Page 68 of Not that Sea-Rious
“What’s wrong?”Tina asked as she approached with her free arm out.
When she was close enough, she wrapped it around Marissa and tucked her against her side.
Marissa choked through her crying and hugged Tina.
“What happened?”
The dream Marissa had for less than a week just imploded.She couldn’t say that out loud.How absurd was it for her to be this upset about it?
Unable to form a coherent sentence, she looked up into Tina’s eyes and sniffled.Nodding, Tina squeezed.“Okay.Let’s get you out of the hallway so you can collect yourself in private.Then you’re going to tell me what’s going on.”
Tina ushered her into the room, and Marissa’s heart sank seeing Carolyn inside, holding a glue gun in one hand and fake flowers in the other.
“What’s going on?”the bride asked.
“Still sorting that out,” Tina responded as she guided Marissa to sit on the edge of the bed.
Of all the people to be hanging out in Tina’s room, of course it had to be Carolyn.Joyce was too busy with her family coming in, and Tina’s wife was still back home.There were last-minute things that needed to be done—like making cute floral arrangements for table décor.
“Shouldn’t she be at dinner?”Carolyn asked before pointing the fabric hibiscus at Marissa.“Aren’t you supposed to be banging Beau?”
Trying to swallow more sobs, Marissa kept her gaze on the floor as she tugged at the hair ties holding her braids in.She looked ridiculous, crying over a man she barely knew.
Sitting beside Marissa and wrapping her arm around her, Tina rubbed her back slightly.“Okay, so what happened?”
Marissa took a deep breath and blew it out heavily to gather her thoughts.“He doesn’t have time.”
“For what?”Carolyn asked.
What had he said?Oh, right.“He’s homeless and jobless—”
Tina stiffened.“Wait?Did we know that?”
“How did he afford to go on a cruise and stay in such a massive room if he has no money?”Carolyn demanded.“Buying us drinks and taking you out on excursions.How could he pay for all that while unemployed?”
Marissa shook her head.“Apparently, it’s all recent.”
She hated starting the sentence in that manner, but at this point, everything was alleged.She wasn’t sure if Beau had been truthful about anything.The way the night had disintegrated before it even started spoke volumes.What was real, and what was fake?She hadn’t a clue.
Swiping at her cheeks, she glanced upward, wishing them away before she restarted.“He was engaged before the cruise.It ended right before the ship left, so he went anyway, and supposedly when he got home, his business partner forced him out of the company.So, he has no place to live and no income.”
She flopped back onto the bed and covered her eyes with her arm.How pathetic was she to be this emotional over a guy she had only known for barely five days?So, they slept together a couple of times.Yes, he was good in bed, but that wasn’t enough to fall to pieces over him.
“Damn,” Carolyn muttered.
“I really liked him,” Tina commented.
The bride-to-be must’ve dropped everything she had in her hands because, in no time, she had crawled into bed beside Marissa and cuddled up next to her.
“It will be okay,” she murmured as she combed her fingers through Marissa’s tangle of half-braided hair.
Tina scooted onto the bed on Marissa’s other side.“Listen,” she said on a sigh.“As nice as he seemed and as fun as he was, we all need to remember that he isn’t the love of your life.”
Marissa pulled her arm away and glared at her.
“He’s just a guy,” Tina continued.
“You think I don’t know that?”Marissa snapped.“I can’t believe I’ve fallen to pieces over someone I’ve known for a few days.I can’t help it.My hopes haven’t been this far up about a man in forever.I feel so stupid.”
