Page 43 of Not that Sea-Rious
“Are you going to dinner?”Tina asked.
“How are you feeling?”Joyce said.
Taking a deep breath, Marissa closed her eyes and tried to center herself and her feelings.Something existed between her and Beau.They were probably past the point where she couldn’t get attached, so there was no use fighting it.
After a long exhale, she faced the inquisition.“I’m okay,” she answered Joyce first.“We talked, and I decided to go to dinner with him.”
The trio cheered, jumping up and down, even clapping.They closed the minimal distance between them, and she was wrapped in a group hug.They were happy for her.
Sure, they could be excited.They weren’t the ones about to get their hearts broken.As silly as that was to think, considering she had only known him for three days, she’d still grown fond of him.She’d miss him when they returned to port.
It’d be a burden she’d have to bear.Spending her final evening on the boat with Beau was exactly what Marissa wanted to do.If she didn’t, she’d regret it for far too long.There was no use denying herself.
Throwing a smile on her face and her hands on her hips, she lifted her chin.“I’m ready to have a stranger massage me.Anyone else?”
27
Beau
Thankfully,Beauhadhisbags packed prior to discovering Megan’s extracurricular activity—Jordan.Otherwise, Beau would’ve shown up on that ship with the clothes on his back.For once, Megan’s time blindness had worked in his favor.He had come home early forher.She did everything last minute, and to avoid being late for the ship, he left work an hour before he usually did to packherthings.
Maybe she planned it that way?He’d never considered that before.Though, he immediately chuckled at the thought.No way Megan would do that.Forethought wasn’t her strong suit.She didn’t know how to do that.It was completely accidental.
He returned to his room after speaking to Marissa and laid out the outfit he’d selected for dinner.Black slacks and a pale-blue button-down with some embroidery embellishments.
Cocking his head to the side, he noted that they’d gotten wrinkled.Frowning, he scanned the room for an iron.He was pretty sure most hotels had them, but would the cruise ship?After rifling through drawers and checking the wardrobe, he found nothing.
Well, damn.
Sighing, he stepped out of the cabin and glanced down the hall.Perhaps his room steward would know what he could do.He didn’t want to look schlubby for the dinner.It was Marissa’s and his first official date, after all.
He snorted to himself as he trudged down the hall.Their initial and only.That was the rub, wasn’t it?She was from Jersey; he currently lived in Florida.He supposed they could try a long-distance thing, but those never worked out.
Upon stumbling across the man responsible for cleaning and setting up his room, he learned there was a self-service launderette on his floor and Beau would find an iron and a board in there.
With a curt nod, he thanked the cruise ship worker and turned on his heel.Once he got the creases ironed into his pants, he’d be satisfied.The goal was to appear downright dapper for Marissa.She was damn stunning when they went dancing, and he smiled.What would she wear to their dinner?
To be honest, she could wear a paper bag, and he’d be thrilled.It wasn’t about her appearance—though she was attractive as hell—his fondness of her extended to her personality.She effortlessly soothed his wounded soul.He’d be eternally grateful for every laugh she gave him when all he’d wanted to do was wallow in self-pity.
Marissa demanded nothing from him—she was just as grateful for his presence as he was for hers.It was a damn shame they lived so far apart.Beau wanted to spend as much time with her as she would allow.If only there was a way for them to be together on dry land too.
There was one thing he would take away from this trip—his existence was a lot better when he lived in the moment.
Marissa
The bathrobe was fluffy, and Marissa’s skin was silk.Relaxing melodic tones softly caressed her ears from hidden speakers.She smelled like a mixture of floral oils.The hot stone massage definitely worked out the kinks in her neck and shoulders.For a few hours, Marissa could put her concerns about what would happen tomorrow behind her.
Sitting beside one another, she and her three friends enjoyed the final phase of their pampering as the diligent spa workers attended to the women’s manicures.This was the life.Marissa could totally get used to it.After the wedding and Carolyn’s honeymoon, the four of them would need to meet up and get mani/pedis more frequently.Marissa vowed to make it happen.
“This was the best idea,” Joyce all but moaned.“It’s like a detox after a few days of boozing and indulging.I really needed this.”
Tina peered at her with a raised brow.“Are you under the impression we will not be drinking again tonight?”
Joyce frowned.“Well—”
“If anything, tonight is our go hard and go home night,” Carolyn announced.“I want all of us to be blackout drunk when we finally go to bed.”
“All of us?”Joyce asked.“Then who is going to ensure we get back okay?”
