Page 62 of Total Ship Show

ARIS

Me:Dude, I think I found my Beaver.

Kohen:Uhhhh, what?

Me:My beaver! Remember when I told you Kim was your beaver?

Kohen:Vaguely.

Me:Well, I did. And I think I may have found mine. *Heart eyes emoji*

Kohen:Did you fuck a mermaid or something? *smirk emoji*

Me:Har Har. Very funny. No. Her name is Adrienne and I’m crushing pretty hard.

Kohen:Is this Dildo girl?

Me:Yeah. She’s amazing Koh. Down to earth, great sense of humor, isn’t afraid to be herself.

Koh:Let me see.

I finda couple pictures I’ve taken of her, one in her yellow bikini and one in the red dress she wore the other night, and send them to Kohen.

Kohen:She’s pretty. Kim would rock that red dress.

Me:Right? They would get along well.

Kohen:Where’s she from? And if you say Pennsylvania, I’m going to have to nut punch you into reality.

Me:L.A.! That’s not too far from Seattle.

Kohen:*Cringe emoji* It’s far enough…how are you going to handle that when the trip is over?

Me: I haven’t figured that out yet. Still have a couple days.

Kohen: Good luck my friend. I’m happy for you, but I don’t envy you right now.

Me:I know. Once I know how she feels I’ll feel better about trying to make it work.

Kohen:Kim says she’s hot.

Me:*pumps fist* YES! Kim approval = goals! How are the kids?

Kohen:Kids are great. They miss Uncle Aris. Now stop talking to me and go get your girl!

Me:*Smirk emoji* Later man!

* * *

The first half of our fifth day started out perfectly. Adrienne and I watched the sunrise from the balcony as we pulled into the Grand Cayman Islands, laughed in bed as I located a few of her tickle spots, spoiler alert – she cackles when I touch behind her knees – and I sampled a bite of pineapple pancakes at Adrienne’s request. They were alright, but pancakes just don’t do it for me.

But I’d do just about anything for her.

As the day’s gone on, though, the air between us feels different than it has since our trip started. I don’t know if something is weighing heavy on Adrienne’s mind or if I’ve done something to upset her, but she’s been kind of quiet this evening and it doesn’t sit well with me.

A beer in hand for each of us, I find her seated on a pool lounger on the top deck of the ship overlooking the water, the breeze blowing her golden locks. Her knees are pulled up so she’s hugging her legs. She looks peaceful and calm…pensive, yet not quite relaxed, and that bothers me.

“Hey,” I greet her with a beer. “I got you a beer.”

---