The next few weeks were a blur to Mike and the others. Between recording sessions, press conferences, and a million other things, they hardly had time to themselves. Mike didn’t have time to worry about Layla.
But there was of course a party. And this party was on a yacht.
Mr. Olsheim and his friend, Mr. Johnson invited the four to a party on Mr. Johnson’s yacht. Being anywhere near the ocean reminded Mike of Layla, unfortunately.
"So glad you could come," Mr. Johnson greeted them as they entered the boat. “So very glad.”
"We’re glad you could invite us, Mr. Johnson," Mike replied. "We kinda needed the break," he added with a grin.
"Understandable," Mr. Johnson replied. "You boys have been working hard lately. Do sit down and put your feet up. The ocean will calm you right down." He grinned, a wide, toothy grin and gestured to a few lounge chairs.
Mike and Davy headed for the chairs. Mike looked down at Davy. "I don’t trust him much," he confessed.
"Mr. Johnson?" Davy asked. "Understandable. He doesn’t look too trustworthy." Mike nodded, sitting down. Davy sat down beside him, and a smiling hostess handed them each a glass of soda.
"I’m not sure exactly what it is," Mike added. "I mean, he’s nice and all, but I can’t help thinkin’ that he’s got some ulterior motives or somethin’."
Davy nodded.
"This is a very nice boat you have, Mr. Johnson," Peter remarked as he sipped the soda he’d just been handed. "Very large, too."
"Thank you," Mr. Johnson replied with a toothy smile. "I’m actually contemplating selling it," he added conversationally. "Not certain if it’s as wise an investment as I once did."
Peter nodded his agreement and took a stick of cheese from the plate the hostess passed him. "Thanks," he told her, smiling at her. She smiled back.
"Well, I suppose we’ll be setting out now," Mr. Johnson decided. "Do excuse me while I start up the boat." Peter nodded, bowing slightly as Mr. Johnson headed for the motor.
"Nice boat," Micky commented, stepping up behind Peter. Peter nodded.
"We’re gonna start out now," Peter informed him. Micky nodded, frowning. Then he turned to Mr. Olsheim, whom he’d been talking to before.
“How far out do you think we’ll be going?” he asked.
"Oh, I don’t know," Mr. Olsheim replied. "Perhaps a few miles." Micky nodded and proceeded to engage Mr. Olsheim in a conversation about nautical things and boats.
"Excuse me, but I love that tie," a female voice spoke up from behind Peter. He turned to see a young lady, red-haired and tall, smiling at him.
"Thanks," he replied with a smile. "It’s been in my closet for years, actually, I don’t really wear it much."
"Still looks terrific," she replied. "And so in style."
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
Mike stood alone in a corner, holding a glass and watching the party. Davy was talking to a girl, so was Peter, and Micky was talking to Mr. Olsheim. Mr. Johnson was driving the boat. Slow yet pleasant music began to play over the loud speaker, and several people began to dance. Mike noticed off-hand that Peter and Davy both began to dance. Micky didn’t, and Mike assumed that the conversation with Mr. Olsheim was interesting enough that he didn’t want to dance.
Mike wasn’t looking forward to dancing, so he stayed out of the way. He turned and looked over the edge of the boat, staring down at the ocean with a sigh.
Being on the ocean again made him think of Layla. He wished that she was here with him. But he knew it wasn’t possible. He sighed again.
A in the water got his face wet and he stepped back from the edge, drying his face on his sleeve. He glanced back at the water, but, seeing nothing, turned back to watching the party.
"PSSST," he thought he heard someone say behind him. He glanced around him, but saw no one. “PSSST,” the voice said again. He turned around.
On instinct, he glanced down towards the water. There was no one there. He shrugged, and turned back around, watching the others dancing.
"So you’re a friend of Mr. Johnson’s?" Peter asked the girl. She nodded.
"Oh yes, Brian and I go way back," she replied with a smile.
"Oh really?"
She nodded. "He seems very impressed with you four," she added with a smile. "Did you know that you are a wonderful dancer?"
"Well, you’re not so bad yourself," he replied with a smile, and she smiled back as they continued to waltz.
Davy, having finished dancing with whomever he was dancing with, stepped up to Micky. "Nice party, innit?" he asked with a smile. Micky nodded.
"Ya think when we’re rich you’ll want a boat like this?" he wondered.
Davy paused a moment, thinking to himself. "I don’t know," he replied. "Maybe something a li’l bit more modern. Biggah. Fastah," he added with a smile.
"I’m still kinda in shock, ya know?" Micky replied. He glanced around the deck. "Where’d Mike go?" he wondered aloud.
"’E’s ovah there," Davy replied, nodding towards the corner of the boat, where Mike stood. He was now engaging a man Micky didn’t recognize in a conversation.
"Who’s the man?"
Davy shrugged.
"’Ey, is it just me or ‘as ‘e been actin’ a li’l strange lately?" Davy wondered. Micky frowned.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Davy was just about to explain, but was distracted when his dancing partner returned and a new song started up.
"Shall we?" he asked, turning to the girl. She smiled, and they danced off, leaving Micky perplexed, wondering about Mike and what Davy saw that was different about him.
