Page 45 of It Could Happen
Leslie again? I wish I could say I’m surprised by this, but I’m not. Maybe this is payback because I’ve been talking to Tyler. Sabotaging me with Erica is a sure way to make me more of an outsider than I already was. I’m starting to wonder if there are no limits to her behavior.
“I didn’t say that to Leslie or anyone else,” I reply in a loud whisper. Is this really happening? I’m supposed to be relaxing, not defending myself because of a mean girl who has it out for me. I feel like I’m back in middle school.
Erica places her hand on my arm. “Tori, it’s okay. I completely understand, and I promise that you have a place here.”
I want to continue defending myself and tell her that Leslie is lying, but it probably won’t do any good. Thankfully, my therapist, Elsa, arrives in the nick of time to collect me for my treatment. She deserves an extra tip for her impeccable timing.
“Have a wonderful massage,” Erica exclaims. “Soak it all up and enjoy.”
Hah. I hope so. If only she had waited to tell me that Leslie has been throwing me under the bus.
As I lie face down on the cozy massage table, I exhale slowly. I want to rid my body of every ounce of frustration and negative emotion. How did I get myself into this mess? Who knew that accepting an invitation to be Caroline’s bridesmaid would put me in such an awkward predicament? I’m caught up in this strange flirtation with Tyler, who I’m both attracted to and annoyed by. Leslie has it out for me, and I know a secret about Rachel and Christian that could blow up the whole bridal party, relationships and friendships. Wait until Parker hears about all of this.
My brain is swirling with the drama that I want no part of. In this moment all I want is to indulge in this massage and then play bingo for the remainder of this cruise—alone. But, as messy as the circumstances are, I’m still happy to share in Caroline’s joy.
After I think and overthink for longer than I want, I begin to settle into my treatment. Before I know it, Elsa lets me know that it’s over. Maybe I should get a do-over since I spent half of the time worrying.
When I return to the relaxation room, Leslie is lying on one of the chaise loungers with her eyes closed. I tiptoe to the farthest chair from her and sit down as quietly as I possibly can. This isn’t the place to confront her about what she said to Erica. I close my eyes and try to concentrate on the sound of the water flowing through the massive fountain. I suppose I shouldn’t even have to bring it up to her. I could prove I’m the bigger person in this situation. She’s making every attempt to antagonize me, and it’s not going to work, no matter what she throws at me.
I’m beyond relieved when Erica sends a text saying that Caroline and Andy want to have dinner on the island this evening. Everyone is invited to join them or stay on the ship. I’m feeling so good after my massage that I’d rather have a night off from all the drama. A light dinner poolside sounds like the perfect end to my day.
ChapterTwelve
“B-11,” the announcer calls.
I settle in with my bingo card. It’s the last day of the cruise, and we have a glorious day at sea as we head back to Florida. Thankfully, Erica abandoned her itinerary so we could all relax by the pool. Of course, there was no way I was leaving this boat without a chance at playing bingo and the jackpot prize.
I continue to check numbers off my card as they call them out. This is exactly how I wanted to spend my day, away from the drama and in peace. Dare I say, this is more relaxing than my massage was.
“Why am I’m not surprised to see you here,” a voice says.
I turn to see Tyler standing beside me. He has a big bottle of water in his hand and is wearing gym clothes and tennis shoes. His cheeks look a little flushed, so I’m assuming he just came from working out.
“How’s it going?” he asks, peering at my card.
“Um, fine,” I say. “The game already started.”
He nods. “I know. I was on my way back from the gym, and I heard them calling numbers when I was walking by.”
“So, you thought I’d be in here?” I ask.
The corner of his mouth curls up. “And I was right.”
I let out a sigh. “Well, I couldn’t come on a cruise and not play at least one game.”
He sits down in the empty chair next to me. “Of course not. Are you playing for the grand jackpot later?”
“Maybe.”
“Good. I’ll meet you here.” He pauses and leans in toward me. “Good luck.”
Before I have a chance to respond, he gets up and leaves. As much as I don’t want to admit it, there’s a stir inside me. If Parker were here, she’d be chirping in my ear about him seeking me out and reminding me that Leslie has no claim on a single man.
At the same time, it’s a bingo game. It’s not like we’re going on a date—which would never happen. I mean—I guess itcouldhappen. Ugh. I don’t know what to think. I can’t forget that Tyler hasn’t exactly resisted Leslie’s flirtatious advances. As far as I know, it hasn’t gone beyond that, but who knows? Leslie has proven she’ll stop at nothing to go after what she wants.
The sound of someone shouting, “Bingo,” brings me out of my daydream. Crap. I missed the last few numbers that were called out. Tyler’s surprise visit has completely thrown me off. The good news is that in less than twenty-four hours I’ll be home, back to my life and away from him.
I play two more games before leaving to grab a snack and find a quiet chair on Deck Five. I love strolling around on this level. It’s quiet and away from all the action up by the pool. As I’m walking, I hear two familiar voices.
