Page 19 of Cruising with You (Swenson Sweethearts)

Conner and Gem didn’t work out romantically, but they did become great friends.

The reporter is planning to spin their relationship as a plan B for anyone who decides to purchase tickets to the second annual Written in the Stars Singles’ Cruise .

Nora and I…well, we’re plan A. Find the love of your life, whether you’re actively looking or they fall into your lap.

Nora and I have been dating for a year now, and I can honestly say I’ve never been happier. I just hope she feels the same way.

“Yo! Gage! Get your butt in here!” Gem shouts down the hall.

Rolling my eyes, I wave to Bertie. “See ya later.”

“Good luck!” she returns before taking a sip of coffee.

The glass doors to the conference room give me a perfect view of Gem and Conner, who look like they’re about to get started with their portion of the interview. Raising her pointer finger, she tells the interviewer to give her a second, then steps into the hall where I’m still standing.

“Nora is in her office. They decided to set up the makeup station there.”

“Bertie told me.”

Releasing a deep breath, she nods. “Okay, good. Are you ready?”

I pat my front pocket. “Yeah. Do you think she’s going to be mad at me for putting her on the spot in front of a cameraman?”

“Meh. She’ll be fine. Besides, I had to run it past Jess who thinks it’s going to be the best free advertising that Polished ––and the cruise––has ever seen.”

Dropping my voice low, I whisper-shout, “You told Jess too?”

“Dude. I had to. She’s my boss. But I promise she didn’t say a word to anyone else, and neither have I. You got this.”

I squeeze the back of my neck before muttering, “Yeah, yeah. I’m going to go find Nora. Good luck with the interview.”

“You too.” She gives me a quick wink, then saunters back into the conference room while I head a little further down the hall to find my future wife.

If she’ll have me.

Nora

“Alright, you’re done. What do you think?” the makeup artist asks while inspecting her handiwork.

Raising a hand mirror a foot away from my face, I do a quick scan before grinning. “Looks great! Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, where’s your boyfriend? It’s his turn.”

“He texted a few minutes ago and said he was on his way. He should be here any––”

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” Gage’s deep voice greets me as his dark brown loafers carry him closer.

With a quick kiss on my cheek, he compliments, “You look gorgeous.”

“Why, thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

The guy is rocking a gray sports jacket with a freshly trimmed beard and his curly brown hair styled to perfection.

Why, hello, James Dean look-alike.

He smirks. “I can read you like a book, Nora. Might wanna save the dirty thoughts until we get home.”

Gasping, I smack him on the chest. “Cocky much?”

“Only with you.”

I shake my head. “Uh-huh. Sure. This is Becca, by the way. She’ll have the difficult task of wiping that smug expression off your face so that you look presentable for the interview.”

“Honey,” Becca interjects, “If you want a bunch of attractive young ladies to buy tickets for the singles’ cruise, then I’d keep the cocky look. Girls are a sucker for a bad boy they can tame.”

“Well, obviously, I failed at the taming part,” I quip, “or you wouldn’t have been able to figure out his game so quickly.”

Laughing, Gage raises his hands in surrender before sitting down on a stool beside me. “Ya know, I’m right here, ladies. I can hear you.”

“Which is why your cocky is still showing,” I tease.

“I like that you’ve turned an adjective into a noun.”

“Only with you. Thanks for bringing Bertie a coffee. She’s having more man trouble.”

“I told her to come on the cruise. You could hook her up with the bartender you were flirting shamelessly with when I ran into you.”

“You remember that guy?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise.

“Hell, yes, I do. He was all over you. Creating special drinks. Letting you sit at his bar. All of it. Disgusting. Oh, I told her it was your idea to set them up, so…yeah.”

With a giant grin, I lean forward and plant a quick, over-the-top kiss to his cheek that leaves a stain of lipstick in its tracks.

“Now, now, Nora. I did not paint that masterpiece on your face for the past thirty minutes only for you to ruin it by sneaking away to the nearest closet with your boy. Keep it in your pants.”

Cheeks heating, I cover my face with my hands, but I am careful not to mess up Becca’s hard work.

“But can you blame her, Becca?” Gage razzes beside me. “I mean, it’s hard to turn down a face like this.”

Thankfully, Becca knows how to dish it right back at him. “Aaand, there’s the cocky Nora was talking about.”

Gage doesn’t bother to deny it because, well…he’s him, but I’m saved from any more banter when Jess’s head pops through the doorway. “Alright, you two, we’re ready for ya.”

“Perfect timing. Gage is officially done,” Becca answers. “Good luck! Can’t wait to see your interview on the air.”

“Me too.”

Once they’ve gotten us hooked up with baby microphones, we sit down in a pair of cushy armchairs, and Gage reaches for my hand. His gesture warms my heart, and I catch myself staring at him with a dopey grin on my face.

“What are you looking at?” he asks, amused.

“Just you.”

Stepping in front of us, the interviewer shakes our hands then sits down on another chair that’s exactly like ours, but it’s angled a bit to face us more head-on.

