Page 22 of Not that Sea-Rious

Beau

T hat was awkward. Marissa’s reaction wasn’t what he expected. Then again, he hadn’t really thought of his offer as a date either. Though, on the outside, he had to admit the optics were there. He couldn’t argue with it.

This cruise was full of surprises. He wasn’t quite sure what he was doing on this boat, but he couldn’t turn back now. Marissa’s friends were polite enough not to stare at him as they busied themselves with packing for their day in Mexico.

“Marissa says you’re from Florida?” Joyce said as she rubbed lotion into her arms.

“I live there, but I wouldn’t say I’m from there,” Beau answered, thankful for the polite conversation. “I’m definitely not a Florida man ,” he joked as the jingle by Sarah Hester Ross played through his mind.

The women snickered, and in that moment, he realized this was the first time he’d been with them sober. Over the past two days, when they’d crossed paths, everyone among them had been in various stages of intoxication. He wondered how different they were without a few drinks in them.

Hell, how different was he?

The bathroom door opened, and Marissa returned to the room wearing a calm expression and a smile. At least she didn’t look as frazzled as before. He’d forfeit the cost of the dolphin experience if she changed her mind. He wasn’t about to hold her to a post-sex commitment.

When she crossed his path, he reached out for her, and she paused, meeting his eyes. “You don’t have to go if you aren’t feeling it,” he whispered. “It’s not a date. I merely had an extra ticket.”

Her smile grew, and she patted his cheek, and his hand fell away from her arm. “I know,” she said. “But I want to go. It’s not every day a cute guy asks me to swim with dolphins in Mexico.”

She shrugged, and he could see her nonchalance was back.

All the anxiety had left her, and his had gone with it.

They agreed. It wasn’t anything serious.

They were just two people who were going for a swim with porpoises.

Two single people—who had recently slept together.

Yes, this was totally normal—and a date.

Beau’s hands rested on the neck of his life vest as he desperately tried not to be choked by the thing riding up.

They floated in the water, waiting for their turn with Ricky and Nix, the dolphins.

The trainers prattled on and on, sharing miscellaneous dolphin facts.

For instance, Beau learned dolphins didn’t actually sleep and were consciously aware of their breathing.

Which, of course, made him consciously aware of his breathing to the point he nearly forgot how to inhale and exhale. While he was on the verge of silently and discreetly hyperventilating, Marissa was summoned for her one-on-one experience with Ricky.

As she swam away from Beau, all his attention went to her.

Marissa got high-fins from the dolphin. The sparkle in her eyes filled Beau’s chest with affection.

When she held on to his dorsal fin and Ricky dragged her through the water, she giggled so infectiously Beau laughed along with her.

The encounter ended with a delightful little kiss between the two.

Beau’s cheeks hurt from smiling. He’d seen nothing more beautiful than Marissa’s unfettered joy.

He made that happen.

Beau didn’t care about his own time with the swimming mammals. He hadn’t when he paid for it and didn’t now. Sure, it was cool to have them push at his feet and essentially toss him through the water, but that trick wasn’t something he was dying to do. Megan had talked about it for weeks.

Beau took a little too much satisfaction in knowing Marissa got to enjoy the experience Megan had wanted.

Megan had never appreciated a damn thing he’d done for her.

She expected the world. He’d yet to figure out where she got her entitlement from, but he was glad to be out from underneath it.

Perhaps Jordan was a decent friend and business partner.

By screwing Megan, he saved Beau from making the biggest mistake of his existence.

Granted, there were other ways he could’ve gone about it—less extreme measures. Though, this method really got the point across. There was no arguing it. Beau couldn’t deny it if he tried. Jordan could possibly deserve a thank you for it.

Nah.

Beau internally scoffed as he climbed out of the water to meet up with Marissa.

Jordan would get what he deserved in the long run.

Beau’s gaze found a bouncing Marissa. Glee radiated off her as she trotted over to him.

The storm cloud of a mood he’d brewed thinking about his ex and his business partner evaporated.

“That was so amazing ,” she gushed. “I can’t wait to see the pictures!”

Wrapping his arm over her shoulder, he pressed a tender kiss to her salty temple. Her genuine excitement was a breath of fresh air he didn’t know he needed. Marissa embodied positivity. It must’ve been what drew him to her. Beau craved more good in his life.

Together, they strolled toward the kiosk to look over what the professional photographer had captured. They weren’t permitted to bring their own phones into the pool, which was fair. Beau didn’t have a waterproof case, anyway.

Arm in arm, they looked through the myriad of photos taken during their encounter.

Marissa squealed with nearly everyone she saw.

It was hard to choose which pictures to keep and which to pass on.

Her smile brightened as a new image she was in popped up.

He wanted them all, but that would be preposterous.

So, they really buckled down and debated the merits of each picture.

He’d never had more fun. With anyone else, he’d imagine this would be a daunting task, but somehow Marissa pitching her case for all of them amused him.

Eventually, they selected eight to keep.

“I’m getting it,” Marissa announced as she pulled her credit card out from the large canvas beach bag she’d brought with her.

Beau furrowed his brow. “You don’t have to.”

She snorted. “I’m well aware of my obligations.” She bumped him with her hip playfully. “But you paid for the experience. I can at least cover the pictures and that really tacky frame. We’ll take two sets of the eight pictures and two frames.”

Dipping his chin, grinning from ear to ear, Beau licked his lips and stepped back to allow Marissa the opportunity to pay.

Megan would never. From the day she met Beau, she expected him to foot the bill for everything—even things that were her suggestion.

At the time, he thought it was chivalrous to always fork over the money, but she worked.

There was no good reason he had to fund their lives.

It was refreshing to be with someone who viewed him as equal and not just a cash cow. These two women couldn’t be more different, and he welcomed the change of pace. This was far less stressful. He could get used to this.