Page 16 of Total Ship Show

“The fuck?” I don’t know why hearing this irritates him, but it does. “What a tool. I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”

I shrug. “I’m better off but it did hurt at the time.” I take another bite and then wave my hand dismissively. “So anyway, you were going to tell me why your parents are here.”

“My parents gifted this cruise to the family. My brothers and their wives and me with my…significant other.”

“Your significant other.”

He’s married?

Has a girlfriend?

Oh no…is he gay?

Is that what his family doesn’t know?

Dammit. Why are all the hot ones gay?

I watch him through narrowed eyes. “So, you obviously don’t have a significant other…right?”

He shakes his head. Inside, part of me relaxes and part of me jumps for joy.

“No. I dated a girl for a while like, over a year ago or more. Since then, I’ve just been focused on work and not really putting myself back out there. But my family doesn’t know that.”

“Oh. So, you’re not gay?”

“What? No.” He chuckles. “No. Not gay.”

“Phew. Okay. Good.” I throw my hands up. “I mean not good like good the guy isn’t gay. You can absolutely be gay if you want to be. I mean, no judgement here. I just mean…you’re a very uh, attractive man and you’ve lied to your family and so I just wondered…”

“Ah.” He nods with a smile. “Right. Yeah. Sorry for the confusion. If it makes you feel any better, I’m totally a tits and ass guy.”

His comment catches me off guard and I spit out a laugh. “That’s good to know. I’m an arms and abs girl myself, but I really go for the right personality.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “You mean like Jock Strap James?”

“Oooh.”Damn.“Touché. Okay, okay, you’re right.” I lean back in my chair. “That was a big mistake on my part. In my defense he didn’t seem that douchey in the beginning.”

“Let me guess, it all changed once he got you in bed.”

I’m about to stop him and correct him except…he’s right.

“I…” My shoulders drop and I shake my head. “Yeah. You’re right. Why do guys have to be such pig-headed assholes?”

“We’re not all that way, Adrienne.”

“I guess that has yet to be determined.”

“Touché as well.”

“Sorry, I got a bit distracted. Back to your family.”

“Uh, yeah. Anyway, I told the family last Christmas that I was seeing someone and I’d be spending the holidays with her and her family so I wouldn’t have to pretend to have a great time with them.”

“Oh no.” My face falls. “Your family doesn’t get along?”

His head teeters. “We don’t not get along. We’re just not all best friends. My brothers are older than me, both well established in their lives and think I should follow in their wife and kids footsteps. It gets exhausting dealing with their pestering.”

“You don’t want a wife and kids?”

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