Page 85 of Total Ship Show

“Thank you. It was quite some time ago but without Aris’s support and encouragement, I wouldn’t be here today in a white doctor’s coat about to go save some lives. I also wouldn't be the happily married man and father to twins that I am as well.”

Twisting my mouth, I consider his words. Hoping he has no reason to lie to me and opting to see the good side of things, I tell him, “Alright. I might be willing to overlook your cruise call-girl remark, if you can answer one question.”

“Sure.” He nods. “Anything.”

“Is it true?” I stare up at him, afraid of what he might say but needing to know the truth from his friend, nonetheless.

“Is what true?”

“Did he view me as a cruise call-girl?”

His large brown eyes stare into mine and his jaw twitches before he smirks. “Do you think he would he be in L.A. right now looking for you if it were true?”

My shoulders fall, a look of utter disbelief on my face.

“What? He’s in L.A.?”

Kohen smiles. “Took the red eye last night. Said he was going to try to find you today and make things right. I take it he didn’t write…or call?”

I shake my head. “No. But then again, I’ve been ignoring all his texts.”

He clears his throat. “Look, for what it’s worth, Aris doesn’t talk about the women in his life in terms of endearment. He’s always been the relaxed have-fun kind of guy. Doesn’t get too attached. Doesn’t love the drama.”

“Oh.”

“But from the moment he got off that ship he didn’t stop talking about you. He even called you his beaver a few days ago.”

“My…” My eyes grow huge and my jaw drops. “Beavers are monogamous. They mate for life.”

“Precisely.” Kohen beams. “I’m really sorry for any part I played in this…miscommunication between you two. Aris seems very serious about you. His feelings are one-hundred percent genuine. You can trust me to tell you that. And if you can’t trust me, I’ll introduce you to my very opinionated no-filter wife.”

“Thank you, Kohen. That means a lot.”

“Would you like me to text him and tell him you’re here?” he offers.

“No, thank you. If I can get myself on the next flight back, perhaps he’ll still be there.” My smile widens. “I’m like a needle in a haystack in L.A. No way would he find me that fast. I think I have time.”

Kohen laughs. “Best of luck. If he comes back here crying, I’m blaming you.”

Taking Kohen’s hand, I shake it and nod in agreement. “Oh, he may come back crying anyway from the nut punch I’m going to give him when I finally see him again for putting me through this emotional shit.”

He laughs even harder. “There it is.”

“What?”

“What I know Aris loves about you most. Your incredible sense of humor.”

“He loves me? Like, did he say that?”

He smirks. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Get out of here.” He gestures to the doors.

“Thank you, again, Kohen. I’m grateful to have run into you.”

“Pleasure meeting you. Good luck. Don’t hurt him too hard. At least not his hands. He needs those.”

“Deal!” I wave as I sprint out the front doors and wave down an Uber to take me back to the airport, pulling up my airline app along the way.

CHAPTERTWENTY

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