Page 135 of You Kissed Me First

“It’s okay, Grant. He’s not what I thought he was. I think I made some rash judgments based on my observations instead of actually getting to know him. Then I got with you, and your hatred of him seeped into me. Now that I know him though? I think I was wrong about him. We both were. I think if you were to take a step back and look at your bias against him, maybe you’d see that too.”

Barrett shakes his head. “I’ll never like that guy.”

“You don’t have to, but you should be able to show mutual respect, especially when it comes to group settings. You’re an adult. So is he. We should all be able to hang out without feeling the tension between you two. It shouldn’t be a question of inviting you both places because we don’t want to deal with your shit. You need to grow up,” I tell him honestly.

“And he doesn’t?” Barrett throws back.

“He wasn’t the one throwing out insults this whole trip, now was he? He only reacted to your digs.”

The room falls silent at my observation.

After a few minutes, Barrett nods.

“Okay. Understood. I think I’m going to go back to my room for a bit.” He stands.

Candice goes to stand with him, but he waves her off.

I stand too, grabbing his arm before he can leave. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad. You should stay.”

He pulls me in for a hug. “I fucked up with you. I fucked up with him too. This trip has been eye-opening. I think I just need some time to process.”

As he pulls back and goes to leave, I spot Dominic in the doorway. He looks sad but doesn’t say anything.

As he passes Barrett, he doesn’t look his way, instead, coming to stand next to me.

“Are you okay?” he asks me.

I nod. “I think I’m going to be.”

25

DAY FOURTEEN: DEBARKATION

I startle awake.

Something isn’t right.

The whole boat seems to be shaking.

Jumping up, I run toward the balcony door.

“What’s wrong, baby doll?”

I glance back at Dominic, looking sleepy.

Then I look back out the door.

“We are at port. Jesus, that shaking scared the fuck out of me.”

“Come back to bed.” He holds his hand out.

“Let me go to the bathroom first.”

After I rush through taking care of my business, I come out to find Dominic sitting up in bed on his phone.

“It’s three in the morning. They aren’t letting us off until seven.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It scared me.”

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