Page 66 of Not that Sea-Rious
As they sat, the waiter offered them menus.Kindly, the two of them nodded along as the server rattled off the specials for the evening before turning on her heel and leaving them alone.
“Well, if this is our last evening together until the wedding, I guess I have to make it a good one,” he said while scanning the menu.
“I’m sure I can sneak away once or twice.”Marissa winked.“Who doesn’t like to dabble with danger every now and then?”
He met her gaze, and his smile fell.“Honestly, I could probably use the time to get my life sorted out.”
There it was.She knew Beau was too good to be true.He couldn’t be perfect forever.Her spine stiffened, and her lips tightened.She did her best to keep the façade of nonchalance, but it was difficult as she braced herself for what he would say.
He lowered his menu, clasped his hands together over it, and leaned in slightly.“I don’t want to go too deep into it, but my business partner is forcing me from the company.I’m not sure where I’ll land.My bottom sort of dropped out.I need to talk to lawyers and come up with the best course of action to move forward.”
How convenient for him.First his fiancée dumped him, and now his business did.This was too many catastrophes at once for it to be real.He didn’t have to lie.None of this made sense.If he didn’t want anything after leaving the ship, why did he bother with all this?It made no sense, and she needed to nip this in bud.There was no use in drawing this game out.
Marissa gulped and bobbed her head in what had to be the stupidest nod ever, but she had nothing to say.Mr.Wonderful was essentially breaking up with her.They weren’t even a couple yet, and he ended things.They’d been on dry land for mere hours.She should’ve seen this coming.Vacation flings weren’t meant to last.
When he reached across and took one of her hands, she did her best not to burst into tears right there at the table.She knew better than to have so much hope.Why had she let herself get too attached to him?
“I’m being straightforward with you because I don’t think it’s fair to what we have going on to hide it and pretend things are perfect in my life.I’m messy right now.”
His honesty was too tragic to be true.Who lied about stuff like this?Not someone she wanted to be around.That’s for damn sure.Marissa would never understand men.No matter how hard she tried.
Biting her bottom lip, she inhaled audibly.“I understand.”
He furrowed his brows and cocked his head to the side.“I’m not sure you do.”
She swallowed the tears threatening to spill.“You’re jobless and homeless,” she announced, lifting her chin.“Therefore, you don’t want to see me anymore.”
“No.”He squeezed her hand.
“You just—”
“What I said was that this week is going to be tough on me.My availability is going to be very limited.I have a lot to figure out.You are going to be running around with Carolyn, making sure she has the most perfect day.”
She blinked, unsure how she misunderstood him.
“We’re both super busy this week.It’d be a lot easier if we didn’t stress about making time for each other.I still want to see you.Very much so.”
The server returned wearing a giant smile.Apparently, she couldn’t read the room.“Can I get you some drinks to start this evening?”
“Uh.”Beau removed his hand from hers.“We need another minute, please.”
The waitress’s smile fell as she glanced between the two.“Sure.”
Once again, she turned and trotted away.
Closing her eyes and slumping back into her chair, Marissa blew out a breath.“I’m having a really hard time processing this.”
A pressured chortle escaped Beau.“You and me both.”
Overwhelmed with disappointment, Marissa took her napkin from her lap and stood.She dropped it on the table and tugged at the bottom of her shirt as she straightened her spine.“Thank you for everything.”
Beau hopped to his feet.Worry creased the corners of his eyes.
“You’re right.We have a lot going on.”
“I don’t think—”
“We aren’t available right now.Both of us.Not just you.Me too.”
