There’s something about the bright Malibu sunshine that makes me hop out of bed. Maybe it’s also the possibility of seeing Chase around the kitchen table. It will hurt, but the pain will have a certain pleasure intertwined.
Breakfast at the mansion has become one of my favorite parts of the day in my short stay here. For the past few mornings, it’s been an adventure to see who will show up in the enormous kitchen. Marie acts like a den mother for the guys and their friends, laying out a full breakfast spread each morning that must rival any five-star hotel.
I stumble in, looking for coffee, only to find Daisy, Sebastian, Emma, Ryder, and a handful of Ryder’s music entourage sitting around the table. Relief and disappointment run through me because Chase is absent.
“Hey,” I say shyly, pulling my hair up into a jaunty ponytail. I’d brushed my hair, my teeth, and dressed in an oversized T-shirt and leggings, both courtesy of Emma after I begged her for some actual comfy clothes. I even slicked on a little gloss. That’s as fancy as I get before my first cup of coffee, celebrity roommates or not. Working in a café has got me addicted to caffeine. If I don’t caffeinate soon, I’ll get a killer headache.
“Speak of the devil!” Daisy greets me, looking like the epitome of a California girl in a mustard-yellow macramé bathing suit and a gauzy cover-up, her hair in braids. “We were just talking about you!”
The rest of the table mumbles greetings around mouthfuls of pancakes and eggs.
Marie fills a coffee cup for me, pouring in milk and foam from a large silver dish, along with two generous scoops of sugar, just the way I like it. Bless her.
“I love you, Marie.” I moan as I take the first sip.
“You look tired today, Ms. Olivia. Make a plate. You need to eat.” She fusses over me.
I smile at Marie in thanks, then turn to Daisy. “What are you saying about me?” I ask warily.
“I’m telling them about Nanna’s letter. We’re helping you come up with a list of risks.”
“Um. Thank you?” I’m not sure how I feel about enlisting their “help,” so I take a large gulp of coffee.
“We all agreed you should get laid.”
I spit out my drink.
Everyone cracks up as I mop up the mess I’ve made with a napkin that Marie hands me. Even Marie is grinning, the traitor.
“Daisy, you’re in time-out. We did not all say that,” Ryder says with a laugh.
“Well, Sebastian suggested it,” Daisy argues. “And I agreed it’s a smashing idea.”
“Thanks for your support,” I say as I check my white shirt for coffee splatters. “But I doubt Nanna meant that when she said she wanted me to take risks.” I wince that this group is talking about my sex life—or lack thereof. Now I’m grateful Chase isn’t here.
“You never know. Nanna was a firecracker. I bet she’d approve.”
Unfortunately, Daisy is right. I’m the lone prude in my family. My grandmother was far more adventurous than me. She was never shy about talking about anything with me, even sex. And my mom never met a risk—or a man—she didn’t like, which eventually led to her death. I’ve read enough psychology books to know that my mom’s history probably contributes to me living life vicariously through screens and books. It’s safer that way.
“I can come up with my daily risks without your help,” I say mildly.
“You clearly need it,” Sebastian says, as if he’s talking to a child. “We’re the experts.”
Daisy looks down at her notepad. “Here’s what we’ve come up with so far. Number one: skinny-dipping. I didn’t put that item on the list. Kenji did.”
I glare at him.
“If that’s the first one, I’m scared to know what else you’ve come up with,” I say.
“I think it’s awesome because you already have a water theme going with your risks. Also, a naked theme. So, it fits right in.” Daisy looks pleased with herself.
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean, naked water theme?” I really shouldn’t ask, though, because I’m not sure I want to know. Ignorance is bliss. It’s my new motto.
“Well, there’s skinny-dipping in the fountain. Naked, check. Water, check. Then there was you and the towel incident.” Daisy leans closer to me and whispers, even though everyone can hear what she’s saying. “That involved nudity after a shower.”
“That was not a purposeful risk. It was an accident!” I protest.
Daisy shrugs. “Haven’t you heard? There are no accidents. Regardless, you definitely have a naked water theme going on, so we must honor that. Plus, skinny-dipping is freeing. It’s perfect, even if Kenji has less than pure motives suggesting it. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Number two: learn to roller skate. I added that because I can’t believe you don’t know how. You were deprived as a kid.”
I’m happy for Daisy to change the subject away from me getting naked. “I wasn’t a coordinated child. Nor am I a coordinated adult. I prefer pastimes that involve being seated. Like reading. Or writing.”
“Number three: swim with the sharks.”
“That’s my suggestion! It’s sick.” Sebastian pounds his muscular chest, proud of his contribution. I’m not caffeinated enough to be confronted with the prospect of sharks.
I take another large gulp of coffee and hold out my cup desperately as Marie comes by to top me up. I’m going to need all the help I can get to hold my own in this conversation. “No. Not gonna happen. I hate sharks. Man was not meant to swim with them.” There’s no way I’m getting in the water with anything that has that many teeth. I shudder just thinking about it.
“Interesting,” Daisy says, taking a giant forkful of pancake, maple syrup dripping. She chews and then swallows. “I like how you didn’t discount skinny-dipping. Okay. We can cross off swimming with sharks.” She consults her list and looks back up, hope in her eyes. “Maybe snorkeling with dolphins?”
I shake my head. “I don’t care how friendly they are. In the water, with that fin, they look too much like sharks.” Another shudder.
“Fine.” She sighs dramatically. “What about visiting an aquarium? We can do this in baby steps, just like the skydiving,” Daisy suggests.
“How is visiting an aquarium a risk?” Sebastian cries. “I’m taking charge of this list, Olivia.”
“No way, Sebastian!” I point to him. “You are officially off my risk-taking committee.”
“Don’t you worry, woman. I promise you’ll love it,” he says smoothly.
I open my mouth to argue, but Daisy holds up her hand.
“We’ll table number three and revisit it later.”
“Fine,” Sebastian grumbles.
“Motion to table risk number three approved. Moving on to item number four: take up a sport.”
“That’s my suggestion,” Emma pipes up. She’s perched on a stool, the only one of us dressed for work in a polished suit and hair in a sleek bun. “Fitness is healthy for you and provides serotonin and a great ass. I left the sport up for you to decide, because I can be nice.” She shoots Sebastian a look. “Despite what some people think.”
“Thanks, Emma. I’m glad someone is letting me choose.”
“Hey, you didn’t thank me!” Sebastian complains.
“That’s because your risk involved something that could eat me!”
Daisy slaps the table with her spoon, as if it’s a gavel. “Come to order and stop interrupting. So, what sport should we choose?”
“Should I choose,” I correct. If I’m the one who chooses, at least I can make sure it doesn’t involve further nakedness or balancing on tiny wheels. I tilt my head, thinking. “Maybe running?” It’s the first sport that pops into my head. I recall the way Chase looks all sweaty from a run. Maybe he can give me some pointers.
Emma’s smile is sly. “I bet you could go running with Chase. He goes every morning.”
I doubt he’ll want us to run together, so I hedge. “I wouldn’t want to bother him. And I’m completely out of shape. I’d only slow him down.”
“You can discuss it with Chase later.” Daisy waves away my objections. Again. “Moving on to number five: learn to pole dance.”