Page 35 of Not that Sea-Rious
Why the hell was he so goddamn nervous?Perhaps because this wasn’t just her friends supporting Marissa having a one-night stand with the drunk guy at the roulette table.This was something more.He was basically asking her on adate.
Jesus.What was he even doing?He was engaged to someone else days ago.
“Beau is going to join us for breakfast,” Marissa informed them.
Us.The word had him in a cold sweat.Could she feel how clammy his palms had become?
There was no stopping things now.He took a deep breath and swallowed down the rock of anxiety lodged in his throat.In for a penny, in for a pound.
Carolyn grinned.
Joyce glanced between Marissa and Beau.
Tina arched a brow.“Oh?”She smirked.
Marissa squeezed his hand as her shoulder brushed against his arm.Okay, no doubt about it.She definitely sensed his anxiety, and that ever so slight offer of reassurance washed over him, calming him instantly.He could do this.
Beau rubbed his freshly shaven chin before he spoke.“I figured it would be nice to share a meal, considering I am here to formally request Marissa’s company for a swimming with dolphins excursion.”
21
Marissa
Marissaheldherbreathas the room went silent.She inched closer to Beau as though their proximity would present as a united front.This was a bad idea.It sounded all well and good last night in her post-orgasmic sex haze, but now, facing her friends, begging theirpermissionto ditch them to go swim with dolphins with Beau, had her stomach in knots.
This was against the mantra besties before testes—chicks before dicks.The whole point of this trip was for the four of them to hang out together and celebrate Carolyn.Marissa was essentially asking to abandon them so she could spend time with a random dude.
It was one thing for them to give their blessing on her sleeping with Beau.Their festivities were over for the day.She was basically free from her bridesmaid duties then.This was completely different.Now she wanted to forsake them for aguy.
To make matters worse, she put them on the spot.If they said no in front of him, he’d be embarrassed as all get out.Holy hell, this was terrible, no matter how she looked at it.Her friends were good people.They wouldn’t want Beau to feel bad.
She was a shit friend and an abysmal bridesmaid.
Dammit.
“I did that with Ted on our honeymoon in Jamaica.”Joyce broke the tension.“It was my favorite memory from our trip.”
Marissa blew out a breath.Joyce was such a sweetheart.Her gaze shifted to the bride-to-be.
“Erich and I did it on spring break once,” Carolyn said.
Okay, this was going better than Marissa had expected.It seemed the vote was two in her favor.And since Carolyn was the bride, in actuality, only her metaphorical ballot mattered—in theory, anyway.Though, considering Tina was the one who gave her the condoms, obviously, she would be on board as well.That was in their favor and maybe it would sway Carolyn.Would her friends hand down a unanimous decision?Would they alleviate her guilt?
Tina pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips.Her focus shifted from Beau to Marissa, and she frowned.“I’m not about to be a stick in the mud.What kind of bitch would I be to say I didn’t want you to have fun?”She sighed.
That wasn’t exactly a glowing endorsement.
Beau squeezed Marissa’s hand as she had done to him and slipped from her hold as he took a step deeper into their suite.“Why don’t we have breakfast together?”he suggested.“And we can talk about your plans for the day.The dolphin experience won’t take up all the time we are in Cozumel.”
That was true.Marissa joined him.Once again, she stood beside him.“We can meet up with you at the bar,” she suggested.“The one with the giant yard glasses and the frogs.”
“Yeah,” Beau chimed in.“If I recall correctly, the whole excursion only lasts like an hour or less.”
“It’s not that long,” Joyce agreed.“We’ll probably still be on the beach when you’re done.”
Having given her approval, Joyce continued to putter about the room, stuffing items into her large beach bag.Carolyn nodded as she rolled her towel.“Yeah.That sounds like a plan.”
Tina narrowed her eyes on Beau and folded her arms over her chest.That couldn’t be good.Marissa braced herself for her friend’s sharp tongue.
