Bossy (36 page)

I rush up the stairs where there are less people. There’s the elevator, but waiting means standing still, and I can’t stand still right now. I need to walk it off. I’m sure as hell not going back to our room.

I see a door labeled AFT DECK 1 and I take it, emerging outside. It was nice earlier, but now the skies have clouded up, which suits my mood perfectly. Maybe that’s why there are so few people out here. That’s just fine.

The deck is nearly empty as I charge to the very back of the ship where I can be alone, watching the massive wake of the cruise ship spread behind us. Why do I let him get to me so badly? His opinion doesn’t matter. I don’t even like him. In fact, I’m starting to think I fucking hate him.

With all that’s been going on, I haven’t even given a thought to Paul. It makes me feel guilty to think of how easily I accepted that he wasn’t coming. I didn’t even call. Of course, he didn’t call me, either.

Argh, men! I should’ve brought Cassie. We’d have found a way, ID or no ID.

My phone rings, and when it starts playing Wild Thing, I actually freak out a little. It’s Cassie, as if thinking about her has summoned her to me in my time of need. Thank God, because I could totally deal with a friendly voice right now. I hit the button.

“Hello?”

“Angie! Where the hell are you? You dropped off the face of the planet and no one knows where you are.”

Shit, I should’ve sent her a message or something. “I’m sorry. I’m on a cruise.”

There’s silence on the other end for a few moments. “You’re on a what? A cruise?”

I laugh at her confusion. “Yeah. Some super luxury thing. My new dad tried to give it to Mom, but she gets crazy seasick, so being the disgustingly rich maniac that he is, he tossed the tickets in the trash. I grabbed them, and here I am, stuck with my asshole stepbrother.”

“Your new what? Seasick? Asshole stepbrother? Angie, you’re not making any sense.”

Awesome, I’m a horrible friend in addition to being a horrible girlfriend. She doesn’t know anything about Herbert’s proposal, or Gavin or any of that. I bring her up to date as quickly and concisely as I can.

When I finish, the silence at the other end is so long that I worry I’ve lost contact. When she finally speaks, her voice is incredulous. “If it was anyone else but you, Angie, I’d call bullshit. That doesn’t happen to anyone.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m not sure I’d believe me either, but now I’ve got this dinner with the captain tonight where I’m going to have to pretend to be not only civil, but in love with my nemesis.” I sigh. How the hell am I going to do that?

To my surprise, instead of supporting me, Cassie cracks up. She just won’t stop laughing. “God, Angie, do you have any idea about how crazy this sounds? You know what? I think you should go for it.”

“What?” I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “What do you mean?”

She laughs again. “Come on, I only saw him for like three minutes, but he’s crazy hot. Do him. You guys have the freaking bridal suite, a big bed and all the time to yourselves that you want. What happens on the cruise stays on the cruise.” She pauses a moment. “And imagine the story. You fucked your stepbrother. Who’s he going to tell?”

I huff. “You don’t know him. He’ll tell everyone, because he’s an asshole and doesn’t give a shit. He’ll probably put it in his Christmas card just for fun. No freaking way. Besides, Paul. Hello.” Actually screw him? Is she insane? I swear it’s just the cool ocean air making my nipples hard.

“About that.” Her voice turns serious. “I had a reason for calling. You just managed to completely derail me. Though now that I know what you’re up to, maybe it can wait until you’re back. Don’t want to mess with your cruise.”

I roll my eyes. “Spill. You can’t say something like that and not tell me.”

She doesn’t even hesitate. “Okay, here goes. Yesterday morning, someone kicked the shit out of Paul. He had to get stitches. I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t called you to let you know.”

What the heck? I can put together two and two as well as anyone, and it doesn’t take much to guess at who might be responsible. My blood begins to boil. Not only is Gavin being an asshole, he’s gone and sent the guy who’s supposed to be my boyfriend to the ER. I knew he was moody and rude, but violent? As much as I hate him at the moment, I have a hard time believing he’d do something like that over a bad case of blue balls.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

“Yeah. Sure. Still here. Do you know anything about why?” There has to be a reason at least, right? Something?

“I couldn’t tell you, Ange. Word is, someone busted in on Paul and then kicked his ass. No one knows exactly why, at least that I’ve spoken to.” I can almost hear her shrug over the phone. “No idea. Listen, I’ve got to go. Keep me posted, alright?”

