Page 137 of You Kissed Me First

I considered leaving with him tomorrow. I wanted to spend more time with him.

Now, there is a pain in my heart.

I know I should talk to him about it, but that familiar insecurity is there now.

What if this was all a fling on the cruise? We haven’t talked about what happens after the wedding. He said he wanted me to be his date to keep his mom off his back, but what happens after that.

Do we part ways? Stay together?

My head is pounding now. Between the period symptoms, the shaking of the boat, and this clusterfuck, I can’t deal with this right now.

I wait until five before I head back to the room. Once inside, I let out a sigh of relief. I thought I would have to force myself to act normal around him. He wouldn’t understand my need for some distance.

Instead, he’s not here. Logically, I know he’s probably at the gym with Grant, but part of me wonders if he left so he could call Sasha.

Instead of dwelling, I make sure all my things are packed. Then I grab the hundred-dollar bill he shoved back in my suitcase and add another one to it before setting it next to his sunglasses. Then I write him a note.

Dominic,

Thank you for letting me stay with you. This has been the trip of a lifetime. One I won’t be quick to forget. I’ll see you at the wedding in a couple of days, but until then, please give me some time.

Best Regards,

Katie

.

It’s the coward’s way out. I should have a conversation with him like an adult, but I’m afraid if I do, I will lose it. I’ll either cry or scream, and either way, it would ruin whatever it is that we had.

So instead, I grab my bags and head to level three, the same level we will get off on. When I find the cruise director talking with some employees, I smile and wait for him to notice me.

“Can I help you, miss?” he asks after a moment.

“What time will we be getting off? I’d rather get off sooner rather than later,” I tell him.

He smiles. “We were scheduled to get off at seven, but since we arrived early, we should be able to start letting people off shortly. Since it’s so early, if you sit here, I’ll come grab you when we get ready.”

“Thank you.”

Then I make myself comfortable.

* * *

Dominic,

Thank you for letting me stay with you. This has been the trip of a lifetime. One I won’t be quick to forget. I’ll see you at the wedding in a couple of days, but until then, please give me some time.

Best Regards,

Katie.

I feel cheap.As if she paid me for being her boyfriend for two weeks.

I knew this was a possibility. Seeing her hug Barrett yesterday left a sinking feeling in my gut. I figured she was going to go back to him.

Why wouldn’t she?

Sure, he’s a douche, but he’s a master manipulator. Grant told me this morning about the conversation they had in front of everyone.

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