Page 44 of Not that Sea-Rious
“Beau,” she declared.
Marissa choked on air.“What?”
Carolyn shrugged.“He’s been our little protector man all trip.Why wouldn’t he make it his priority for us to get home safely after your date?”
“Because,maybe, after their dinner, they might wantdessert?”Tina suggested, and it was clear she wasn’t talking about a sweet after-dinner treat.
Marissa’s cheeks heated, and she wished her hands were free so she could cover her face.It was one thing for them to tease her about all of this in private, but out in the open, in front of the cruise ship workers?She longed to crawl into a hole she was so embarrassed.
Carolyn rolled her eyes.“Duh.After that, obviously.”
“What if they want to cuddle or something?”Joyce asked.
“Oh my God,” Marissa blurted.“Are you really talking about me like I’m not sitting right here?”
Shifting in her seat slightly, Carolyn turned to face Marissa.“Sorry, sweetie.”She smiled warmly.“But I’m going to have to kindly request, as the bride, that you not cuddle after your horizontal mambo tonight because I want your ass in the piano bar to sing karaoke with me.”
Mortified, Marissa hung her head.“So much for that relaxing feeling,” she muttered.
“Don’t be so dramatic.”Carolyn sighed.“It’s no secret how you’ve spent the cruise, and we’re happy for you—elated, actually.You really needed a good pounding, and from what I can tell, Beau has delivered.”
Lifting her head to the ceiling, Marissa prayed to any deity who would listen.“A tsunami would be delightful right now.You know what, not even that, just a random sinkhole in the boat to swallow me.Only me.”
“Oh, stop it,” Carolyn reprimanded.“We’re grown-ups.”
Marissa sighed and turned her attention to the woman filing her fingernails.“I’m so sorry.”
The woman smiled.“Don’t be.This type of talk happens all the time.We aren’t really listening if you don’t want us to.”
Joyce cocked her head to the side.“Wait.What?”
The nail technician shrugged.“By the time you leave, we forget it.People always chat about what happens on the ship.”
Tina nodded.“That makes sense.”
“Pretend like we aren’t here,” the nail woman reassured Marissa.“But.If I may?You aren’t the first to meet someone aboard the ship, and I’m certain you won’t be the last.So, enjoy it.You only live once.If you can’t be carefree on vacation, then when?”
Unsure if she should take comfort in that or not, Marissa chewed on her bottom lip.The woman had a point.Tomorrow, a fresh wave of cruisers would be on the boat.Another couple would find each other and face the same decision as she and Beau—whether to stay in touch and what would that mean.Fretting over it would only rob her of the enjoyment of the present.
That was all they had anyway—a series of moments.She might as well relish them while they lasted.Tomorrow, they’d be gone.
28
Marissa
Afteralightlunch,the ladies checked out the photos they’d had taken of themselves at dinner throughout the cruise.Together, they selected a few memories and purchased digital copies at the kiosk.
They visited the store, and Marissa considered buying more condoms.It was a given that things would progress.How many did they have left, anyway?She might be playing with fire tonight, and she’d most likely get burned, but any protection was better than none.
“What are you going to wear tonight?”Carolyn asked.
“I have this Hawaiian print dress,” she said as she spun the rack with the cheap earrings on it.
Joyce appeared beside her.“The A-line one?”
Marissa nodded.Almost all her dresses were cut that way.It was honestly the most flattering style for her body type.She had a hefty hourglass figure with thick hips, thighs, and a round belly.She was blessed in the chest area and had a smaller, defined waist.Truth be told, she liked her curves.
Which was why she’d bought that lacy black number for the dancing night.While not an A-line, it was the perfect display of her body but not the type of thing she’d put on any day of the week.It was a special occasion piece—club wear for sure.It was out of her wheelhouse but so worth it.