“Yeah, sure. Will do.” I draw a deep breath. “Thanks.” I tap the phone, hanging up.

Okay. Now what? I’m apparently rooming with a violent maniac, who’s going to be step-related to me and wants to get in my pants. How much worse can this get?

“Why so glum, dearie?” Someone else has braved the gloom to come to share the view, and I didn’t even notice. I look up and find one of the old ladies from reception. Jane? Julie? Joyce.

I shake my head. “You wouldn’t understand.” How could anyone comprehend this mess?

“Try me.” She looks frail, but her voice is firm, maybe even a little offended. “You don’t think I’ve been around the block a few times? You don’t get this old by
not
living, kid.” She snorts.

“Sorry. Rough day.” I look back out at the water.

“Husband trouble.” She nods at my astonished look. “I’ve been there. I’ve had four of them.”

Part of me wants to burst out and tell her the whole thing, but what if she goes and tells someone? I’ll play it safe. “He’s not my husband yet.” I flash a smile. “Not ever, if he keeps this up.”

“Oh dear, that does sound horrible. Give him some time.” She smiles. “But not too much. Too much, and you kick him out on his ass, dearie.” Turning back towards the water, she examines the horizon while I look at her with shock. “But you need to talk to him. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

I have a hard time concealing a laugh. “Alright, so how do I know when it’s too much?”

She shrugs. “When the thought of tearing his clothes off and making up doesn’t feel worth the trouble. And the good ones are always trouble, bless their jackass hearts.” Making as if to leave, she turns. “I have to make sure Mabel’s not up to anything. Most likely, she’s waiting at the lunch buffet.”

I watch her go, old and hunched over, but with steady steps. “Thanks for the advice.” I think.

She waves briefly. “Of course, dearie. Remember. If he doesn’t make you tingle, then out he goes. Now go talk to him. Life’s too short for useless husbands.” She gives me a little wink. “But if he’s a good fuck, give him a chance. Make-up sex is worth a few tears.” And with that, she walks off, leaving me speechless. Did she really just say that?

I’m still blinking when she opens the door into the ship and disappears. I can’t tell if she’s off her rocker or brilliant. Either way, she’s probably got a point. Gavin might not actually be my husband-to-be, but I’m going to have to deal with him for the rest of the cruise.

With a sigh, I go to find him. Like it or not, he does make me tingle.

I
t takes an hour of scouring the ship, but eventually I find him in one of the many bars onboard. The ship is like a miniature floating city, but cleaner. Why it needs that many bars for one ship I have no idea, but they all have themes. Like the one I tracked him down in. It has an old timey western feel. The sort of theme park Wild West that probably never existed outside movies. Saloon doors, a long bar and a burly bartender who looks like he’s about to spit in the glass he’s holding to wash it.

Gavin’s off in a corner, nursing something golden amber that probably isn’t apple juice.

I slide into the chair across from him. “Howdy pardner.”

He looks up, his hazel eyes glassy. “Did you remember something else to bitch at me about, or just couldn’t stay away?”

The bitter tone in his voice makes me wince, because he isn’t far off. Is it possible I actually managed to hurt him? I push aside the guilt. He probably doesn’t deserve it. “Sober up. I need you to answer something, and for once can you just be honest with me?”

Waiting for him to straighten up, I put my elbows on the table and lean my chin on my hands. Even buzzed, he’s hot as hell, his t-shirt painted on him, showing every ridge and edge of his chiseled physique. Joyce’s advice rattles around uncomfortably in my brain, but I’m not ready to forgive and forget.

Maybe he actually realizes that I’m serious, since he sits up and blinks away the booze fog. With a frown, he watches me intently. “Alright. I’m listening.”

That went almost too easily. “Did you know cell phones work here? I had no idea.”

“Of course they do. All of these ships have cell service. They have indoor plumbing and Wi-Fi too, but I guess that’s not what you’re here to tell me about, though I appreciate the public service announcement.” One of his eyebrows arches just barely.

“I was just on the phone with Cassie.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“The girl who set us up that... night.” The Incident. Even now I can’t keep heat from flushing my face when I remember.

“The one with the slut phone?”

