Page 33 of Why Cruise

Relief flooded through me, making me lightheaded. Or maybe that was just his scent, warm and sweet in the sea air.

“Though we’ll have to get permission from your alpha first,” I forced brightness into my voice. “Because you are definitely getting a pack by the end of this cruise.”

Theo just laughed, but there was something sad in it that made my heart ache. I leaned my head on his shoulder, letting the sound of the waves wash over us.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“For what?”

“For making me feel less alone.”

His arm came around me, pulling me closer. For the first time since Daryl left, I felt like maybe everything would be okay.

“Speaking of alphas…” I sat up straighter.

Justice Twill was examining a vendor’s cart down the beach. He looked out of place in his crisp linen shirt, like a GQ model who’d accidentally wandered into a tourist trap.

“I wonder if he has a thigh tattoo,” Theo muttered.

“If he does, we’re going to explode.”

“I’ve already exploded once over Justice Twill.”

“Theo!” I smacked his leg. “You’re terrible. Oh shit, he’s not coming over here, is he?”

Justice had made his selection, a huge straw sunhat with a red and white polka dot ribbon around it.

“Forget I said what I just said,” Theo whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

My heart raced, but I kept my breathing even, my posture perfect. I sat on my hands to stop the almost irresistible urge to dust specks of sand off Theo. Justice stopped right in front of us and hiked up his linen pants to squat down to our level. I froze as he prowled up the towel to put the sun hat on my head. He sat back on his knees, like admiring his work, very pleased with himself.

“Your nose is getting sunburned. You should wear this.”

I just blinked at the billionaire who’d bought me a hat to protect my nose.

“You’re not really dressed for the beach,” Theo said, saving me from dying on the spot. He scooted over to give Justice space on the towel.

Justice looked down at himself. “Yeah, right, I guess not.” He scratched his morning stubble. “I don’t really have anything to do today, and it’s kind of messing me up.”

Theo shifted, his foot barely grazed Justice’s knee. For just half a heartbeat, Justice’s eyes fluttered shut and all his tension seemed to melt away.

Theo and I traded a look. Omega auras could be very soothing, but to make an alpha shiver in relief?

“It’s… unsettling not having my day mapped out in fifteen-minute increments. I don’t really know what I should be doing.”

“You could check the excursion schedule on your phone,” Theo suggested, making no effort to move his foot away from Justice.

Justice squeezed his eyes shut like he was in pain. “I don’t have a phone with me.”

“You?” The word came out squeakier than I intended, and I quickly smoothed my expression. “You practically invented half the apps on our phones!”

“Look, in my defense,” Justice started talking with his hands, “they… then she…” he squeezed his fist like he had to physically stop himself from launching into a rant. “This is all like an elaborate prank and this time two days ago, I didn’t even know I’d be on a cruise. Okay?”

“Am I the only one on this cruise on purpose?” Theo sat up and put his hand on his chest in mock disgust

“What?” Justice stared as I hung my head and giggled.

“Get this. Mackenzie’s ‘best friend,’” he said with air quotes, “bought her this cruise but neglected to tell her it was a matchmaking cruise.”

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