Page 28 of Faking It at Sea

“Did you even notice I went to the bar?” He motioned to the two icy bottles sweating on their coasters between us.

I shook my head. How long had I been sitting there staring at her all tangled up in my thoughts?

“My point exactly.” He slid one my way.

“And now I feel like I’m failing you as a friend.”

“Not at all. I’ve had a good time. It’s been great getting away for a few days, but even I have my limits. I am looking forward to the Captain’s Gala tonight, though.”

I drained the rest of my first beer, set it aside and grabbed the full bottle beside me. “That’s the black tie shindig, right?”

“It’s black tie preferred.” He nodded. “And you know how good I look in a suit.”

That pulled an unexpected laugh out of me. “Yeah, you’re like a regular James Bond.”

“Damn straight, and you’re coming with me.”

“You just told me I would be useless to you as a wingman.”

Brandon shrugged. “Then don’t go as my wingman. We’ll just show up, have a few drinks, and maybe dance with a pretty lady or two.”

With my mind tripping over June, I’d forgotten all about the gala, even though it was the only reason I’d bothered packing a suit on this trip. Now, the thought of going sent a trickle of dread through my veins. More mingling, more pretending to enjoy myself, all while I’d rather be spending my last night in paradise with a woman who’d taken a piece of me with her when she’d walked away outside that damned elevator.

Unless...

What if June was planning on going to the gala too? There was a pretty good chance Missy would talk her into it, given what she’d told me about the feisty blonde.

If I could get her to at least talk to me, maybe I could convince her that this thing between us—whatever it was—definitely wasn’t fake.

11

JUNE

“You look like a queen,” Missy assured me, giving my hand a squeeze.

Running my free hand down the slinky black dress she’d bought me, I pulled in a bracing breath. “I think that makes you an empress,” I replied.

She laughed. “Sweet June, always downplaying your own assets to lift others up. What if, at least for tonight, you accept that you are going to be the most phenomenal woman in that room?”

It was my turn to laugh, until her eyes narrowed.

Was she serious?

“Alright.” I pulled my hand free and straightened my imaginary crown. “But only if we’re both the most phenomenal women in the room.”

Her lips curled up in a smile, and when I reached up to adjust her imaginary crown, she leaned in close and brushed a kiss across my cheek. “You are the best bestie a girl could ask for.”

That was debatable. The best bestie would’ve noticed sooner how twisted up Missy was about her ex, but I was determined to make up for it. That included listening whenever she neededto vent, distracting her when the tears came, and, hopefully, not talking about Sutton for the rest of the trip.

The last part was easier said than done, especially since I’d spent a good chunk of our time at the beach fighting the urge to turn and stare back when I felt the weight of his gaze on me.

I wanted to march up to his table and explain why I’d taken off the way I had, but what was the point? We were little more than strangers. Two ships passing and all that. I doubted he would even remember my name in a week.

“Are you ready?” I asked, rolling my shoulders back.

“Let us greet our subjects,” she said with a grandiose sweep of her arm, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

We were both still giggling as we stepped through the doors into the open air of the Stellar Sky Lounge. It was a breathtaking space, more refined than the tropical luxury where I’d met Sutton for the Sunset Deck Party.

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