Page 1 of Not that Sea-Rious
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Marissa Olsen
Marissaofferedherroomkey as payment for the first round of drinks and smiled at her three friends.They huddled together at the first bar they spotted upon arrival.They were cruising to celebrate Carolyn’s impending nuptials.
Once everyone had their red and yellow frozen daiquiris, the four women raised their glasses.“What happens on the boat, stays on the boat!”Tina, Carolyn’s matron of honor, toasted.
The group erupted into a fit of giggles as they clinked their beverages.Marissa brought the sugar straw to her lips and took her first gulp of sweet, overpriced indulgence.This week would be the most expensive of her life, but it was worth it.Carolyn, her friend since third grade, would only get married for the first time once.Besides, the women split the captain’s suite, so the cost of the cruise was a real bargain for the luxury they would experience.At least, that was what she told herself.
“Alright,” Marissa announced.“I’m not saying we have to planeverything, but I think we might want to havesome ideaabout what we are doing over the next four days.”
Joyce, a fellow bridesmaid, rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.“Drinking and relaxing isn’t enough?”
Carolyn wrinkled her nose while adjusting the small veil atop her head.“I’m with Marissa on this one.We need to domorethan that.”
Tina bobbed her head back and forth while sipping.“Well, tonight’s a day at sea, and that casino is calling my name.As soon as it opens, I vote we gamble.”
“Do they serve cocktails at the slot machines?”Joyce asked.
“Of course!”Tina sniggered.
Joyce nodded.“Okay.I’m in.”
Marissa frowned.“Don’t you want to go dancing?There’s a nightclub.”
“We don’t have to do everything on day one,” Tina said.
Carolyn took a hefty gulp of her drink before placing it back on the bar.“Okay.We can spread it out.Tonight, we hit up the casino.Tomorrow, we are at sea, so we can lie out by the pool all afternoon and get our relaxing in.”
“Then after dinner, we’re shaking our asses,” Marissa said.
She’d packed the cutest dress that fit her body perfectly.It needed to see the light of day, and it wasn’t the type someone wore just roaming a ship.It needed flashing lights, fog machines, and a disco ball.Come hell or high water, Marissa was going to the nightclub, even if she went alone.
“That works for me.”Carolyn nodded.
“What the bride says goes,” Tina declared.
Finally, Joyce agreed.“Okay.”
This was a bachelorette trip.They were supposed to be celebrating the end of Carolyn’s single life.She would join Tina and Joyce in the marital ranks, leaving Marissa behind.They couldn’t just lie around for four days.They needed to party.
Though Marissa should probably have some sympathy for Joyce.She was the only one with a toddler at home.Of course, she wanted to just kick back and relax, but that wasn’t the kind of excursion they had planned.
Marissa had an idea.She placed a gentle hand on Joyce’s shoulder.“How about we schedule time at the spa after Cozumel?”
“Ooh!”Carolyn’s eyes sparkled.“I love that idea.”
Joyce smiled.
Tina slapped the bar top.“So, it’s settled.Our final ocean day will be spent getting massages, facials, manicures, or whatever.”
“Now you’re talking,” Joyce agreed.
“We should probably head up there and make our appointments now before everything gets booked,” Marissa suggested.
Carolyn slurped the last bit of her drink.
The other three gaped at her.
