Page 51 of Not that Sea-Rious
Beau lifted his brows in surprise.Apparently, she’d thought about this a lot over the few days they’d shared.She must’ve had this conversation several times in her head because she seemed to be familiar with both sides of it already.
Good.The less he spoke, the better.For now, he’d stay silent and let her work it out.
“But at the same time, you didn’t say relationship.You wanted to have me in your life.You didn’t clarify in what capacity.So, maybe I am putting the cart before the horse.”
She spoke so fast it was as though she were racing the elevator, hoping to end this conversation before the doors opened.He didn’t want to interrupt her train of thought, so he kept listening.
“At this point, it’s been—what?Three days?Can I really sit here and demand what you meant?That would be like asking you to define our relationship.”
She laughed, an eerie, nervous chortle that bordered on maniacal.
He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do at that moment.All he could think to do was to remain a statue in hopes not to startle her and see where this talk went.
“What rational person would do that?Where are we going?What are we doing?Nothing.We’re simply enjoying the little time we have left together—”
Okay.Now he had to say something.
Beau stepped toward her and took hold of both of her hands.“Shh,” he soothed, interrupting her spiraling.“I’m not asking that.You aren’t either.”
Frowning, she blew out a breath and peered at him through her lashes.
Offering her a weak smile, he met her gaze.“Let’s take baby steps, okay?”
As she nodded, the door to the elevator opened, and their privacy ended.After a quick squeeze, he released one of her hands and led her out into the hallway.Glancing around, he noted they were near what the ship had generously labeled their “library.”It was a small room with a table in the middle and a few chairs.There weren’t even any books.What kind of library didn’t have books?
A question for another day.
It was empty, obviously.Who would go there?It was just a private space.Once inside, he waited for the door to close before he gestured for her to sit.As she did, he took the seat beside her.
“We’re supposed to meet up with Carolyn and the others for karaoke, but I feel like we should continue this conversation.”
“Yeah.”She fingered one of her long decorative earrings nervously.
She didn’t need to be that anxious.He was pretty sure they were on the same page.She just didn’t know it yet.“We’re saying the same thing.”
Marissa cocked her head to the side.
“We like each other?”It was a statement, but his upward inflection allowed it to be interpreted as a question.
Smiling, she licked her bottom lip.“Of course.”
“See?We agree.”He patted her hand.“That wasn’t hard.We both would like to spend more time in each other’s company after the ship docks.Yes?”
Her face fell into a frown, and she chewed on her bottom lip.
Beau held up a hand.“Now.Get out of your head.I didn’t ask if it was possible or what it would mean.I’m just saying I enjoy being around you.Do you like being around me?”
“Yeeees.”She drew out the answer and added a bit of suspicion to it.
“In a perfect world,” he prefaced his question.“Would you like to see me again on dry land?”
Her smile returned, and she rolled her eyes through a snort of a laugh.“Yes.”
Now they were cooking with gas.It was a lot easier to have this conversation than to imagine it.Communication was a miracle.“You’re going to be in town for another week?”
She nodded.
Considering he was currently between residences, that made his position pretty flexible.“Where are you staying?In what area?”
