Page 70 of Ship Happens

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“Frankie . . .”

“Don’tFrankieme. I like it better when you call me sweetheart.” She stands on tiptoes and plants a kiss on my cheek before skipping out of the room.

I slide my feet into a pair of sneakers before hurrying to join her. In her current state of mind, there’s no telling what sort of mess she might get into on her own. I can only hope I can shift her way of thinking once more before the end of the cruise, even if it means losing the best thing to ever happen to me.

Chapter Thirty-One

Frankie

After scouring the atrium, a few lounges, and the upper-deck celebration for the Normies, we’re forced to admit defeat. Wherever Ice Pick is hiding, he’s doing a damn good job of staying below our radar. It’s almost dinnertime, and we haven’t even caught a glimpse of his shining head.

“What about the surveillance cameras?” I ask. “Won’t Jim let us check them out?”

Maverick shakes his head. “Before we spotted him on the island, maybe, but now that he knows Ice Pick is essentially safe, he’ll want to let the chaos run its course.”

“But what if that gets Ice Pick in trouble? Doesn’t he care?”

“He won’t let it get that far.”

I don’t miss the slight quiver in his voice. He believes himself as much as I do.

“Come on,” I say as I wind my arm through his. “Let’s check the dining hall. There’s a buffet, and I’m kind of hungry.”

He smirks and matches my steps as I start down a hallway. “You don’t want to see what’s on Chef Maurice’s menu tonight?”

“I’ll pass on the man meat, thanks.” I look him up and down. “Unless you’re on that menu.”

“You want Chef to kill me and serve me on a plate?”

“Okay, I didn’t think that one through.”

Our laughter is cut short as the elevator opens and Ice Pick emerges. Before he has a chance to scurry away, Maverick grips his arm and drags him back into the elevator. I hurry to join them as the door whispers shut behind me.

“Let me go, man,” Ice Pick shouts as he tries to yank his meaty arm out of Maverick’s hand. “I’ve got a date, and she’s very funny about punctuality!”

“What do you think you’re doing? She’s a Normie, Ice! Aren’t you concerned she’ll figure out who the fuck you are?” Maverick releases him and takes a step back to give him some space. “We saw the cat fight on the island. You’re drawing a lot of attention to yourself.”

Ice Pick swipes over the wrinkles in his Bud Light t-shirt. “We hit it off. I can’t help that the drunk brunette wanted a piece of old Ice Pick too, but I only have eyes for Amber. And for the first time, someone only has eyes for me. I don’t care that she’s a Normie. I’ve already decided to give up killing.”

“Give up...killing?” If Maverick’s jaw drops any lower, we’ll have to have it surgically reattached. He steps closer to Ice Pick and takes his shoulders in his hands. “Do you hear yourself? Ice, you can’t change your entire way of life because you think you’re in love with this woman. This might only be a summer fling for her.”

His words get under my skin. It’s as if he’s speaking in subliminal messages meant for me. Is that why he’s so adamant that I keep my federal job? Is this just a fling for him?

I step closer and place a gentle hand on Maverick’s shoulder. He looks back at me, then steps aside to let me talk sense into Ice Pick.

“Not you too,” Ice Pick mutters as he looks at his feet.

“No, not me too,” I say, and Maverick practically gasps behind me. “I think you should go for it. If Amber makes you happy, go be happy. If you don’t want to kill anymore, don’t.”

Ice Pick looks up at me, his mustache curving slightly as he smiles. “Do you mean it?”

I nod and smile back at him as Maverick groans and tries to walk away, only to remember that we’re in an elevator. When he can’t escape, he starts mashing buttons. The doors open with a ding, and he steps into the hallway.

Stepping backward so that the doors stay open, I wave for Ice Pick to join us.

“You can’t be fucking serious,” Maverick says as he swipes his hand down his face. “You want us to join him for dinner with his Normie girlfriend? When he’s about to throw his life away? And you expect me to saynothing?”

I turn away from Ice and face Maverick, still keeping my hands on the doors. “Yes. If this is your friend, you will support him. Even if it’s just afling.”