“Alright, guys. I’m Jeff. Gem and Conner were great and already gave us a rundown of what to expect on the ship. We even showcased a few pictures of you guys swimming with dolphins.”

“Aww,” I gush, squeezing Gage’s bicep. “I miss JoJo!”

“With how big your grins were in the picture, I’m surprised you didn’t bring her home with you.”

“Unfortunately, our apartment doesn’t allow pets,” Gage interjects. “Maybe when we buy our own place.”

Grinning, Jeff takes a seat across from us. “Now that would be a story I’d like to cover. For today, though, we kind of just want to focus on you two. How you met. What your future looks like together. You get the idea. You ready?”

My palms are sweaty, but instead of teasing me about it, Gage squeezes my hand. “Yeah. We’re ready whenever you are.”

“Perfect. Let’s dive right in.” Tuning to the man holding the giant camera, he says, “Hey, Joe, are we rolling?”

“Yeah,” the cameraman grunts. “We’re good to go in three. Two. One.” He points his sausage finger at us. Then Jeff dives right in.

“Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I am Jeff Ericson with CNTZ. Today we’re going to be diving into the Written in the Stars Singles’ Cruise and why it’s seen more success in one year than the top five dating sites combined.

Here’s an up-close look at one of those success stories.

This is Gage and Nora. Would you like to tell us how you two met? ”

I look over at Gage and shrug one shoulder. “Well, it’s actually a funny story. We didn’t meet on the cruise.”

“What?” Jeff asks, playing the part of an intrigued interviewer like a champ.

Pulling our entwined hands into his lap, Gage explains, “Yeah. We met at a college football game right before. What was it, a month or so?”

“Yeah. Around a month or so, I think? We had seats next to each other, and he proposed.”

“Did he now?” Jeff gushes. “He proposed the first time you met?”

“He did. Obviously, he wasn’t serious. He wanted to toy with the crowd––and me,” I add with a grin. “But it definitely made a lasting impression. I can tell you that much.”

“So, you’re not engaged?”

I turn to Gage. “Nope. But we’re so blissfully happy that we wouldn’t change a thing, and we have the cruise to thank for that. Without the incredible workshops, and the amazing community and activities, I don’t think either of us would’ve been willing to take the plunge into a relationship.”

Gage waits for me to finish before interrupting, “Can I interject?”

I nod. “Of course.”

“First, the cruise is amazing, and if you’re single or are looking for a great couple’s vacation where you and your partner can reconnect, go buy tickets. Right now. Just do it. I promise it’s worth it. Second”––he gives me a pointed look––“you said we wouldn’t change a thing.”

Confused, I try to recount the conversation before shaking my head. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You said we’re blissfully happy and that we wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Oookay…?” I drag out the word before turning in my chair to face him fully. “Are you not blissfully happy?”

“Of course, I am.”

“But you would like to change something?”

“Why, yes. Yes, I would.”

My gaze darts to the interviewer, who’s just as lost as I am. “Umm…what would you like to change? And should we maybe have waited to talk about this when we weren’t in the middle of an interview that will be airing on national television?” I add, chuckling awkwardly.

“See, that’s the thing. I look back on our initial proposal, and I gotta say, I’m kind of a badass.”

The cameraman laughs before receiving a glare from Jeff.

“Sorry, we can’t allow cursing during this interview.”

“My apologies,” Gage replies, though his face is still as arrogant as ever.

Yeah, he’s not sorry.

“But seriously, how am I supposed to top a proposal on the jumbotron in front of thousands of people?”

“You can’t?” I offer as he lets go of my hand.

While shuffling through his jacket pocket, he counters, “And that’s where you’re wrong, babe.”

“Oh, am I?”

“Yes.” My jaw drops to the ground while my heart jumps into my throat as Gage slides onto one knee in front of me.

His confidence is hot as hell, but it’s the adoration shining in his eyes that really does me in.

Lifting the lid on a little black velvet box, he takes a deep breath.

“Nora Jessica Daniels. I love you. I love your laugh. I love your tears. I love that your family calls you Mama Two because you love to take care of people, and you love bossing them around.” I laugh as the tears start to fall.

“I love your heart. I love your sexy body. I love how your hair is a mess every morning when you wake up. But above all, I love the brownies that we’ve made together.

I love the moments we’ve shared, and I want to spend the rest of my life making more of them with you. Will you marry me?”

I can feel how red my face is, and I know that Becca is going to kill me for ruining all the hard work she put into my makeup as the tears stream down my face in happy little rivulets.

But none of it matters anymore because I get to marry my best friend.

The drunk stranger who proposed to me. The fake boyfriend to get my friend off my back.

The arrogant Leo who stole my heart. The man who makes the best brownies.

“You gotta answer me, babe,” Gage prods with a teasing smirk.

With my hand over my mouth and stupid tears of joy dripping off my chin, I nod.

“Say it, Nora. Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours. I love you. Yes. I will so marry you!”

Jumping to his feet, Gage kisses me while my entire office watches through the clear glass walls. Their cheering cuts the interview a little short, but I don’t really care.

Because I have him, and whether we wanted to in the beginning or not, we’re drowning in love.

The End