Page 61 of Not that Sea-Rious
Hours had passed.She could totally check without appearing overeager or pathetic.
As the hairdresser curled her tresses and chatted with everyone around her, Marissa took a moment to check her phone.The little chat bubble icon made her smile.
She tapped it open.Relief had her breathing easier.Beau was true to his word.He had made contact.One point in his favor.
Though, it seemed he wasn’t having as easy a time as he portrayed he would on the boat.He detailed how he had more boxes than he had expected and had to secure himself a storage locker.
Fair.
Marissa had moved on a few occasions in her life, and going from one place to another was stressful.Granted, she had never done it under his circumstances.She’d always secured her next place before terminating her current lease.
To be fair, he wasn’t completely in control of his situation.Things happened in his life, and she couldn’t fault him for it.So, she inhaled and took solace in the fact that he kept her in the loop about what he had on his plate.
His homelessness could make stuff complicated.
Homeless?She cringed at the idea.He was between residences.That sounded so much better, but the fact remained.Beau was without a home.
Her lips tightened at the reality, and the corners of her mouth turned down.She hated thinking that, but it was true.
Then again, they weren’t in a relationship.Neither of them had committed to a damn thing.They had simply agreed to spend more time with each other and see where it went.It had gone nowhere yet.Which meant he had the opportunity to stabilize his life.She had to keep reminding herself that the arrangement wasn’t serious.This wascasual.
Marissa had never donecasualbefore.This would definitely be a challenge.She had to remember that they weren’t a couple.They were two people who liked each other.That was all.
When she nodded to herself, the heat from the curling iron got hotter—and closer to her scalp.
“Oh, sweetie, I need you to be still.I don’t want to burn you, love,” the hairdresser said, reminding Marissa of where she was in the real world and not in her head.
“Shit,” Carolyn’s mother hissed from three seats away with plastic wrapped around her hair.
“What?”Carolyn demanded on the other side of Marissa.
“It’s just, Uncle Roy is in the hospital.He fell and broke his hip.Aunt Jenna doesn’t think they will make it.”Her mother groaned.“And we finally got the seating arrangement organized since your cousin Nancy announced she was bringing a plus-one.The fifth love of her life this year.”
“We can work on it tonight,” Tina assured the group.“This week is going to be full of this kind of stuff.People are assholes.”
“I don’t want to be shelling out money for people who don’t show up.”Carolyn’s mother sighed.“Not that paying for unexpected guests is any better.”
“It’s going to happen,” Joyce said.“But it usually isn’t much.It’ll all work out.”
“Actually, this is perfect,” Carolyn said, far too calmly for a woman a week away from her wedding hearing about guests canceling.“Nancy’s new boyfriend will be Uncle Roy and Marissa’s will be Aunt Jenna.No changes in the count, but yeah, we will have to shuffle people around.It’ll be okay, though.”
“Wait.”Carolyn’s mom peered at Marissa.
Oh hell.
“When did you get a boyfriend?”she asked.
Marissa cringed slightly.She definitely didn’t want to have this conversation right now.Especially with the mother of the bride.“I don’t have—”
“She met him on the cruise ship,” Joyce practically gushed.
Carolyn’s mom arched a brow, obviously intrigued by the gossip.
“It was really cute,” Carolyn chimed in.
Marissa needed to get a handle on this.“There isno boyfriend.Yes.I met a guy but not aboyfriend.”
“And you invited him to the wedding?”Carolyn’s mother’s displeasure came through clear as day.
