23. Day Thirteen
CHAPTER 23
Day Thirteen
SEA DAY
DOMINIC
I don’t know when I fell asleep, but when I wake up, I’m spooning Katie once again. We must have shifted in our sleep.
She’s still sound asleep, but looking at the time, I smile.
The café is open.
So, I quietly get out of bed and get dressed.
I’m standing in line at the café when Grant messages me.
Grant: Going to the gym.
I respond back quickly.
Me: Nah, man. Katie isn’t feeling well. I’m grabbing her some coffee and food and heading back to the room.
I smile when I get his response.
Grant: Is she okay? Can we do anything?
That’s my best friend for you. I mean, Katie is his fiancée’s sister, but still, he would have asked no matter what. He’s a good dude.
Me: Nothing for now. I’ll update you later.
When I get to the front of the line, I order her favorite iced coffee and several of the chocolate croissants she likes. Then I order myself a breakfast sandwich.
Her coffee might melt before she wakes up, but in case she wakes up soon, I want to be ready.
Turns out I don’t have to worry about it.
When I get back to the room, she’s awake and looks freshly showered.
“You left me,” she teases, humor in her eyes.
Then she cringes as her hands fall to her stomach.
I set the coffee and food down, rushing to her side. “What can I do to help?”
She shakes her head. “Cramps suck. There’s not much you can do.”
I feel helpless. I hate that she’s in pain.
“If I could take your pain, I would. I hate seeing you like this.”
She gives me a small smile. “That’s sweet. Is that coffee for me?”
Her eyes are so hopeful. I move back, grabbing the coffee and food and bringing both back to her.
“Of course it is. I don’t drink iced coffee.”
“My bad. What was I thinking?”
I love that she is still able to tease me even with her feeling bad.
“What’s in the bag?” she asks.
“Breakfast. I bought you some of those croissants that you like. Or if you would rather a breakfast sandwich, that’s in there too.”
“You got that for you, didn’t you?”
I shrug. “If you want it, it’s yours. Whatever makes you happy.”
She shakes her head. “You spoil me.”
I smile, crawling up into bed next to her. “You deserve to be spoiled.”
The smile that crosses her face is one I want to see every day for the rest of my life. It makes her glow with happiness. Even feeling as shitty as she feels, she can beam like a lighthouse during a storm.
I love you.
The words are on the tip of my tongue. I push them down though. She already thinks I’m a playboy. Admitting I’m in love with her after two weeks isn’t going to do me any favors.
No, I have to play the long game.
First, I need to convince her to date me off this ship.
Wait. No. First, I need to take care of my girl and make her feel better. Then we can worry about tomorrow.
“Full disclosure. I told Grant you weren’t feeling well, so Nessa will probably stop by at some point,” I tell her as we both begin to eat in bed.
Usually, I’d hate this. Crumbs in bed are the worst, but I refuse to make her move.
She nods. “You told him I was on my period?”
I shake my head. “Of course not. It’s none of his business why you feel bad. Only that you do. The store opens in an hour and a half, so I’ll go grab you more pads or tampons if you prefer.”
“Could you get some of both?” Her voice is quiet.
“Of course. What else do you need? Those period meds? Chocolate? Salt?”
She smirks at me. “Really? Where do you get your information from?”
I shrug. “Movies. Television.”
“Usually I’d say not to believe what they say, but in this case, they are right. Or at least somewhat right. At the moment, I don’t feel like anything, but a craving could hit at any time. I wouldn’t worry about it right now though. Knowing me, I’ll want french fries or something I’d have to go get myself so it’s fresh.”
“Baby doll, you aren’t leaving this room unless you want to. If you want fries, then I’ll go get you fries. Hell, if you want, I’ll even order it on room service. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”
“Dom, I’m not invalid. It’s a period. I can walk and take care of myself.”
Grabbing her free hand, I kiss the back of it. “Of course you can, but I’m here, so use me. I know you aren’t feeling great. I see you cringe every now and then from cramps. If I can run upstairs and get you whatever you want, then why wouldn’t I? Let me care for you.”
I bite my tongue because what I really want to say is let me love you.
After a moment, she smiles. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though. I can be irritable and have random ass cravings.”
“I can handle it. Now if you’re done eating, we can lie back down and nap, or I can put on a movie.”
She smiles. “Napping sounds great.”
KATIE
Today has been a mess. After the rude awakening I had last night, I barely slept. I kept waking up every hour or so.
So when I woke up to Dominic gone, I decided to get up and get another shower.
When he came back with breakfast, I swooned hard.
I never told him, but my love language is affection, but as a secondary, acts of service. So between the kisses and touches, him being willing to go out of his way to bring me pads, coffee, and food, my soul is feeling fulfilled for the first time ever.
