Page 13 of Total Ship Show

Adrienne shakes her head. “Nope. Not yet. I think I was the first one here.”

“Did you find your stateroom already?” she asks.

“Not yet. You?”

“Yeah! Umm, we’re in 5250Z and it’s so gorgeous! We even have a little view of the ocean from our room. It’s spectacular.”

“Great. That’s uh, that’s really great.” Adrienne smiles but it doesn’t look genuine, which makes me think this entire ordeal is making her more uncomfortable than I thought.

“Well, it was nice running into you both,” I tell Pippa and James. “But if you don’t mind, I have a few surprises up my sleeve for my girl before we sailout this evening.”

Pippa swoons again. “Oh, my goodness, giiirl I can already tell this one is going to spoil you like crazy!”

“That’s right. And she deserves it.” I pull my hand from around Adrienne’s waist and wrap my hand gently around hers.

“Ahhh, as every woman does.” Pippa winks at her friend. “It was great meeting you, Aris. I’m sure we’ll see you both a little later, yeah?”

“Yeah, for sure. See ya Pippa!”

She doesn’t say goodbye to James so neither do I, but as they walk away, I’m quick to notice her heightened anxiety. It’s in the way her gaze darts around the room but always back at them. The way she tries to take deep breaths but then she silently shudders beside me. She fidgets with her earring like she has to physically hold it in her ear.

“Hey,” I say softly, stepping in front of her so she has to look at me.

“Hmm?”

I shake my head slightly. “Look at me. Focus on me.” I reach a hand up and smooth her hair away from her face like any good boyfriend would do as her gaze slides to me. “That’s it. You can be angry or cry all you want when they’re out of sight but you’re way too pretty a girl for them to see you weak and vulnerable. They don’t get to see that side of you.”

She nods, letting my words sink in. “Yeah. You’re right. I know.”

“Did you love him?” I ask softly.

I don’t know why it matters to me what she’s about to say but hell, it kinda matters to me. If he’s really her type, then maybe I had her pegged all wrong.

“Him?” She scowls. “No. I could never bring myself to say the words. He was a pompous asshole to me then and he’s the same pompous asshole now.”

“Good. Okay.” I nod. “As long as we have that settled.” I take a few steps to the bar where the bartender still stands and grab two more Coronas. I hand one to Adrienne who deposits her second empty bottle on the bar and offer her my hand again. “Let’s walk.”

We make our way to an open deck where we can look out at the water. Couples mill around as they sip their fruity beverages in fancy glasses, marveling at the ship’s ambiance and chatting excitedly among their groups of friends.

“Thank you, Aris,” she finally says after a brief moment of silence. I look over at her and she gestures with her thumb. “For all that back there. You conquered that like a champ. I really apologize for putting you in an awkward situation.”

I take sip of my beer before winking at her. “I’m pretty sure we surpassed awkward when I had your pink penis in my hands earlier today.”

She nearly spits out the swallow of beer in her mouth. “Oh, my God. You’re so right!” It’s good to see her laugh. She’s beautiful when she laughs.

Hell, she’s beautiful all the time.

“That, with your ex? That was a walk in the park. That was a gentleman supporting a damsel in distress. I would’ve been a bigger douche than that jock strap had I walked away to let you fend for yourself…not that you couldn’t handle it, I assure you.”

“You kissed me.”

Yep. And thoughts of that kiss are going to emerge when I’m alone tonight, I just know it. The girl can definitely kiss.

“It’s what a boyfriend would’ve done with the love of his life on vacation. Sorry I didn’t give you much warning. You were also getting to DEFCON five panic stage.”

She laughs. “I was not.”

“You totally were. I didn’t want the weight of your worries to drown us all, so I took one for the team.” I give her my best smile which she returns with a giggle. God, there’s something about making a woman laugh.

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