Page 12 of Cruising with You

“Uh…yup.” She chances a quick glance up at me before staring at my bare chest while chewing on the inside of her cheek. When she realizes what she’s doing, she clears her throat and adds, “Small world. Umm…what are you doing here?”

“I came to grab another drink from your other fiancé. What areyoudoing here?” I try to keep my tone light and sarcastic, but I can’t hide the bite that accompanies it.Fiancée.Which reminds me…. “So, did you bring your kid too?”

“Kid?” Her puzzled expression makes me pause. “I heard that you’re married and have a kid,Mommy Two.” That’s what Justin texted me as soon as I found my phone during the football game.

Finally understanding, her pale complexion turns pink before she clears her throat, again, and gulps down a solid three swigs of the Mojito the bartender just placed in front of her.

“Oh. That.”

“Yeah. Oh.That,” I mimic, my frustration bubblingjustbelow the surface. “No worries, though. Hey, man,” I call out to the bartender, who was clearly hitting on my fake fiancée before raising three fingers into the air. “Can I get a few beers?”

“Sure thing.”

“I’m not a mom,” she clarifies as I tap my hand against the polished countertop in rhythm with the island music blasting through the speakers. Her comment makes me miss the count.

But I thought––

“He’s my nephew,” she explains. “My brother has always made fun of me for being such a mother hen that when my nephew was born, he taught him to call me Mama Two instead of Aunt Nora like a normal person. Although to be fair, it is entirely his fault. Even during elementary school and stuff, I was always the one to make sure everyone was taken care of. That my best friend turned in her assignment, that the teacher’s chalkboard was clean by the end of the day, that my older brother had a snack to eat after school…you get the picture.”

“She actually still does that,” her friend pipes in. “Won’t show her face for a meeting unless she’s brought coffee and a treat to share with the group. I’m Gem, by the way.” The dark-haired beauty sitting next to Nora offers her hand for me to shake, and I take it. She’s hot as hell but doesn’t hold a candle to the girl beside her.

“I’m Gage. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I think,” she clarifies. “I haven’t quite decided yet. You came over here with a bit of a chip on your shoulder, but I think I’ve finally pieced together the reason behind it, so I’m going to give you a free pass. However, if you hurt my friend here, I won’t be so forgiving. Capisce?”

The bartender hands over three beers with a lime wedge shoved into the bottles, but the interruption still doesn’t give meenough time to think of a clever comeback, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Uh…oookay?”

“Ignore her.” Nora’s face is blazing, but I think it has more to do with her friend’s threat than the sun. “She can be a bit protective sometimes, but you’ll get used to her. Or maybe you won’t…. I guess it depends on how small this boat is and if we’ll be running into each other again.”

“Now that I know you’re not married with a kid, then I think the possibility is pretty damn high. What are you doing tonight?”

Resting her head on Nora’s shoulder, Gem informs me, “I’m going to ignore the wholewith a kidcomment and assume that you would never be against dating a single mom, but your real hang-up was based solely on the fact that you thought she was married, and you have enough morals to steer clear of someone who could potentially be a cheater. As for Nora’s plans, we work atPolished Magazineand are actually hosting this little shindig, so we’ll be at all the events for theWritten in the Stars Singles’ Cruise. Will you be attending the social after the keynote speaker tonight?”

Nora laughs before patting the top of Gem’s head as if she’s a good little Pitbull protecting her owner. “I think I can handle it from here, Gem. Put the claws away.”

Gem’s intense stare stays glued to me, so I throw her a proverbial bone. “I love kids and have zero hang-ups in regards to dating a single mom. You were right. I have a few issues with cheating and felt like she should’ve told me she was off the market before I fake proposed to her, then proceeded to kiss her in front of a stadium full of cameras while being highly intoxicated.”

With a grin, Gem replies, “Good answer.”

“Glad I can put your mind at ease.”

“You know, I’m still here,” Nora huffs, though I can tell she’s more amused than annoyed. She wants her friend’s approval, soif I can win Gem over, I might have a chance to pursue a hot week with Nora since that’s all I really have to offer.

“I apologize. Tell me, if I go to these events Gem mentioned, will I get to see you, or will you be working the whole time?”

“I guess you’ll have to come and find out.”

Her flirtatious smile nearly does me in. “Then I guess I’ll be there. It was nice to see you again, Nora.”

“You too, Gage.”

Mojito in hand, she saunters off, her petite hips swaying with every step, and I’m left reeling at what a small world this really is.

6

Nora

“Ithink the keynote speaker did great. What do you think?” Gem asks, her brows wrinkled with worry. She’s not usually the anxious type, but I’m a Cancer, and the keynote speaker just spent the last thirty minutes shoving the eclipse down everyone’s throats, along with the specific importance it’ll hold for anyone born between June twenty-second and July twenty-second. And, thanks to my mom and dad’s anniversary being nine months before, my birthday lands smack dab in the middle of that time frame.

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