Page 37 of Not that Sea-Rious
She shrugged, and he could see her nonchalance was back.All the anxiety had left her, and his had gone with it.They agreed.It wasn’t anything serious.They were just two people who were going for a swim with porpoises.Twosinglepeople—who had recently slept together.Yes, this was totally normal—and a date.
Beau’s hands rested on the neck of his life vest as he desperately tried not to be choked by the thing riding up.They floated in the water, waiting for their turn with Ricky and Nix, the dolphins.The trainers prattled on and on, sharing miscellaneous dolphin facts.For instance, Beau learned dolphins didn’t actually sleep and were consciously aware of their breathing.
Which, of course, made him consciously aware ofhisbreathing to the point he nearly forgot how to inhale and exhale.While he was on the verge of silently and discreetly hyperventilating, Marissa was summoned for her one-on-one experience with Ricky.
As she swam away from Beau, all his attention went to her.Marissa got high-fins from the dolphin.The sparkle in her eyes filled Beau’s chest with affection.When she held on to his dorsal fin and Ricky dragged her through the water, she giggled so infectiously Beau laughed along with her.The encounter ended with a delightful little kiss between the two.Beau’s cheeks hurt from smiling.He’d seen nothing more beautiful than Marissa’s unfettered joy.
He made that happen.
Beau didn’t care about his own time with the swimming mammals.He hadn’t when he paid for it and didn’t now.Sure, it was cool to have them push at his feet and essentially toss him through the water, but that trick wasn’t something he was dying to do.Megan had talked about it for weeks.
Beau took a little too much satisfaction in knowing Marissa got to enjoy the experience Megan had wanted.Megan had never appreciated a damn thing he’d done for her.She expected the world.He’d yet to figure out where she got her entitlement from, but he was glad to be out from underneath it.Perhaps Jordan was a decent friend and business partner.By screwing Megan, he saved Beau from making the biggest mistake of his existence.
Granted, there were other ways he could’ve gone about it—less extreme measures.Though, this method really got the point across.There was no arguing it.Beau couldn’t deny it if he tried.Jordan could possibly deserve a thank you for it.
Nah.
Beau internally scoffed as he climbed out of the water to meet up with Marissa.Jordan would get what he deserved in the long run.Beau’s gaze found a bouncing Marissa.Glee radiated off her as she trotted over to him.The storm cloud of a mood he’d brewed thinking about his ex and his business partner evaporated.
“That wasso amazing,” she gushed.“I can’t wait to see the pictures!”
Wrapping his arm over her shoulder, he pressed a tender kiss to her salty temple.Her genuine excitement was a breath of fresh air he didn’t know he needed.Marissa embodied positivity.It must’ve been what drew him to her.Beau craved more good in his life.
Together, they strolled toward the kiosk to look over what the professional photographer had captured.They weren’t permitted to bring their own phones into the pool, which was fair.Beau didn’t have a waterproof case, anyway.
Arm in arm, they looked through the myriad of photos taken during their encounter.Marissa squealed with nearly everyone she saw.It was hard to choose which pictures to keep and which to pass on.Her smile brightened as a new image she was in popped up.He wanted them all, but that would be preposterous.So, they really buckled down and debated the merits of each picture.He’d never had more fun.With anyone else, he’d imagine this would be a daunting task, but somehow Marissa pitching her case for all of them amused him.Eventually, they selected eight to keep.
“I’m getting it,” Marissa announced as she pulled her credit card out from the large canvas beach bag she’d brought with her.
Beau furrowed his brow.“You don’t have to.”
She snorted.“I’m well aware of my obligations.”She bumped him with her hip playfully.“But you paid for the experience.I can at least cover the pictures and that really tacky frame.We’ll take two sets of the eight pictures and two frames.”
Dipping his chin, grinning from ear to ear, Beau licked his lips and stepped back to allow Marissa the opportunity to pay.Megan would never.From the day she met Beau, she expected him to foot the bill for everything—even things that were her suggestion.At the time, he thought it was chivalrous to always fork over the money, but she worked.There was no good reason he had to fund their lives.
It was refreshing to be with someone who viewed him as equal and not just a cash cow.These two women couldn’t be more different, and he welcomed the change of pace.This was far less stressful.He could get used to this.
23
Marissa
Afteraquicklunch,Marissa and Beau headed to the bar where they’d agreed to meet up with Carolyn, Tina, and Joyce.Her friends should be fried to a crisp at this point.She hoped, at the very least, someone kept reapplying sunscreen to Carolyn.Nothing would ruin her wedding more than being a lobster for the nuptials.
Granted, they had about a week before she walked down the aisle.Oh no!If she wasn’t careful, seven days after a sunburn would mean that her skin would enter the peeling stage of the healing process.That would really ruin pictures.Imagine the disaster her wedding photos would be.A poorly placed tan line was one thing, but flaking skin was completely different.
Thankfully, she had Tina and Joyce with her.The two of them were responsible.If anything, Carolyn might come off the beach whiter than when she went on it because that pair would douse her in sunscreen.There were no more maternal people in the world than Tina and Joyce.
Blowing out a breath of relief from a crisis scenario she created in her head, Marissa chuckled at herself.Carolyn was a grown-ass woman.She knew how to care for her skin.This wasn’t worth worrying about.
She dipped her chin when Beau opened the door for her.“Thank you.”
Of course, he was a gentleman.He was funny, adorable, generous, kind, and opened doors for her.Seriously, he checked every damn box she had.This was what she was looking for in a partner.Except for that whole pesky detail about him being from Florida.She was never big on long-distance relationships.
Once, in college, she’d tried it with a guy she met over the summer.He went to a school three hours away from her.That was driving.Florida was a two-and-a-half-hour plane ride.One was a bit more expensive than the other.Either way, she couldn’t make it work then, and she had little hope she could do it successfully now.
Then again, it wasn’t like he’d asked her to even attempt anything more than a roll in the hay.This was a vacation fling.Something she would look back upon fondly.That was the decision she made two days ago.She needed to stuff any thoughts of it being any more than casual out of her brain real quick.
Anyone could appear good on paper for three days.Right now, Beau was a paper boy.They didn’t have the time to establish any sort of anything real.Yes, they got along well and had a connection.If circumstances were different, perhaps she could consider it being more, but for now, she had to be content with making memories.
