Page 41 of Not that Sea-Rious

Marissa

T hankfully, Joyce didn’t ask questions. She only offered reassurance, which was exactly what Marissa needed to get out of her own way and leave her room. Carolyn had granted her one night to herself. Considering Joyce was reuniting with her family, it made sense to give everyone the evening off.

The rest of the week would be devoted to wedding prep. This was Marissa’s final few hours of freedom for a few days. She’d better make the best of it.

Beau was definitely the only way she wanted to spend that time.

She found him seated at the bar with his back to her, wearing an olive collared polo shirt and dark wash jeans. Immediately, all the tension left her body.

Licking her bottom lip and smoothing her hands down her front, she approached him. His phone had his attention, which allowed her to slide into the seat beside him unnoticed. “Of all the gin joints, you walk into mine,” she said, wearing a smirk.

Slowly, his lids closed, and a smile spread across his face. As he turned, he opened his eyes and met hers. “I think you got that quote wrong.”

She settled into the chair with ease. The last bit of anxiety she clung to evaporated. “I can’t even tell you what movie or show it was from.”

Flipping his phone over, he chortled. “ Casablanca .”

“Oh.” She nodded. “I feel like that’s older than me.”

He nodded. “It is.”

“I’ve never seen it.”

His brows rose in surprise. “Then we must remedy that immediately.”

Snickering, she was at a loss for words as he picked up his phone again and started typing. “Now?”

He shook his head, and his thumbs danced over the screen. “Nah. I promised you dinner. I just want to see if it’s streaming anywhere.”

Smiling from ear to ear, she basked in his presence. She’d never be able to fully explain what it was about him. He made it easy to enjoy his company. He was unbelievably authentic in the most genuine way. She couldn’t describe it any better if she tried.

Beau stood, pulled a clip of money from his back pocket, and dropped a five-dollar bill on the bar top. “Anyway. We have a reservation to get to.”

Marissa’s cheeks heated as he offered her his elbow. Letting her hand rest on the crook of his arm, she stepped closer to him and giggled at the over-the-top show of chivalry.

“I would’ve suggested somewhere fancier, or even out of your hotel, but I figured with the wedding so close, Carolyn would have you on a short leash.”

Marissa nodded as they strolled from the bar and toward the hotel’s restaurant. “She does. This is my last night of freedom.”

Beau mock gasped and covered his gaping mouth with his hand. “Such a bridezilla! You should mutiny.”

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, Marissa brushed alongside him and even rested her head against his arm.

He was such a breath of fresh air. Why did she get so deep in her head when she wasn’t with him?

She’d probably have to seek some therapy for all her negative doom-and-gloom thoughts about this ball of positivity. It couldn’t be healthy.

As they sat, the waiter offered them menus. Kindly, the two of them nodded along as the server rattled off the specials for the evening before turning on her heel and leaving them alone.

“Well, if this is our last evening together until the wedding, I guess I have to make it a good one,” he said while scanning the menu.

“I’m sure I can sneak away once or twice.” Marissa winked. “Who doesn’t like to dabble with danger every now and then?”

He met her gaze, and his smile fell. “Honestly, I could probably use the time to get my life sorted out.”

There it was. She knew Beau was too good to be true. He couldn’t be perfect forever. Her spine stiffened, and her lips tightened. She did her best to keep the facade of nonchalance, but it was difficult as she braced herself for what he would say.

He lowered his menu, clasped his hands together over it, and leaned in slightly.

“I don’t want to go too deep into it, but my business partner is forcing me from the company.

I’m not sure where I’ll land. My bottom sort of dropped out.

I need to talk to lawyers and come up with the best course of action to move forward. ”

How convenient for him. First his fiancée dumped him, and now his business did.

This was too many catastrophes at once for it to be real.

He didn’t have to lie. None of this made sense.

If he didn’t want anything after leaving the ship, why did he bother with all this?

It made no sense, and she needed to nip this in bud.

There was no use in drawing this game out.

Marissa gulped and bobbed her head in what had to be the stupidest nod ever, but she had nothing to say.

Mr. Wonderful was essentially breaking up with her.

They weren’t even a couple yet, and he ended things.

They’d been on dry land for mere hours. She should’ve seen this coming. Vacation flings weren’t meant to last.

When he reached across and took one of her hands, she did her best not to burst into tears right there at the table. She knew better than to have so much hope. Why had she let herself get too attached to him?

“I’m being straightforward with you because I don’t think it’s fair to what we have going on to hide it and pretend things are perfect in my life. I’m messy right now.”

His honesty was too tragic to be true. Who lied about stuff like this? Not someone she wanted to be around. That’s for damn sure. Marissa would never understand men. No matter how hard she tried.

Biting her bottom lip, she inhaled audibly. “I understand.”

He furrowed his brows and cocked his head to the side. “I’m not sure you do.”

She swallowed the tears threatening to spill. “You’re jobless and homeless,” she announced, lifting her chin. “Therefore, you don’t want to see me anymore.”

“No.” He squeezed her hand.

“You just—”

“What I said was that this week is going to be tough on me. My availability is going to be very limited. I have a lot to figure out. You are going to be running around with Carolyn, making sure she has the most perfect day.”

She blinked, unsure how she misunderstood him.

“We’re both super busy this week. It’d be a lot easier if we didn’t stress about making time for each other. I still want to see you. Very much so.”

The server returned wearing a giant smile. Apparently, she couldn’t read the room. “Can I get you some drinks to start this evening?”

“Uh.” Beau removed his hand from hers. “We need another minute, please.”

The waitress’s smile fell as she glanced between the two. “Sure.”

Once again, she turned and trotted away.

Closing her eyes and slumping back into her chair, Marissa blew out a breath. “I’m having a really hard time processing this.”

A pressured chortle escaped Beau. “You and me both.”

Overwhelmed with disappointment, Marissa took her napkin from her lap and stood. She dropped it on the table and tugged at the bottom of her shirt as she straightened her spine. “Thank you for everything.”

Beau hopped to his feet. Worry creased the corners of his eyes.

“You’re right. We have a lot going on.”

“I don’t think—”

“We aren’t available right now. Both of us. Not just you. Me too.”

His lips tightened into a frown, and her heart pinched. She much preferred seeing a smile on his face and a daiquiri in his hand. Real life was a kick in the crotch.

“I-I’m going to head back to my room,” she stammered.

He stepped around the table. “We can still have dinner.” He gestured to the table.

She shook her head. What was the point? This evening, their dinner, their situation wasn’t going anywhere. “I have wedding things to do.”

The hurt on his face shattered her heart that much more. He reminded her of a wounded puppy shivering in a puddle on the side of the road. She couldn’t face this anymore. She had to get away.

“I’ll text you,” she lied as she stepped backward and turned.

With tears welling in her eyes but her head held high, she marched out of the restaurant, praying he wouldn’t chase her. She wasn’t sure she could maintain this confident facade much longer.