Page 21 of Key Lime Kisses
As if echoing my thoughts, Shea said suddenly, “This is almost like a real date, isn't it?” He immediately started to flush as I looked at him in surprise. He cleared his throat and looked back down at his food.
I couldn't believe I was about to say it, but I cleared my throat and said softly, “It could be… if you want it to be.” Now it was my turn to flush as he looked at me incredulously.
Forty-eight hours ago, I wouldn't have cared about being rejected. Hell, I wouldn't have been in a position to be rejected! Yet here I was, heart pounding and throat already tightening and the idea of Shea saying no.
“Look,” I said softly. “I know you said you're not interested in a relationship. And honestly I'm not either. At least…” I cleared my throat, trying to stall. “At least I didn't think I was. But these past couple of days with you... I'm not looking for anything serious. And I'm not looking to move fast or anything...” I swallowed nervously; Shea hadn't said a word, he was still gaping at me, slight bulge of half-chewed steak in one cheek. “We can take things as slow as you want... but… well, it’s been a lot of fun,” I finished lamely. “So, you know, you said this is kind of like a real date and if you want it to… to actuallybea real date it could be, because I…” I couldn't even look at him anymore. I looked down at my lap and added a mumbled, “I'd kind of like if it was.”
“Are you asking me on a date?” Shea said softly. I looked up and spotted a slight quirk in one corner of his mouth.
“Yeah,” I said, feeling a little bolder. “Yeah. I am.”
He set down his fork and studied me for a moment, grin slowly widening. “I'll have to check my schedule. I'm pretty busy. When were you thinking?”
I found myself matching his smirk. “I don't know. Maybe tonight around… now? I hear there’s a good steak house on the ship.”
“I might be busy,” Shea said. “I’ll have to think about it.” He waited a beat, then reached across the table and, to my delight, took my hand. “I thought about it,” he teased. “I’d love to go on a date with you.”
I laughed, maybe slightly hysterically, and squeezed his hand in return. “Good.”
We both returned to our steaks in a somewhat awkward, yet excited, silence. Things had changed. And yet they hadn’t.
After a couple of minutes of chewing and stolen glances, the waitress came to refill our drinks and offered the dessert menu.
“The cheesecake was really good yesterday,” Shea said.
“I love cheesecake.”
“Me too. What’s your favorite?”
“My favorite cheesecake?” I asked.
Shea shrugged. “Any dessert.”
I considered it. “I’m more of a pie person I think.”
“I love key lime pie,” Shea said. “I think that’smyfavorite.”
“I make a good key lime pie, if I do say so myself,” I said.
“Do you?” Shea fixed me with his adorable teasing smirk. “Maybe if you get a second date you can make me one.”
“I just might,” I laughed.
~~~***~~~
After a delicious dessert, we took a leisurely stroll around the ship before walking back to our room together, holding hands.
I settled in on the bed while Shea brushed his teeth. Just as I was thinking about how perfectly everything had turned out, Shea let out a sudden shriek.
“Shea?!” I cried, jumping up and bounding for the bathroom.
He was standing by the sink, looking absolutely mortified.
“Shea, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“My… my pills,” he gasped.
“Pills?”
