Page 24 of Not that Sea-Rious
“I wasn’t aware people could have long days while on vacation,” she commented.
He sighed, not wanting to get into this with a relative stranger.“Well, when things don’t go as planned…”
Turning toward him, she cocked her head to the side.
Swirling his drink, he studied how the chocolate syrup decorated the glass.After a moment of her silence, he realized how it must have sounded.His brows flew up, and his eyes widened, and he shifted his attention back to Tina.
“No.”He licked his bottom lip.“That didn’t come out right.”
Inquisitively, she arched a brow but turned away from him the moment the drink slinger approached.“Can I get four mango margaritas, please?”
Accepting her card, the tender stepped away to mix her drinks.
“I didn’t mean Marissa,” Beau offered softly.
She furrowed her brows at him.
The more words he spoke, the worse this was for him.Covering his face with his hand, he inhaled deeply.“Let’s just suffice it to say that this isn’t the vacation I wanted.”
No good would come from airing his dirty laundry.Stuff happened.People got cheated on all the time.He didn’t need to go around telling everyone a sob story.
She placed a hand on his shoulder and offered him a gentle smile.“Well, you can either sit in the bar all by yourself, or you can make the best of an unpleasant situation.”
He peered at her.What was she getting at?Was she insinuating something about Marissa?
Before he could ask, the bartender returned and handed her back her card and the four martini glasses filled with orangey drinks.She offered Beau a playful wink and collected the beverages.
“See you around,” she said as she stepped away and left him alone with his thoughts.
14
Marissa
“WheredidTinagoto get our drinks?”Carolyn asked, sitting on her lounger and peering around.
“Seriously.”Joyce sighed.“The line isn’t that long.We could’ve had them by now.”
Pursing her lips, Marissa joined in with her friends, searching for Tina from the comfort of their seats by the pool.Their friend had decided that going to the nearest bar would take too long to get drinks.So she went to another one apparently in the deepest bowels of the ship.That logic had been flawed.
“Maybe she ran into a hot redhead too,” Carolyn joked.
Groaning, Marissa rolled her eyes.“I’m sure Cynthia wouldn’t mind,” she said of Tina’s wife.
“What happens on the cruise stays on the cruise,” Joyce reminded through a giggle.
Shaking her head, Marissa sighed.Thankfully, Tina approached with four adult beverages in her hands and a little bag dangling from her wrist.She wore the biggest, most mischievous smile Marissa had ever seen.
Immediately, her hackles rose.That couldn’t be good.Tina was up to something.
“What is that?”Marissa asked as Tina started handing out drinks.
“Okay.I’m setting a ground rule,” Carolyn announced, accepting her glass.“No cheating is happening during my bachelorette party.”She pointed a finger at her two friends.“No marriages will be ruined onmytrip.”
Joyce continued to chuckle.Marissa blinked at the bride-to-be.
“Alright,” Tina said as she peered at them, clearly confused.“What did I miss?”
“Nothing worth bringing up,” Marissa offered, with her focus on the tiny sack.“What did you get at the store?”
