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Suddenly Single—What a Trip!

Trixie! It’s me, Shelby. You won’t believe the latest update! Ned and I have agreed to get the help we need, but we’ve decided to live a little before we get back to the mainland. In a surprising twist, Ned has been hitting the shops with me, and I’ve even ventured into the casino with him. But here’s the real shocker—I asked him to marry me, and he said yes! It seems like our divorce was actually the best thing that’s ever happened to us. Who would’ve thought?

Newly engaged,

Shelby

Dear Engaged,

Wow! Life is full of surprises, and yours is a big one! Cheers to love, second chances, and therapy. May this new chapter be your best yet.

XOXO Trixie

It’sthe final island destination of our East Caribbean cruise and the Emerald Queen is docked at yet another idyllic paradise owned by the cruise line.

According to the Seabreeze newsletter, the Blue Lagoon Resort is a crown jewel among the cruise line’s island paradises. It boasts of breathtaking landscapes where crystal clear waters kiss white-powdered beaches. And this haven of leisure is ironically no slacker when it comes to fun. Every activity on the island is designed to captivate guests of all ages, offering an array of water toys at the ready including paddleboards, kayaks, and all the snorkel gear you’ll need to explore the colorful underwater world.

The resort boasts of sixteen luxurious pools, some as wide and deep as the ocean itself, each with its unique charm ranging from tranquil infinity pools that blend into the horizon, to wave pools, wading pools, to pools with enough swim-up bars to keep the entire planet hydrated.

And don’t think for a minute that they left out the adrenaline seekers. The resort features towering waterslides that snake through lush palm trees and an entire forest of ferns before spilling into sparkling pools below. There’s a ziplining adventure that offers an aerial view of paradise that makes you feel as if you’re viewing it with the good Lord Himself straight from heaven. And as you soar over this lush paradise with colorful parrots at your side, it provides an unforgettable thrill.

They have beach volleyball, water aerobics, Pilates on the sand, a croquet course, a beach just for teenagers called Fernando’s Hideaway, bicycles to cruise the island, banana boat rides, and inner tubes the size of a small car.

Let’s just say Wes was determined to show Bess, Nettie, Ransom, and me a good time and we tackled half of the above before noon.

“I can’t believe I ziplined my way through a jungle paradise,” Bess says, fanning herself with a banana leaf.

“I can’t believe I caught a flying squirrel with my teeth as I ziplined through a jungle paradise,” Nettie says while squeezing out an entire bottle of sunscreen over her thighs, right here in the cabana the captain arranged for us to have for the day. And this cabana just so happens to be the size of a small circus tent.

“That’s because you were screaming bloody murder,” Bess says. “And believe me, the rest of us were thrilled that nature found a way to muzzle you up.”

“I was not screaming bloody murder,” Nettie protests. “I was screaming because?—”

“Because you were auditioning for the part of the jungle’s next top opera singer?” Bess says while cutting her off. “You were hitting notes that had the birds green with envy. And let me guess, you’re thinking of starting up a band, Nettie and the Flying Squirrels.”

“You’re hilarious,” Nettie says with a growl. “I was going to say, I was screaming because I was having a near-death experience. No matter how tired my dogs get, we’re sticking to the ground from here on out.”

“How about you, Trixie?” Ransom asks as he gives my hand a squeeze. We basically collapsed onto a double-wide lounger the second we got back and have been staring out at the crystal waters before us as if it were a mirage. “Are you up for another go at flying through the tropics?”

“Only if it involves a plane,” I say. “Some of those descents were so steep, I didn’t know if I was ziplining or bungee jumping.”

“Yeah.” Bess thumps out a laugh. “Bungee jumping without a bungee cord.”

“I really enjoyed the jet skis,” I say.

“That’s because you won the obstacle course,” Wes says. “Which I would have won if I didn’t have to go back and save your boyfriend’s life.” He takes a moment to glare at Ransom.

“I didn’t need saving.” Ransom glares right back. “I told you, the current knocked the buoy into my jet ski and I wanted to make sure the vehicle wasn’t damaged.”

Bess, Nettie, and Wes share a laugh at that one.

“I’m not laughing,” I say, biting down a smile at the big, strong, handsome man by my side.

Have I mentioned he’s shirtless and oiled up for good measure?

My hands may have played a part in that oily bliss.

A waitress comes by and brings an array of fruity concoctions that we ordered and soon we’re all sipping on frozen mango and strawberry smoothies.

“Now this is heaven,” Bess says with a sigh.

“It must be,” Nettie says. “Because we’ve got a ghost among us. Where is he, anyway, Trix? Is the dirty scallywag trying to rub my bare back? Or is that sea of snakes on his beard trying to slither up next to Bess?”

“They had better not,” Bess shoots back. “I don’t do snakes, dead or alive.”

Ransom expels a breath that lets me know exactly how he feels about the conversation.

Last night when we got back to the ship, Ransom and I never did get a chance to revisit the topic. Each time we started to dive back into ghost-infested waters, he’d get called away to security detail.

It turns out, the Jolly Roger Crew is more than just a rowdy bunch, they’re thieves who are unafraid to start a bar brawl or accuse someone of assault at the drop of a hat. Suffice it to say, they’ve been a handful for Ransom and his officers.

But there was no lack of trying on Ransom’s part. He kept coming back to wherever Bess, Nettie, and I moved to next—from the formal dining room, to the Emerald Theater, to the casino, to the comedy show we took in before finally heading to the midnight buffet.

And I may have snuck up to the lido deck before turning in for the night and snagged a couple of lava cakes to round out the day. A girl can never have too much molten chocolate lava cake in her life.

“Ransom,” Wes says, looking over at him from above his sunglasses. “Do you want to talk about Trixie’s ability now that you’re in the club?”

“It’s a small club,” Bess says. “It’s just the four of us on the ship who are in on her secret.”

“Outside of the dead,” Nettie points out. “It’s not fair, Trixie. You’ve got both the living and the dead hotties after you.”

“All right, enough about the dead.” Ransom’s chest expands a notch and it looks as if he’s had about enough of this conversation, too.

Wes and I exchange a glance.

It’s becoming clear that Ransom not only doesn’t believe in my supernatural quirk, but he’s convinced I’m dragging everyone else in on my dark delusion.

Ransom nods my way as if he heard my internal musing—worse yet, as if I were right.