Chapter 19 - Gwen - Bumping into You
Chapter 19
Gwen
I wake up to the late morning light coming in from my balcony. There’s something to be said about seeing the ocean when you first open your eyes. You just don’t get that same view in the landlocked state of Tennessee. Nothing bad on Tennessee. It has some gorgeous views, but the ocean is exactly what I’ve needed lately.
After making a ridiculously strong cup of coffee, I sit back in my bed with my legs curled up in my blankets as I sip, watching as the waves roll across the water. Finally, I get up, stretch, and throw on my running shorts and sports bra. I find the running track, wanting to get a long run in today. Nothing better than running with a nice breeze from the ship and the ocean view all around the boat.
My brain is so full of conflicting thoughts and emotions that I need a good hard run to clear it and figure out . . . well, everything. The wedding in a few days, Tammy and Bradley on the cruise, trying to have fun and not only work on this cruise, and Niall, literally everything about Niall. . . .
Turning at the bow of the ship, I follow the path back down toward the aft, my feet pounding out the familiar rhythm, a cadence that is both invigorating as much as it is calming.
I didn’t realize until I was singing karaoke last night how much I missed feeling like myself. As much as I hate to admit it, with Niall, I feel like the old me again. Full of life and a feeling of giddiness. And it feels good. Really good. He brings out a side of me that’s been missing.
He’s been so kind to me. And to top it off, he has a history with the guys that makes it feel like he’s been a part of our group for years. I mean, I guess he has with Greg and Trent, but he fits in so easily with all of us. And when I get out of my own head, I find that I can have fun and enjoy his company too.
Like that duet we did . . . damn.
When he started singing, my heart practically jumped out of my body. And then when he began dancing, it shattered any lingering annoyance and fear I had of being around him and letting him in. He’s so goofy and adorable, but damn, the look in his eyes when he picked me up and spun me around at the end of the song was intense. My skin prickled the rest of the night, the lingering warmth from his touch staying with me long after we left the Hurdy-Gurdy.
“Morning,” I say as I move around an older couple walking the path.
“Good morning,” they call back after me as I continue to run ahead of them.
If I’m being honest with myself, I think it was the feeling of someone looking out for me that made me sleep so soundly last night. When Niall noticed that Bradley and Tammy were at the Hurdy-Gurdy, he did what I never thought possible. He made me forget all about them.
Just as I’m thinking about Niall, he, Greg, and Trent appear beside me.
“Hey, Gwennie,” says Greg.
“Hi, guys,” I say, frustrated they popped up just as I am finding my rhythm running.
“We haven’t seen you on the track yet,” says Trent.
“Nope, I went to yoga yesterday,” I answer.
“Didn’t want to go today?” Niall asks, the guys all easily keeping pace with me.
“Couples yoga today,” I reply.
“Well,” says Greg, “don’t let that stop you. Niall would love to go with you. Right, Niall?”
“Um, yeah,” says Niall.
I narrow my eyes at Greg. What is he thinking suggesting Niall and I go to couples yoga together?
My mind jumps back to Niall shirtless outside the gym as I wiped the spilled green smoothie off him. I need to change the subject before I lose myself in this memory. “Don’t forget this afternoon we have the cupcake decorating class with everyone.”
“Thank you,” says Greg, “for adding the cupcake class to the itinerary. I know it will make Holly so happy.”
“Of course,” I say. “It’ll be fun for all of us.”
“As long as you and Holly don’t make a giant mess,” says Trent, “like you did baking at the cabin.”
We laugh at the memory, then run in silence for a while.
“As much fun as this is to run with you three,” I say as we round the corner at the back of the ship, “it’s feeling a little crowded.”
“Right, well, we’ll get out of your hair,” says Trent.
“See you around, Gwennie,” says Greg.
Trent and Greg speed up a bit, but Niall calls after them, “I’ll catch up in a minute, need to ask Gwen something.”
The guys wave at him so he knows they heard him, and Niall settles in next to me. He quietly keeps pace with me before saying, “So about the cupcake decorating class, I was thinking maybe we could pair up.”
“Pair up?”
“Yeah, I looked into it, and it requires groups of two.”
I glance over at him; he’s grinning at me like the Cheshire cat with a secret.
“Yes, I know that. But don’t you think it will be weird if we pair up together in front of everyone?”
“Well, you mentioned that everyone would be attending the cupcake decorating class, right?”
“Yes. . . .”
“Does that mean Bradley and Tammy will be there?”
After looking at the itinerary this morning, I know they will be. “Yeah, they will.”
“So wouldn’t it make sense that we are working together, since they think we are supposed to be dating?”
“Yes, but I don’t want anyone else thinking something is going on between us.”
“I don’t think they will,” says Niall.
“And why is that?”
“After karaoke at the Hurdy-Gurdy last night, no one said anything to me. And if they didn’t say anything about it last night, I doubt they will over cupcake decorating.”
“True. It does make sense for us to be partners with Bradley and Tammy being there. I guess you’re right.”
Niall’s grin grows slightly, and his eyes seem to sparkle with amusement. “Did you just say I was right?”
I try to glare at him. “No.”
“Well then,” says Niall, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, “I guess it’s settled. At the cupcake decorating class, we will put on the best show.”
We run in silence for a few more minutes. But I’m getting nervous about Greg and Trent getting curious about Niall and I spending so much alone time together. I don’t need them getting in the middle of our pretend relationship and messing things up. “You should probably catch up with the guys,” I say. “I don’t want them getting suspicious of us.”
“Right,” says Niall. “I don’t want to stir up suspicions. See you in class.” Niall waves and takes off in a sprint to catch up with the guys.
I try to keep my same rhythmic pace, but watching Niall’s butt as he runs throws it off and ruins my whole plan to clear my head during this run.