Page 25 of Use Me

Rhys drove us to Navy Pier. I realized I hadn’t been there since the night Corey told me he loved me. Now I was making new memories. We locked my purse in the truck so I wouldn’t have to carry it out on the water. After he closed the trunk door, I noticed the Blackhawks sticker on the window.

“I didn’t peg you as a bumper sticker kinda guy.”

“Have to represent the boys.”

We exited the parking garage and came upon a building in front of the carousel. “We’re going on a booze cruise?”

Rhys smirked. “Nothing wrong with a little day drinking.”

I wasn’t opposed to day drinking. If I were at home stalking Corey on Facebook, I’d probably have a glass of wine in front of me. “Sounds fun.”

I insisted I pay my way. This wasn’t a date. At least I kept telling myself that. Rhys hadn’t kissed me once today. No good morning kiss. No goodbye kiss. No you-just-showered-and-smell-fucking-awesome kiss. He hadn’t even held my hand. So we weren’t on a date. Just two friends going out for lunch on a booze cruise.

After we paid, we boarded a multi-level blue and white boat. It was more than just a boat. It was huge, and I figured it could hold at least one thousand people. We were instructed we could do whatever we wanted for the two hours we were out on the lake. There were games on the upper deck, a buffet on the middle level and a couple of open bars throughout. Since we hadn’t eaten breakfast, Rhys and I sat at a table for two against the window after filling our plates with salad to start. We each ordered a cocktail, and then enjoyed the view as we chartered away from the city.

“That building right there,” Rhys pointed to the Aon Grand Ballroom, “is where I first got laid.”

I choked on my bite of lettuce. “In the ballroom?”

“Junior prom with Natalie Westwood.”

“I had my prom there too, but I was too busy dancing.”

“Then you did prom all wrong, Cupcake.”

I laughed, and then we made small talk as we ate another round of lunch from the buffet. Afterward, Rhys led me to the upper deck where people were drinking, laughing and playing games like shuffleboard and life-sized Jenga.

“Want to play anything?”

I grinned. “Of course.”

We grabbed another cocktail each. Since the only game I really knew how to play was Jenga, we decided to wait until the current game ended. I hadn’t played in at least twenty years, and the last time I’d played wasn’t on a rocky boat. As we waited for the other team to put the pieces in place after their game ended, Rhys left to get us another drink. He didn’t ask. He just did it. I could deny it all I wanted, but this felt like a date.

We played with the other couple: two versus two, taking turns strategically taking a wooden block out of a layer and placing it on top of the tower. The closer we got from removing each bottom layer, the more my anxiety kicked in. I didn’t want to bethatperson: the loser who caused the high tower to fall.

“Do you do this often?” I asked Rhys.

“Jenga?”

“The booze cruise.” It was essentially a bar on the water with games.

“Never have, but always wanted to. What about you?”

I smiled. “Same.” I had to admit that playing games while drinking on a boat with the Chicago skyline in the background was fun.

That was, of course, untilshecame up to us.

“Rhys.” It wasn’t a question. She knew it was him. I could tell in her tone before either one of us turned to look at her.

Rhys turned first, and then I followed. He didn’t say anything for a few moments as though he was taking time to gather his thoughts. He stared directly into her brown eyes. I, on the other hand, gave her a once over. I wasn’t sure if this was his ex or not, but it didn’t seem like he was excited to see her. She had long brown hair, doe eyes, and a slender body. Her boobs were trying to overspill from the top of her halter top.

“Bridgette,” Rhys finally clipped.

His ex.Rhys foundthisattractive? As I stared at her, I envisioned how Rhys must have seen her in his bed with another man.

She smiled. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“And?” he clipped.