I’ve never felt this way with another man.
Nessa did stop by at some point, but I was half-asleep. I heard Dominic tell her I started my period and was resting.
She left after he promised to take good care of me.
We watched a couple movies on the television, but after a while, I was feeling restless.
That’s how I ended up convincing him to go for a walk.
So now I’m sitting at the adults-only deck, watching the water while he ran off to find me a smoothie.
I guess he talked to some older lady at the bar who told him that smoothies help with cramps.
“Is this seat taken?”
Looking over, I find Barrett standing next to me.
I give him a small smile. “Nope. You can sit.”
When I started this trip, I wanted to avoid him at all costs. As time went on, it started not to matter.
They say the opposite of love is indifference, not hate.
I started this trip hating him, but now, I don’t really care about him at all.
Sure, I don’t want him to fall overboard or get sick, but I also don’t really care what he does.
“How are you doing? Nessa said you weren’t feeling well.”
“It’s lady time.”
I shouldn’t, but I find a little joy in the way he cringes.
Dominic didn’t even bat an eye, and I bled on him, yet Barrett can’t even handle me mentioning it.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he murmurs.
I laugh. “It’s fine. What did you need, Barrett? We both know you didn’t come sit next to me for idle chitchat.”
He frowns. “I miss you, Katie. I think I fucked up. I should have never cheated on you.”
I nod. “That’s big of you to admit.”
He reaches over, grabbing my hand. “Please tell me it’s not too late. You haven’t been dating Dominic long. You can break up with him and get back with me. We can move you into my room tonight. The way it should have been all along.”
I shake my head. “Barrett, I don’t love you. I don’t want to be with you.”
“Is it because of him? You know he only went after you because of me. He’s always been that way.”
I pull away from him. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah. Back in high school, he would find out I liked a girl, and he would go after her. Even after that, he would always sleep with the girls I liked. Then he would cast them aside. You shouldn’t be with a man like that. I mean, other than a couple girls in high school, he has never actually had a girlfriend.”
His words are like a cheese grater on my nerves. I can feel myself growing angrier.
“So you think the only reason he is with me is because of you? Jesus, Barrett. Why do you think the entire world revolves around you? Newsflash, I don’t want to be with you because you were a shitty ass boyfriend, you told strangers I’m a terrible lay, you cheated on me, and you told our entire group of friends that I am a starfish in bed. You embarrassed me and hurt me over and over again. Now that I’ve moved on and I no longer care about you, now you want me back? Get over yourself. I’m not a toy you can fight over. You didn’t want me. Now you don’t have me. Move the fuck on.”
“Katie, please?—”
“No,” I cut him off. “Just no. Leave, Barrett. We can be on friendly terms in a group setting, but I’m over you. I don’t hate you or want anything bad to happen to you, but I don’t want to be with you.”
He swallows hard. “I really am sorry. I mean it. I love you, Katie. I was scared about how fast things were moving, and I made a stupid move.”
“That sounds like a you problem. Not a me problem. You need to go before Dominic comes back. I don’t want to deal with whatever petty bullshit you have planned.”
He looks sad for a moment. “I don’t have anything planned. I wanted to talk to you.”
“And you did,” I remind him. “Now I’m done talking.”
“Everything okay here?”
I startle, not realizing that someone had approached us.
I look up at Dominic and smile. “I’m good. He was just leaving.”
Barrett stands. “Just think about it, okay?”
“There’s nothing to think about. Now, if you could walk away, you’re blocking my sun,” I say as I lean back in the chair, shutting my eyes.
Barrett must leave because the sun is now beaming on my face.
I hear Dominic take a seat next to me. It doesn’t take long for me to feel his eyes on me.
“I got that smoothie for you,” he says, surprising me.
“Not going to ask what that was all about?” I ask as I open my eyes, reaching for the smoothie.
“If you wanted me to know, you would tell me. I won’t drag it out of you. It’s your business, and as long as it’s not affecting us as a couple, I don’t need to know.” He shrugs as I slip the straw between my lips.
“This is delicious.”
“It is,” he says, making me raise a brow. “I might have taste-tested it on my way back. I didn’t want to give you anything disgusting,” he says, slightly blushing.
“How are you still single?”
“I’m not.”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I figured when it’s right, I’ll know. So far, it hasn’t been.”
“Well, there’s one thing I know for sure.”
“What’s that?”
“You will make some woman extremely happy one day.”
He mumbles something under his breath, making me frown. “What was that?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head. “What do you want to do today?”
“Well, there’s actually this contest up on deck ten that I think you would do amazing in.” I smile to myself.
“Oh yeah? What time does it start?” He also has a smile on his face.
“One. Want to head up now and sign up?”