Page 29 of Mister Daddy

We stay wrapped in each other’s arms as we come down from our second high of the night.

The moon is luminous in the sky, and it’s tempting to keep Abby here with me, wrapped in my arms, until it trades places with the sun. However, guests will be allowed back up here at dawn, and I don’t want anyone to find us naked on a blanket. It would be bad for everyone involved.

“Let’s go back to my room,” I whisper in her ear before she can fall asleep. We slip back into our clothes and link hands, grabbing the blanket now soaked with sweat and fluids.

I’m tired, and tomorrow is supposed to be an early day, but the smile Abby gives me the second we enter my room is enough for me to forget about sleep.

Instead, we go for round three of the night.

And you know what? Having her in my room is a delicious treat, and I’d be game for round four … and five … and six if it came to that.

12

Abby

With a quick kiss goodbye, I tiptoe out of Carter’s room to get back to mine before the girls wake up. I’m sure they noticed I didn’t come back last night, but hopefully if I’m there when they wake up, they’ll let it slide.

I open our door carefully so I don’t disturb them, but as soon as I walk in, I’m greeted with two disappointed faces in sweaty gym outfits.

Crap. I forgot Caitlyn and Jessica get up early to go for a run on the jogging track. They must have just gotten back, judging from their red faces and labored breathing.

“Hi,” I greet them sheepishly.

Neither responds.

“Come on. The silent treatment is so high school.”

I expect at least a laugh, but I don’t even get a flicker of a smile from my friends. That means they’re really pissed at me.

“Listen, I’m sorry, okay?”

“Oh, great. Now you can go back to Carter’s bedroom without feeling like you’re ditching your supposed friends. Bye.”

I sigh. I refuse to feel guilty about falling in love on this cruise, but Caitlyn does have a point. What kind of girl does it make me if I spend more time with some guy than I do with the friends who brought me on the trip in the first place?

“You’re right. I should be spending more time with you both. I’m really sorry if you feel like I’m ditching you.”

“We don’tfeel likeyou’re ditching us, Abby. Youareditching us. This trip is supposed to be about us spending more time together since we never spend time together anymore. Yet the second a guy pays attention to you, you’re off with him instead of with us. What the hell? I mean, this is supposed to be a friendship cruise. Hello? Or is that all tossed by the wayside now that you’ve met a hot guy.”

“That stops now. Today is about us,” I promise. “I just need to tell Carter.”

Caitlyn rolls her eyes, but neither she nor Jessica makes any comment. Their faces are still pinched, and I can tell they disapprove. After all, I’ve been a terrible friend to them when they’ve always been great to me. Even when Caitlyn and Jessica are seeing a guy, they always make time for me. As a result, I need to do the same for them.

I step into the hallway with my foot in the door to call Carter. He answers on the first ring.

“Miss me already?” he jokes.

“Yes,” I admit. “But I can’t hang out with you today.”

“What? Why?”

I sigh. “My friends and I came on this cruise together, and I’ve barely spent any time with them. We need a girls’ day.”

“Oh. Okay. I understand. Can I see you tonight?”

I glance through the slightly open door into the room where Jess and Caitlyn are getting dressed in shorts and tank-tops. “I’m not sure. I’ll let you know.”

“Okay. Have fun with the girls. Don’t get into too much trouble.”