STAR STRUCK: epilogue continues (book 2)

Chapter 13

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Chapter 13

One last loose thread

16 days before take-off

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"Have you looked into things? How ready are you about this trip?" Boss asked. 

"We've been looking into the available flights in the mainland and the departing boats in the island this much. I've been getting ready with my clothes as well. I guess there's the thing about what to do when we get there, but we're doing it one at a time," I replied. "At least I finally have the resolve to keep the plan moving. Or at least that's what Vincent has been saying since yesterday."

Boss gave me a look. "I see," was the only thing he said, however. 

"What? Is there something on my face?" I brought my hands to my cheek to check if there were any icing smudges there. I was helping with preparing some cake slices in the kitchen. It wasn't a rare sight to see me covered in vanilla frosting. 

"No, it's nothing. I'll finish up here. You go on outside and serve these shortcakes to table four."

"Roget that. Boss!" I saluted. 

Boss shook his head in a I-never-get-use-to-this way. I silently wish he never will just so I can look at his amused face. I know it makes me sound like a kid, but I can't help how I find it to be fun.

I did as I was asked and left Boss to deal with all the other stuff in the kitchen along with our chef. I trust he can manage it on his own. I hope he trusted me with what I was doing because on most days, I doubt that he does.

I've known Boss for as long as I knew my biological dad. Before Melissa came into the picture, he was the one who babysat me in place of teenage girls who I terrorized as a kid. I was told I was a nightmare. I believed it. I mean, it's obvious with how I am now. 

Through all the years in elementary school and now in high school, Boss supported me as if he was the father in the story. Sometimes I imagined he wanted to be and that he hated my dad despite being friends for mostly half their life. 

I heard the story from my mom, as weird as that could be. I think she said Dad told her about it when they were still dating. Again, it gives me the chills thinking about. But I guess it isn't that unusual. Any manipulative guy would like to be appealing on the first date right? Or the dates after until the wedding, if we're trying to be accurate.

But anyway, she said they met in college. They were both taking up Business and met coincidentally on one of the joint classes for one subject. I don't exactly understand how, but they came friends like they weren't polar opposites of each other in every way. Maybe being so different helped in a way. I don't know.

I liked to think back then that Dad was a different guy when he was in college compared to what he was now. Perhaps he was nicer, had more sense of humor, kinder and sensible in a way that I haven't seen him for so long. Like the Dad I once knew before everything was broken.

It's nothing but wishful thinking for a teenage kid who wanted things to go back to how they used to be.

Maybe I can ask Boss about this someday. It might seem strange given how we get along, but I haven't once asked him about the past. It was something I didn't like to be asked about so I do not ask others in turn. I like a two-way relationship like that.

So how is different with Vincent? A lingering voice asked in my head. I shook off the thought before it gets weird.

"I thought you'd have quit by now. I guess nepotism would still prevail until the end."