Page 33 of Not that Sea-Rious

Marissa

D aiquiris, martinis, and shots. Marissa lost track of what they drank. It was their last night on the ship. Starting tomorrow, they would be in full-on wedding mode. With every stress that came with it facing them, they owed it to themselves to cut loose and be completely irresponsible.

Together, separate, and in pairs, Carolyn, Marissa, Tina, Joyce, and even Beau went up on stage, sang all sorts of songs off-key, and danced with absolutely no rhythm.

Anyone who took karaoke seriously definitely hated Carolyn’s bridal party, but that was their problem. Marissa’s crew was living it up.

Through all the silliness, Marissa had Beau beside her. This was a night like none she’d ever had. Sure, she’d gotten drunk and laughed before but not like this. She’d cherish this memory for the rest of her life, no matter what happened once they got off the boat.

Together, the five of them stumbled down the hall, leaning on one another, arm in arm, making their way to their rooms for the evening.

They did their best to avoid the luggage others had left out for the porters to remove for disembarkation the following morning.

Though, to be honest, on a few occasions, Beau or Carolyn, who were on the ends, definitely collided with a suitcase or seven.

It couldn’t be helped. Walking a straight line, after that many cocktails, was an impossible task. So, there were a few casualties. Nothing too serious, though. They were always careful to put everything back to how they found it.

Thankfully, they’d had the wherewithal to pack their bags before they went out. Which meant they could crash for the night and not have to worry about their stuff in the morning.

Standing at their door, Marissa braced herself. The time had come to make the ultimate decision. Would she stay, or would she go with Beau for one last hurrah? She had the condoms in her purse. She was absolutely prepared for it if she wanted to.

“Wait!” Carolyn held her arms out, blocking everyone from progressing.

Perplexed, the group exchanged looks.

Giggling, she sloppily sauntered toward Beau. Leaning against the wall, he eyed her warily. When she tripped over her own two feet, he caught her.

“You.” She jabbed her index finger into his chest.

He glanced toward Marissa, assumingly for help. She shrugged, unsure what the bride-to-be was doing.

“You,” she repeated. “I’m inviting you to my nuptials. You better show up.”

He raised his brows and opened his mouth to respond, but she covered it.

“Tut-tut-tut.” She shook her head. “You can’t refuse. It’s against the rules of my bachelorette party.”

She had him there.

“You won’t have a fancy invitation, and I’ll have to shift people around. My cousin, she doesn’t have to be at your table,” she mumbled as she shifted her attention to Marissa.

Again, all Marissa could do was shrug as she fought back laughter.

With an exaggerated nod, which nearly knocked off the crooked veil that was hanging onto her hair by luck and a prayer, Carolyn returned her drunken focus to Beau. “So, it’s settled. You’re coming to my wedding as Marissa’s plus-one.”

Marissa bristled with wide eyes. “What?”

It was one thing to invite him independently—as a single guest—on his own. It was a completely different story tying him to Marissa. All the anxiety and second-guessing Marissa had pushed aside earlier came whooshing back like an aggressive high tide.

Turning, but still using Beau to remain standing, Carolyn made a sputtering sound with her lips. “Come on.” She waved a hand dismissively. “Like you’re going to bring anyone else. You already RSVP’d.”

That wasn’t the point. It should be Marissa’s decision if she were going to take Beau, not Carolyn’s. Frowning, Marissa looked at Tina and Joyce for help.

They offered nothing. The bride continued speaking. “Don’t you live in Florida?” she asked Beau.

He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

“Do you have anything going on next weekend?”

“Uh.” His gaze captured Marissa’s, as though pleading with her for the correct answer.

She didn’t have it.

“No. Not really,” he stammered.

“Carolyn,” Marissa said, stepping toward her friend.

“Good. You’re coming, then.” Carolyn began to lean, and now it was Marissa’s turn to catch the bride-to-be.

“Alright. That’s enough,” Tina declared with only a slight slur to her words.

She’d drunk the least. Someone had to be the grown-up in the room. Thankfully, Tina stepped up.

She slid an arm around Carolyn and nodded in Joyce’s direction. “Get the door, please?”

“Oh.” Snapping into motion, Joyce dug her key out of her small purse. She stepped forward and stuck it in the door. As she pushed it open, she glanced over her shoulder at the group. “Have a good night, you two. See you at breakfast.”

When she winked, Marissa’s head dropped. With her hands on either side of her face, she shook it left and right, trying not to die from embarrassment.

“Do you want me to help you get her inside?” Beau asked.

Tina waved him off. “Nah. We got this. Been doing it the whole trip.”

As they shuffled Carolyn toward the entranceway, the bride-to-be slapped her hands on the doorframe. “Wait,” she called as she wriggled out of her handlers’ hold.

Good Lord. What now? Marissa only wanted to go to bed at this point.

“Make wonderful memories,” Carolyn said with a nod. “And get out of your fucking head.”

Well, that was actually sweet.

With a quick wave, she spun around and entered the suite. The door closed behind her, leaving Marissa and Beau alone in the hallway.

He scratched at the back of his neck and peered at her sheepishly. “Just you and me.”

Tightening her lips into a thin line, she nodded. “Apparently.”

Pushing off the wall, he approached her. “You don’t have to—”

“Well, it seems I’ve been evicted from my own room,” she snickered. “So, are you kicking me out too?”

“What?” He laughed. “No. Never. You’re always welcome.”

She arched a brow. “ Always ? Is that so?”

Sliding his hands over her hips and around to the small of her back, he closed the distance between them. As he pulled her against his body gently, she tucked her head under his chin, since he stood a few inches taller than her.

“Absolutely. Wherever I go, I hope you come with me,” he affirmed before covering her mouth with another one of his sensual, soul-shattering kisses.

Closing her eyes, Marissa melted against him. Her arms looped around his shoulders as she welcomed all that he had to offer for the last occasion. They said they’d stay in touch, but she wrote that in every yearbook she signed in high school. Her classmates were still waiting for those calls.

With Beau, though, time would tell, and she was willing to find out.