Page 45 of Not that Sea-Rious
“Why not the black one?”Tina asked as though she could read Marissa’s thoughts and held up a hooded sweatshirt boasting the cruise line’s name.
“He saw that one already,” Carolyn interrupted.“She needs something new, different, and with added flair.”
Marissa peered at her.“I didn’t pack anything flashy.”She never expected to go on adate.“The flower one is fine.It’s like a large pattern—a hibiscus, I think.Pink.”
Carolyn pursed her lips and tapped a finger against her chin.“I dunno.Don’t you want to really wow him?”
“I’d say she already has,” Tina snickered.
Joyce giggled beside her as she debated between two stuffed animals.
“Speaking of which.”Tina approached her.“Do you need a refill?”She glanced toward the counter where the condoms were kept.
“Maybe,” Marissa admitted.“I don’t know.”
“Get them,” her friend whispered.“Better to have them and not need them than to want them and not have them.”
Fair point.She grinned at her friend and gave her a nod.Tina winked and moved away, applying no further pressure or drawing any more attention to the issue.
“What about this?”Carolyn asked, pointing to something in a glass case.
Marissa furrowed her brows and approached the bride-to-be.Once at her side, she followed her friend’s finger and scoffed.“How much money do you think I have?”
“It’s on sale,” the clerk behind the case offered.
Marissa gave her a weak smile.“I’m sure it is, but it’s a safe bet a necklace like that is not within my budget.”
The sparkly necklace, adorned with aqua gemstones fashioned into several clovers with a white gold chain between them, looked absolutely fabulous.The piece would be lovely around her neck and would actually go with her dress perfectly.Unfortunately, the eighteen-hundred-dollar price tag was more than she could spend.Sure, it was originally twenty-five hundred, but she just didn’t have that kind of money.
“I’ll stick with my dollar-an-inch anklet,” Marissa said of the matching jewelry the women had already purchased.Making eye contact with the hopeful clerk, she apologized with her eyes.“Thank you.”
The woman dipped her chin.“Well, let me know if you want to see anything,” she said and turned to tend to someone else.
“It really is beautiful.”Carolyn sighed.
“Thenyouget it,” Marissa teased.“It could be your something blue.”
“Erich will kill me.He doesn’t want me to make any big purchases until we come home from the honeymoon.We’re going to start house shopping.”
Tina perked.“Oh!It’s about time you moved out of that rinky-dink apartment.”
“Wait!”Joyce trotted over.“Does that mean…”
Carolyn held up a hand.“Don’t even suggest it.”
Marissa sniggered.Finally, they were busting someone else’s balls.Joyce was desperate for someone else to join her in the motherhood ranks.Tina might be married, but she and Cynthia had already said they had a five-year plan before kids.So that left Carolyn.
Marissa didn’t envy her that pestering.She took the opportunity to move away from them as Joyce peppered Carolyn with questions about if and when she would attempt motherhood.Approaching the cash register, Marissa placed the chandelier costume jewelry earrings from the rack on the counter and greeted the cashier.
“Hi.Can I get a box of condoms too?”
It was her and Beau’s last night together.She’d be a fool if she didn’t get some more.Beau was talented in bed.Denying herself that delight was pointless.One last night with him would include more than just food, singing, and cocktails.She was going to go big before she went home.
“Make that two,” she said.
The approving smile on the cashier’s face only boosted Marissa’s confidence in the decision.
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