Page 38 of Not that Sea-Rious
As they followed the hostess through the throngs of people in colorful chairs at the heavily shellacked wooden tables, Marissa swung her bag of mementos at her side.These were what she’d have of Beau when they got off the ship.They’d be all she needed.
As she sat and looked at the offered menu, she inhaled deeply and surveyed her chattering friends.Worrying about what would happen after they got off the boat back in Tampa would rob her of any of the joys left in the next day and a half she could share with him.She grinned at him over the options.The only course of action she had was to live in the moment, and that was exactly what she’d do.
“So, how was it?”Joyce asked as she used her straw to swirl her drink.
“Amazing,” Marissa began.Except she didn’t get to elaborate.A loud-as-hell shrill toot blew to her left.She turned and saw a line of servers marching toward the group beside them.
More shrieks from the whistle rang in her ears as someone carrying a bright-pink bottle raised it above their head.One server grabbed a man’s forehead, tilted it back, and poured the liquor into his mouth.It spilled all over as he tried to swallow.Once righted, the server gripped his face, shook it, tweaked his nose, and bonked his head.
Still blowing the whistle, the group went on and made sure everyone at the table got the same treatment.Carolyn hooted and raised her hands in the air.“I love this!”
The man with the whistle twisted, spotted her, and pointed.Once they were done with that table, it was their turn.Marissa shifted her focus to Beau.He was laughing and clapping along with the crowd as they attempted to drown Carolyn in some premixed house shot.
He fit into their group perfectly.Marissa would bet that he’d even get along with the spouses.
Hey now.Thinking like that could only lead to trouble.This was afling.Her connection with Beau was temporary, and she needed to remind herself of that.Getting her hopes up for something more would only lead to disappointment.Any sort of relationship couldn’t possibly work.
As she made the mental assertion, hands found her face.Here we go!She tilted her head back and choked on the sweet, bottled shot.Laughing through it, the servers shook her, disorienting her for a minute before they pinched her nose and tweaked her breasts.
Grabbing a napkin, she cracked up and collected her bearings.As she wiped the excess alcohol from her body, she watched them do the same to Beau.Though he seemed to be better at swallowing than she was.Which was good to know.
Okay, her brain needed to chill the fuck out.Beau and Marissa being involved wasn’t happening.There was no use getting attached.
“Who wants yard glasses?”she asked the group.
Every woman at the table raised their hand.
Beau lowered the napkin he’d used to clean his face and snickered at their vote.The music boomed.The surrounding conversation was louder.So, it was possible he might not have heard what she asked.Either way, his hand went up in the air.
“Perfect,” Tina said, wearing a grin.“Beau has the first round.”
He nodded.“As you wish.”
24
Beau
Thingsmayhavegottena little out of hand.Two yard glasses not only tested the limits of Beau’s bladder but also the sturdiness of the table.Somehow, Carolyn had convinced him to climb up on it and dance with her.Seeing as she was the bride-to-be, he couldn’t say no.Especially not during her bachelorette weekend.
There he was, shaking his ass to “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by David Guetta and OneRepublic, having the time of his life.He didn’t want to risk jumping, like Marissa and Joyce were doing from the safety of the floor, but he could still bust a move.Megan would’ve been mortified.For some reason, imagining her embarrassment made this entire experience that much better.
When the song ended, he dropped down, turned, and reached for Carolyn to help her.She shoved his hand away and pointed toward Joyce.“Get up here!”
Shifting his focus to the other woman with her arms in the air, he shrugged.Offering her a boost, he assisted in getting her to the top of the table, where the two women proceeded to grind against each other.
Whistling ensued, and Carolyn shrieked.Scrambling, the two women clambered down from the table.More shots were poured down people’s throats, and the party continued.
“Hey, we need to head to the ship in roughly half an hour if we want to make dinner,” Tina, the only sober one, announced while holding up her phone.
“Speaking of dinner,” Beau said as he grabbed Marissa and pulled her against him.“I have a reservation at the steakhouse on the ship for tomorrow night.Would you like to join me?”
“That sounds like a date to me!”Joyce sang as she leaned against his back.
“Dinner is definitely a date,” Carolyn nodded as she lifted her half-drunk yard glass.“And I approve.”
“It’s a date,” Marissa declared, gripped his face, pulled him in, and pressed her lips over his.
His hands rested on her hips as she claimed his mouth.The sweetness of the house shot lingered on her lips and tongue.She was delicious without the alcohol, so he returned her kiss with equal passion.
