Page 37 of Bumping into You

Courtney

I’ve got it covered you just rest and enjoy the cruise.

I set my phone down with a huff. I guess I can let her check on this one aspect of the wedding. I try to focus on checking the order of events for the reception and wedding ceremony, but I’munable to get the kiss off my mind and can’t focus. Instead, I order in some room service and try to take my mind off Niall.

When it’s time for the water show, I still haven’t been successful. I touch the spot on my cheek where Niall kissed me, gather my things, and make my way down to the outdoor theater.

Margot is already in her seat in the first row, right next to the water. I scan my regal pass with the cruise staff and join her. I remove the towel on my seat before sitting down.

“You okay?” asks Margot. “You look a bit flushed.”

“I’m fine,” I say, trying to stop the pink from rising to my cheeks.

Mom and Dad, the Palmers, and our siblings all arrive along with Holly, Trent, and Vivian. Looking at the wedding itinerary, I notice that Bradley and Tammy aren’t listed to attend this event. I breathe a sigh of relief.

Niall is the last to arrive. My stomach does a happy dance at the sight of him, but I quickly quelch that feeling.

Greg, who is sitting next to me, notices Niall arrive. “Oh, here,” says Greg, motioning to Niall. “Why don’t you sit here?” Greg stands from his own seat. “Everyone can scoot down, right?”

Before I can protest, everyone is standing and moving over a seat, making room for Niall to sit next to me.

“Hi, Rose,” says Niall as the show begins.

“Hi, Sully,” I reply. I can’t handle the barrage of emotions that come over me every time we are near each other.

I try to distract myself by focusing on the setup of the outdoor theater. As an event planner, I’m always looking for new ideas. There are lots of lights of varying colors that change along with the short movie clips playing on the large screens on either side of the theater. The show is a musical mashup of movie soundtracks. But neither the setup nor the show is helping me ignore the feelings coursing through me.

Finally, I can’t take it any longer. I lean over to Niall and say, “You broke the rules.”

“What?” he says over the sounds of music and water.

“You kissed me,” I say a bit louder.

Gillian glances over at us. I give her a quick smile letting her know that everything is fine. Then I lower my voice to an almost imperceptible volume and whisper into Niall’s ear, “That’s against the rules.”

“I shouldn’t have,” says Niall. “You’re right.”

The music gets louder, and more swimmers make their way into the pool. My frustration with my own lack of control over my emotions soon subsides as I watch the performers dance.

Not only do they dance in the water as a shelf raises and lowers, but they dive from varying heights. Each dive splashes us with more and more water. There’s a reason for the towels, for sure. I catch myself laughing as I use Niall as a shield. Laughing himself, Niall tries unsuccessfully to block me and himself from getting wet.

It doesn’t work, and we both continue to get spattered with water. All of us do. I can hear Maggie giggling and clapping along to the music. She is loving the show and all the water.

When the performers are dancing up by the diving boards, I notice Niall looking at me. He has a goofy smile on his face, and his eyes shine with happiness. A warm, fuzzy feeling settles in my stomach. I give him a little grin, then quickly compose myself and clear my face.

I’ve been enjoying the show, and even though I got annoyed with him about the kiss, he’s been so sweet trying to shield us from the water. But I can’t let him know how he affects me. How my insides flutter with nerves and I keep flashing back to him half naked, wrapped in a barely-there towel.

As the performers bow, the whole crowd gives a standing ovation. The show was magnificent. The performers were sotalented not only on the ground dancing but in the water with their acrobatics.

Our group makes its way through the boardwalk, the summer heat quickly drying our damp clothes. I grab Niall’s arm to hold him back a bit. “I’m sorry for being annoyed with you,” I say. “I just can’t seem to rein in my emotions when I’m around you.”

“No need to apologize,” he says. “You’re correct. The kiss was against our rules. I let my emotions get the better of me too. How about this? Next time I kiss you, I’ll ask your permission first.” His eyes crinkling, he gently tucks a loose strand of hair out of my face, thumb grazing my cheek. Then, he turns and follows the others up the stairs.

It takes me a few seconds to realize what he said, and once it hits, I gasp, staring incredulously after him. Is he planning on kissing me again?

I swear I could hear him chuckle to himself.

The group makes a pit stop at the ice cream shop further up the boardwalk. I stand back and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach before I have to be around Niall again. By the time I catch up with everyone, they are sitting at the multicolored tables outside the ice cream shop waiting for me.

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