Page 47 of It Could Happen
I nod and sip my juice.
“She wasn’t thrilled about me coming on this cruise, but I reminded her it was only a few days of much needed relaxation.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s not like we’re missing any valuable planning time. Everything is completely under control with the planner and my dream team of bridesmaids.”
“I don’t know. Your mom is a force,” I say with a giggle.
“Yes, she is,” she agrees. “She shouldn’t ever be crossed, but I know she’ll get over us coming here.”
“Oh, I’m sure she will too.”
Andy grabs Caroline’s hand and asks her to join him in the pool. I lay my head back on the cushion. The sun is shining, and the sounds of Caribbean music play in the background. I close my eyes as I try to block out all the stress that seems to be circling around me.
“Did my visit bring you good luck?”
I open one eye to see Tyler standing over me. As expected, his upper body is toned and tanned. I do my best to avert my attention from it.
“I’m assuming you’re asking if I won bingo?”
He sits down on the edge of my chair without asking me. “Yes, I’ve been known to bring good things wherever I go.”
I snort. “You really have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?”
“Not at all. That’s just what I’ve been told by my mother.”
“Ah, a mama’s boy,” I say knowingly.
“My mom is my best friend.”
Damn. There’s another thing to make him more attractive.
“Where’s Leslie?” I ask, looking around. Who knows what she’ll do when she sees him sitting on my chair?
He shrugs. “Bathroom?”
I almost make a comment about him waiting for her to leave before talking to me, but I hold back. I promised myself I’d enjoy the rest of this day without the contention.
“I’ll let you relax, but I’ll see you at the jackpot game later.”
“Can’t wait,” I tease.
He frowns. “Don’t worry, Tori. I’m going to win you over eventually.”
He gets up and saunters toward the bar, turning heads the whole way.
I exhale deeply and close my eyes. Why is Tyler is trying so hard to “win me over?” Could he be interested in both Leslie and me? Honestly, we couldn’t be more different. I don’t want to read too much into it, especially because it’s possible that Tyler isn’t used to women not falling at his feet. Could I be one of the first to resist his charm and charisma?
I spend the remainder of the afternoon chatting with Matt, Caroline, and Andy. Christian finally returns, and Erica isn’t a bit phased by his absence or where he was. Oh well, it’s none of my business.
* * *
A few hours later, I’m gearing up for the mega jackpot bingo game. I’ve never actually won a bingo game, but there’s a first time for everything. This could be my lucky day. I catch myself looking toward the door every time someone walks in. Tyler said he was playing, but he might have been kidding. He seems to really enjoy getting a reaction out of me. A few minutes later, game show theme music comes on the speaker and a crew member with an Australian accent welcomes us to the big event.
I try to push my disappointment about Tyler not showing aside. In his defense, there are a lot of fun activities and amenities to enjoy on this boat.
A few seconds later, I see Tyler rush through the door, and my stomach does a flip.
“I made it,” he exclaims, collapsing down on the bench next to me. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds for me to get a whiff of his scent. He must’ve just showered after his day of frolicking in the pool with Leslie.
“You almost missed out on the cash,” I say.
