Page 47 of Mister Daddy

18

Abby

My head swirls the second we step off the ship. After two straight days at sea, being on land is an adjustment for my body. It takes a few minutes for me to get my land legs back.

Jessica wraps her arm around me and squeezes. “I’m sorry you had to leave Carter behind, but you’ll be in touch soon.”

His number burns a hole in my pocket. I want to call him right now just to hear his voice, but we’ve barely left the ship, and he’d ushered me out of his office quickly to take a call, so he’s probably busy.

“You’ll talk to him later and feel better,” Caitlyn adds.

“I know. It just sucks.”

“We know.”

Miami is usually a magical place for me. Sure, I grew up here, but it has never lost its appeal – probably because we’re so close to the water. But I can’t enjoy being back in my favorite city on earth because my mind is too focused on Carter and the week we spent together.

Was it really only a week? It felt like months, or even years ago. I told him I could love him, and he said he loves me. Our relationship is solid. No one would guess we just met.

“Let’s go home. I’m dying to sleep in my own bed.”

“Me, too,” Jessica agrees. “Those cruise beds were awful. How was Carter’s bed? Better than our tiny room, I bet.”

I shrug. “It was definitely better than the beds in our room, but still not great. The bed I have at home is better in my opinion.”

“That’s my girl,” she says.

We pull our luggage through throngs of people toward the port parking lot. Jessica’s sedan is sitting where we left it last weekend, untouched. She pops the locks and lets us arrange our luggage in the trunk in drop-off order. Jessica’s stuff goes in first, obviously. Then mine, then Caitlyn’s. I live down the street from Jessica’s apartment, but Caitlyn lives a few blocks away. We’re all walking distance from the accounting firm.

The heat in Miami is stifling. I miss the breeze from the water cutting through the hot air. I miss everything about the cruise ship. Especially Carter.

Caitlyn takes her seat in the back, and I pile in next to Jessica up front. The radio is still turned all the way up from our celebration on the way here. It’s strange how different our moods are now. I’m not the only one sad to be back in Miami. If we could stay on vacation forever, we would. Unfortunately, we have to be back at work on Monday.

At least we get tomorrow to relax before the real world starts again. Maybe I’ll be able to video chat with Carter, too!

Jessica drops Caitlyn off at her apartment. “We’re on for Tuesday night, right?” she asks through the window.

“Of course,” I tell her. “Weekly dinners are on, and they will only be canceled for extenuating circumstances.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Caitlyn says. “See you at work on Monday! Don’t call or text me until then; I’ll be dead to the world.”

With a yawn, she waves us off and climbs the stairs to her door, her suitcase dragging lazily behind her.

“Are you gonna be okay on your own?” Jessica asks as we drive to my apartment. “I can stay over if you want some company. You haven’t slept by yourself in a week. It can be a weird transition.”

It bothers me a little that Jessica is babying me. Sure, I’ve never had a serious relationship before, but just because I’m in one now doesn’t mean I need a babysitter.

Having her stay over does sound kind of fun, though. But I want to talk to Carter later on tonight, and Jessica being there might prevent things from getting dirty on the phone. I’m a phone sex novice, but I’m willing to learn if it keeps things intimate with Carter.

I’m going to miss making love almost as much as I miss Carter. Hopefully, we can squeeze something in when he’s back in port next week.

“I’ll be okay, Jess. But thank you. Maybe tomorrow, we can get together for a movie or something?”

“I’d like that. Not until the afternoon, though. I’m with Caitlyn: I’ll be dead to the world for a while.”

I laugh. “Did you guys get any sleep on the cruise?”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course not. Out at the club until late, up for the gym early. It was vacation. Who needs sleep?” We both laugh. “Did YOU get any sleep on the cruise?”