Page 9 of Cocky Cruiser

Cohen:Want to grab a bite in the food court before the flight?

Me:Are you asking me on a date, Mr. James?

Cohen:Sweetheart, when I ask you on a date, it won’t be by text

Cohen and I messaged a little longer before agreeing to meet in the airport food court at eleven fifteen the following morning. When I finished packing, I got ready for bed and proceeded to toss and turn for most of the night.

By the time I fell asleep, I felt like only seconds had passed before my alarm was going off.

After I rolled out of bed, I dragged myself to the kitchen to make some coffee. Aubrey was feeding baby Chance at the table but paused to greet me with a smile. “Morning. Excited?”

A pot of coffee was already made, so I poured myself a mug. “I was. So much so that I didn’t sleep. Now, the only thing I feel is exhausted.”

Aubrey chuckled. “Hopefully, the coffee will help.”

I took a sip of the steaming beverage. “Is my brother up yet?”

My sister-in-law nodded. “He’s in the shower.”

I was getting a little nervous about hopping on a plane, then a boat with someone I barely knew. “Do you think I’m crazy for doing this?”

“No more crazy than I was letting your brother in my car all those years ago.” She looked lovingly at her son. “And look what I got out of that.”

I smiled at my nephew. “Yeah.”

I couldn’t deny that I wanted what Aubrey and my brother had, but I also wasn’t naïve enough to believe the same thing would happen between Cohen and me.

But a tiny part of me hoped that something magical would happen between us.

Once my brother finished showering, we hopped in the car so he could take me to the airport.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Chance asked as he drove.

Rolling my eyes, I laughed. “Yes, Chance. This is a trip of a lifetime. I feel like I’ve been given a gift. And I deserve something good after all the shit I’ve been dealt in my life.”

My brother reached over and placed his hand on top of mine. “You deserve the best, Adele. Honestly. And I love you very much.” He chuckled. “This whole thing is just insane.”

“It is a little crazy,” I agreed. “But sometimes crazy is good. And crazy worked out pretty well for you.”

A small smile tipped his lips as he nodded his head. “It did, didn’t it?”

When we arrived at the airport, my brother helped get my luggage out of the SUV, then wrapped me in a tight hug. “Be careful, okay? If this guy turns out to be a creep, just give me a call, and I will come get you.”

I pulled back with a laugh. “In the middle of the ocean?”

“I’ll jet-ski out there if I have to. If you need me, I’ll be there.”

Even though Chance could be overbearing, I was beyond lucky to have him as my brother. “You’re something else, Chance.”

He grinned proudly. “I know.” He wheeled my luggage over to me. “Have fun. Take lots of pictures. And don’t forget to call me every night.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” I replied, giving him a playful salute. “I’ll see you back in California in nineteen days.”

Since the cruise ended in Hawaii, I planned to take a flight back to California once the ship docked. By then, Chance and Aubrey would already be home from Melbourne and could pick me up from the airport.

I made my way through security to the food court. Butterflies filled my stomach as I looked around for Cohen.

I didn’t see him, and I started to worry that I’d been taken for a loop. The butterflies started to crash into each other as the seconds ticked by with no sign of Cohen. The trip did seem too good to be true, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for him to stand me up.

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