Page 83 of Why Cruise

“You don’t get to decide what I need, what’s good for me.”

“No, but I do get to decide what’s bad for you, Just.”

“Don’t fucking call me that.”

“Your wish is my command, Mr. Twill.” I put a purr into my voice so it would get through even his thick head.

Without another word, Justice stood, threw his napkin on the table and stalked away from me. His tall, lean frame was all power and barely contained emotions.

I put my elbow on the table and massaged my temples. What the fuck was I doing? Those three were now #2, #3 and #4 on my most despicable acts list. I had to stop, but every cell in my body knew I wouldn’t. Somehow, I needed to focus on making money and buying my freedom back.

Justice

I should have just gone to the fucking gym. Pacing the Games Deck for hours had been pointless. The rock wall just stood there, mocking me the whole time. I was trying to make good decisions. Fuck you very much.

Bad decisions? Showing up at their room and demanding to know where they were. We hadn’t agreed on dinner. We hadn’t made plans. They weren’t… mine. Regardless of the unfinished conversation that was just out there fluttering in the wind, and a kiss from Mackenzie that felt like it brought my soul back together.

The corridor to my stateroom stretched ahead like a tunnel, the walls already pressing in. I could easily double back and check on Theo and Mackenzie. Just to make sure they were okay.

No. That would be creepy. Stalkerish. The kind of possessive alpha bullshit that got on my nerves.

I forced myself to keep walking toward my room. The thought of being trapped in that box all night, alone with my thoughts, made my chest tight. But I couldn’t exactly sleep on the deck.

Twenty steps to my door. Nineteen. Eighteen. I counted them down like I used to count the seconds in that closet, waiting for someone to remember I existed.

In the plush silence, a door handle clicked and a bad decision rolled out on a wave of moans. The sound proofing on this ship was superb, but it couldn’t beat an open door. I flushed.Fuck me, was I blushing? No. Fuck. It was jealousy. Fuck me.

“You weren’t lying about the handbags.”

Ren was carefully closing the door behind him. Shock flashed across his face for a heartbeat before sliding into that smile. The one that would make me weak in the knees. The one that would get me on my knees.

“A boy’s gotta eat,” he said, shrugging at the miniscule bag in his hand. It was the kind that was just big enough for a phone and a lipstick and cost an obscene amount of money. Daisy bought them for all her girlfriends. “Don’t worry, this isn’t crime and stuff. A gift.”

“A tip? For services rendered?” I nodded at the door.

“No, I only take cash for that.”

I’d give you millions. Shut the fuck up, Justice.

The hallway was just big enough that I could walk past him to my room without brushing his shoulder. I fished in my pocket for the key card and tapped it to the lock.

“Invite me in for a drink.”

Fuck yes.

I turned, gave him the finger and shut the door on his rich laughter.

I stuffed the keycard back in my pocket and went to check on my phone. This little ritual was getting fucking old. I kept it plugged in at the bar, propped up on that little globe. I watched the fireworks graphic burst over and over. This was probably frying the battery, but there was something about seeing it actually dead and blank that I couldn’t handle. The code wasmeant to drain the battery. I felt like if I could at least defeat that part of it, Daisy hadn’t won. I poured a drink but left it untouched on the bar.

Todd the Butler believed in mood lighting. I paced a circuit around the sitting room, turning on every light. This space shouldn’t be this irritating. The ceilings were high. The decor was light wood and creams. All the dark touches were navy and forest greens. I patted my pockets for my key card. I didn’t want to be here.

No, asshole, you didn’t want to be alone.

I stopped at the door and banged my head into it. Ren was a bad decision. He was probably bed hopping his way down the hall. I loosened my tie. I needed air.

I stepped onto the balcony, letting the sea air wash over me. For a moment, the breeze and the sound of the waves below almost made this bearable. Almost. Then my eyes caught the pattern of the railing, white bars stretching up at regular intervals. The expansive view didn’t matter. Those bars turned this luxury suite into just another fancy cage.

I gripped the top rail, leaned way out. This balcony was stacked right on top of another, and then one of the VIP lounge decks was right below it. At the corner, a pipe was discreetly placed to not block the view. Thirty feet maybe?

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