Page 38 of Not that Sea-Rious

Marissa

M arissa hadn’t been glued to her phone. She wasn’t holding it and staring at it, willing it to vibrate with a call or text from Beau. She had stuff to do. This was the last week before Carolyn’s wedding. As her bridesmaid, she was busy.

After getting out of the van and checking into their hotel, they met up with Carolyn’s mom, who had them booked for the entire day. They barely had an opportunity for lunch. So much for taking it easy and catching their breath after the trip. They were in overdrive.

First stop, the seamstress. Joyce was the only one who still needed alterations to her dress. Everyone else got to take theirs back with them. Thankfully, no one had overconsumed to the point of needing their dresses let out.

Then they stopped at the store and picked up all the items they’d need for the welcome bags the guests would receive upon check-in. It wasn’t until they were sitting at the salon getting their hair trials done that Marissa had a moment to think about anything other than the wedding.

Hours had passed. She could totally check without appearing overeager or pathetic.

As the hairdresser curled her tresses and chatted with everyone around her, Marissa took a moment to check her phone. The little chat bubble icon made her smile.

She tapped it open. Relief had her breathing easier. Beau was true to his word. He had made contact. One point in his favor.

Though, it seemed he wasn’t having as easy a time as he portrayed he would on the boat. He detailed how he had more boxes than he had expected and had to secure himself a storage locker.

Fair.

Marissa had moved on a few occasions in her life, and going from one place to another was stressful. Granted, she had never done it under his circumstances. She’d always secured her next place before terminating her current lease.

To be fair, he wasn’t completely in control of his situation. Things happened in his life, and she couldn’t fault him for it. So, she inhaled and took solace in the fact that he kept her in the loop about what he had on his plate.

His homelessness could make stuff complicated.

Homeless ? She cringed at the idea. He was between residences. That sounded so much better, but the fact remained. Beau was without a home.

Her lips tightened at the reality, and the corners of her mouth turned down. She hated thinking that, but it was true.

Then again, they weren’t in a relationship.

Neither of them had committed to a damn thing.

They had simply agreed to spend more time with each other and see where it went.

It had gone nowhere yet. Which meant he had the opportunity to stabilize his life.

She had to keep reminding herself that the arrangement wasn’t serious. This was casual .

Marissa had never done casual before. This would definitely be a challenge. She had to remember that they weren’t a couple. They were two people who liked each other. That was all.

When she nodded to herself, the heat from the curling iron got hotter—and closer to her scalp.

“Oh, sweetie, I need you to be still. I don’t want to burn you, love,” the hairdresser said, reminding Marissa of where she was in the real world and not in her head.

“Shit,” Carolyn’s mother hissed from three seats away with plastic wrapped around her hair.

“What?” Carolyn demanded on the other side of Marissa.

“It’s just, Uncle Roy is in the hospital. He fell and broke his hip. Aunt Jenna doesn’t think they will make it.” Her mother groaned. “And we finally got the seating arrangement organized since your cousin Nancy announced she was bringing a plus-one. The fifth love of her life this year.”

“We can work on it tonight,” Tina assured the group. “This week is going to be full of this kind of stuff. People are assholes.”

“I don’t want to be shelling out money for people who don’t show up.” Carolyn’s mother sighed. “Not that paying for unexpected guests is any better.”

“It’s going to happen,” Joyce said. “But it usually isn’t much. It’ll all work out.”

“Actually, this is perfect,” Carolyn said, far too calmly for a woman a week away from her wedding hearing about guests canceling.

“Nancy’s new boyfriend will be Uncle Roy and Marissa’s will be Aunt Jenna.

No changes in the count, but yeah, we will have to shuffle people around. It’ll be okay, though.”

“Wait.” Carolyn’s mom peered at Marissa.

Oh hell.

“When did you get a boyfriend?” she asked.

Marissa cringed slightly. She definitely didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Especially with the mother of the bride. “I don’t have—”

“She met him on the cruise ship,” Joyce practically gushed.

Carolyn’s mom arched a brow, obviously intrigued by the gossip.

“It was really cute,” Carolyn chimed in.

Marissa needed to get a handle on this. “There is no boyfriend . Yes. I met a guy but not a boyfriend .”

“And you invited him to the wedding?” Carolyn’s mother’s displeasure came through clear as day.

Marissa opened her mouth, but Carolyn answered. “No. I did. He’s really fun. You’ll like him.”

“When were you going to tell me about this new addition?” her mother grumped.

“Now seemed like a good time,” Carolyn retorted.

Marissa was relieved the ire had switched from her to Carolyn. Though, she wasn’t sure how angry anyone could get at the bride during wedding week. It was her special day and all. Then again, her mother was writing the check. So, okay, maybe she could get mad at her.

Either way, Marissa was glad to be out of the middle.

“You can’t keep asking random people to come to your wedding,” her mother lamented. “The venue only has so much space, and I only have so much money.”

“It will be fine.” Carolyn waved her off. “Besides, Uncle Roy and Aunt Jenna aren’t coming. So, really, is there a change to anything?”

Marissa couldn’t help but chuckle at Carolyn’s cavalier attitude to it. When, or if, she got married, she hoped she could be as calm as Carolyn.

Her phone vibrated and drew her attention away from the mother-daughter bickering. Holding it up, she saw she had another text from Beau. Her heart fluttered as she tapped open the screen.

Oh.

Things got a little complicated. I have my stuff and found a storage facility, but something popped up that I need to deal with. I’m pretty sure I’ll make dinner. Keep you posted. I hope Carolyn isn’t driving you crazy. Give her a mimosa or something to chill her out if she is.

Benefit of the doubt. He deserved it. His life was messy right now. He admitted that on the boat. It would do her good to remember that. He was fresh out of a relationship. In the middle of an unplanned move, things were going to be rocky for him. Give him grace.

Marissa ignored the foreboding knotting in her gut.

He kept her informed. That was a good sign.

There was absolutely no reason to panic.

Dinner was on. She had to focus on that.

Stay positive. They weren’t dating or a couple.

Two people who were hanging out didn’t get upset when life suddenly threw curveballs and things changed.

Which they hadn’t. The plan was still on.

Focus on the positive. Carolyn had decreed it.

She should text him back.

Okay. I hope you figure it out. See you later.

There. Perfect. Nonchalant. Easygoing. She wasn’t freaking out. There was no reason to. Everything would be fine. She just had to relax.