, then pulled her hands free to clap them over her ears as she spun around. The vampire studio boss was grinning mischievously as he looked straight at her and Jackson.
‘Since this yacht of ours isn’t moving, we’re going to have to create our own movement. And you guys know what that means . . .’
Do we? Olivia stared warily at Jackson, who closed his eyes and groaned, ‘Oh no . . .’
Harker stepped back and gestured grandly at the big speakers set along the deck. A moment later, 1950s pop music blasted out from the speakers.
Silently, Olivia echoed Jackson’s groan.
Just what this awkward afternoon needs – dancing!
Argh. Ivy groaned silently as she tipped her head against the window beside her seat on the bus as it stopped at yet another red light. I’m on a bus going nowhere!
She was very eager to get to the Lincoln Vale Mall – and was seriously worried about what she might find when she got there. She had gone to Sophia’s house that afternoon to have a serious talk with her friend. Unfortunately, she’d been too late – and as soon as Sophia’s mom had told her where her friend had gone, Ivy had been filled with panic.
If Sophia actually wanted to go shopping, Ivy had reasoned, she would have gone to the Franklin Grove Mall.
Was she hoping to run into Finn the skater-boy? Wasn’t that what some people called ‘stalking’?
Ivy had to stop her before she went too far.
Finally, the bus lurched back into movement.
When it pulled up in front of the Lincoln Grove Mall, Ivy jumped off with a moan of impatience. She hurtled through the front doors with only one goal. Mission: Rescue Sophia – From Herself !
But as she hurried down the long galleries of the mall, her eyes widened. As malls went, it was actually the coolest one she’d ever seen. One side was dominated by goth and alternative clothing outlets, the other with accessories stores. Pall Bearers CDs filled the display cases of the music stores. And right up there, in front of her . . .
Oh my darkness. Ivy’s feet slowed to a stop as she stared at the mall’s comic-book store, the frontage rising up and up over the central fountain. She had to tip her head all the way back to see the very top floor with its glass-fronted display. That store is bigger than my whole house!
She had to force her mouth shut before she could start moving again. No time to stop! she told herself firmly.
Still, she slid longing glances back at it as she walked away. I will definitely bring Brendan here another time . . . when I’m not looking for my crazy best friend!