It takes a second before I realize what he’s talking about. “Yeah, her,” I reply with a little smile. “She told me something, but I’m not sure I understand. I’m pretty sure it’s about you.”

“Me?”

“And Paul.” I lock my eyes to his expecting... something, but he meets them with no reservations. “Yesterday.”

“Ah.” He doesn’t look away.

“Yeah. Ah. What the hell happened, Gavin?” I lean forward, looking for a shred of remorse. Regret. Something. “Why did Cassie tell me someone kicked his ass yesterday? Probably right around the time you were there.”

He shrugs. “Probably because I kicked his ass yesterday.”

Of all the freaking nerve! “Why the hell would you do that? It’s not like you couldn’t just buy a ticket with your pocket change. Was it just to mess with me? That’s over the top, even for you.”

Gavin’s eyes flash and he leans in so close that our noses almost touch. “You think so? Let me ask
you
something, then. What’s Paul’s girlfriend’s name?” His eyes look huge, filling my vision. Dark and stormy, they draw me in.

“That’s a stupid question.” I say it real slow. “Angie. Do you want me to spell it for you?”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “No, the other one.”

“What other one?”

“Violet.” He sneers, one side of his lip lifting in a grimace like he just stepped in something.

What the hell? Who’s Violet? “Who?”

“You know, his girlfriend. The one he was fucking when I came looking for him. Her name was Violet. Real pretty. Huge fucking tits. They jiggled back and forth so hard while he laid into her I thought she was gonna smack herself in the face.”

I want to believe he’s joking, but his face is like stone, dead serious. “I don’t believe you.” Unfortunately, I do, but I don’t want to. I refuse to. “And wait, they were fucking? Did you break into their bedroom or something? How batshit crazy are you?”

“Hey, I rang the fucking doorbell. Not my fault she screamed
come in
. Or maybe it was
I’m coming
, now that I think about it. They were coked out of their minds, either way.”

“What?”

“Did he ever offer to share? It’s the least he could do when you share him with Violet, and who the fuck knows who else.”

“Coke? Like—” He can’t possibly be saying what I think he is.

“White powder. Usually you snort it off a mirror. Fucks you up. Disgusting shit.”

“He doesn’t do—” I said I wanted honest, but I didn’t want this. This is too much.

“Of course not. It was probably just Violet’s and he had to hold it for her.” He leans back with a shrug, but his face shows what he really thinks.

“I see.” I don’t know what to say, or think. Paul wouldn’t do something like that. Sure, he’s rough around the edges, but drugs? Other women? I’m the only one he wants, right? He said so. And Gavin would totally say stuff like this just to get a rise out of me.

Emotion bubbles up, lumping up in my throat. I was going to let Paul be my first. That’s why I ran away from Gavin in the first place. Why I couldn’t do it. What a hypocrite I am. I was
this
close to having sex with Gavin. Is that much better?

I’m getting angry. I can feel it, but I don’t know who to aim it at. Paul, myself, Gavin? Is he telling the truth, or is this just another try at manipulating me? With a glare, I snap, “I don’t believe you.”

“Call him.” He’s dead calm.

“Alright.” Yeah. I’ll call his bluff. “I will.” Pulling out my phone, I tap Paul’s name. His icon is a little red heart, which makes me wince. Gavin’s lying. I know he is.

I know he isn’t.

The phone rings forever. Come on, pick up. I know you’re there, Paul. It just keeps ringing. Maybe he’s busy. This is stupid. What am I even going to say? Meanwhile, Gavin swirls the liquid in his glass, making no sign of backing down.

I’m just about to hang up when there’s an answer. “Hello?” The voice is unclear, slow and decidedly female.

“Who’s this?” Not the most polite way to start a phone call, but I’m past polite.

“It’s Violet. Duh. Who’re you?”

“
Duh.
Angie. Paul’s
girlfriend.
” I leave the, “you bitch,” unsaid. For now.

Her voice is muffled as she screams to someone else in the room. “There’s some bitch on the phone saying she’s your girlfriend. You wanna explain that shit?” There’s a mumbled reply that I can’t make out, and then she’s back on the line, her voice so caustic I’m surprised it doesn’t melt my ear right off. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but stay the fuck away from Paul.” I don’t think she spits, but it wouldn’t surprise me. The last thing I hear before the line goes dead is, “Crazy-ass bitch.”