Chapter Seven
Day 7: Friday
At Sea
Andrew
I roll over slowly and quietly as I don’t want to disturb the gorgeous woman lying in my bed. Her head rests gently on the white pillow, and I can see her bare shoulders peeking out from the covers. I could stare at her all day.
My body is still recovering from a night of serious lovemaking. Any doubts about my feelings for this woman were eliminated last night. We’re at sea all day, and there should be plenty of time to tell her how I feel.
“Good morning,” I say as I walk back into the room with coffee and pastries.
“Good morning,” she replies slowly, finding her voice.
“Sleep okay?” I ask.
“I don’t even remember falling asleep.”
“I think we just passed out. Coffee? Tea? Or water?” I offer.
“Water, please.” She sits up, letting the sheet fall off her chest and exposing her naked breasts as I hand her a bottle. “Thank you.”
I just stare at her. This will never get old.
“What?” she asks, probably feeling self-conscious. “Is something wrong?” after she thirstily drains the entire bottle.
“No, not at all. You’re stunning. Absolutely stunning.”
“Stop it.”
I lean over and kiss her gently, lovingly.
“Thank you,” she whispers against my lips.
I slide back into bed as I want to prolong our morning together.
She places the empty water bottle on the nightstand and turns back to cuddle under my arm. I feel her naked body against me, her legs draping over mine.
“Hey, I’ve got a question for you,” she declares.
“Ok.”
“Did you bring condoms with you?”
“Wow! I wasn’t expecting that question. No, I didn’t bring condoms with me. I bought them yesterday.”
“Feeling confident, were you?”
“Well, you did ask to spend the night, so I just wanted to be prepared.”
“That’s fair and appreciated.”
“Ok, one more question,” she pleads.
“Shoot.”
“Can we use another one this morning?” she asks innocently.
We spend several more hours in bed exploring each other’s bodies and use two more before crashing into a mid-morning nap, completely spent.
I’m woken up by the unique ringtone coming from the other room. I slide out of bed, trying not to disturb DJ as she sleeps.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Good morning, Andrew.” I hear Kristen’s voice on the other end.
“Good morning.”
“Your dad needs to talk to you.”
“Is everything ok?” I ask, hoping to get a clue as to why he needs to talk to me.
“I think so, but I’m not sure. He came in this morning in a foul mood. Hey, before I transfer you, how’s it going with your cruise crush?”
“Seriously?! I have to have a conversation with my blabber-mouth-of-a-sister.”
“Don’t get me in trouble. She’s just very excited for you.”
“Ok, ok. Just put Dad through, please.”
“AJ.”
“Good morning, Dad. What’s up?”
“The board of directors wants a meeting today.”
“Why? What happened?”
“They’re not happy because you didn’t communicate with them regarding the sea trial mishap and released the ship without their input.”
“Dad, we talked about it. It’s not like I went rogue.”
“AJ, there are several things at play here. The board is testing you. This was a major decision and your first, so they’re looking for an explanation and reasoning as to why they weren’t consulted.”
“Would you have called a meeting?”
“No. But I’ve been doing this for fifty-plus years and have established myself with them. You, on the other hand, do not have that currency yet.”
“Fuck!” I whisper.
“Kristen will set up a Zoom call for one p.m. EST. Make sure you are somewhere private. Pieter can help you with that.”
“Any advice or guidance on how I should manage this call?”
“State the facts, your decision, and the result. Don’t bullshit them. Hold your ground, but be respectful.”
“Are you going to be on the call?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. See you then. Love you.”
“Thanks. Love you too. ”
Ughhhh. I’m upset because I was looking forward to spending time with DJ, but I’m more upset because the board is calling me out on my first major decision.
I walk back into the bedroom and hear DJ in the shower. As tempted as I am to just walk in and join her, my head is now focused on this meeting with the board. If this board thinks they’re going to micromanage me, then we need to get that straightened out ASAP.
She comes out to the living room wearing a pair of my shorts and a T-shirt.
“I hope I didn’t wake you up with my call.”
“No. I rolled over and heard you in the other room. Is everything ok?”
“I have a call today at one p.m., but it shouldn’t take long.”
“Must be important.”
“It’s just something I have to take care of.”
“So, what’s the plan for this afternoon? I was thinking pool, the pool, or even possibly the pool. Thoughts?” she says, grinning.
“Well, the meeting should finish no later than two p.m.”
“That works because I’m going to meet up with Jess.”
“Ok, meet at the Oasis at two p.m.”
“Hey, I already have dinner reservations for seven o’clock tonight at Three Forks. I made it before I got on the ship and called down yesterday and added one.”
“Three Forks is the best steakhouse restaurant on the seas! Does this count as a date date?” I ask.
“Absolutely. And if you’re lucky, maybe after the ‘date’ date, we can have ‘sex’ sex?” she teases with a smile.
She stands to head out, and I follow. She turns and puts her hand on my chest. “AJ, thank you for last night. It was by far the most romantic date of my life.”
“I had a great time too. Glad I’m making it more difficult for the other guys.”
“What do you mean? What other guys?”
“Any other guy you date.”
“What if I don’t want to date any other guys?” she quietly whispers as she leans up to give me a kiss and leaves.
Speechless. She said it and left. “What if I don’t want to date any other guys?” Mic drop. What just happened? Does that mean what I think it does? I don’t want to overthink it, but how do I not? And all I could do was stand there, frozen. Shit!
Delaney
Well, I just fired the first shot across the bow, no pun intended. Just watching his reaction was priceless but scary. He just froze, obviously not expecting my question. Is he freaking out? I don’t think so, especially after last night. But then why didn’t he say anything? His eyes widened, his breathing stopped, and he just stood there. Well, it’s out there. Let’s see what he does with it.
Returning to my room, I notice a new floral arrangement on the dresser.
Flutter. Flutter. I check the time and still have an hour before I meet Jess. I have to write!
I want to tell him; I just don’t know when or how. It’s time to get ready for my date so I’ll deal with the rest as it happens.
Day 7: At Sea
I woke up in AJ’s bed. Last night was nothing short of spectacular. The whole date and then last night, it was the best sex I’ve ever had. Not just physically but emotionally. I think it was the best sex because I have a deep emotional connection with AJ, more than any other guy I’ve been with. And the sex, fuck me! He was unbelievable and made my body feel things I’ve never experienced. I want to experience it again! And again! And again! Lol Oh, and one more thing, I like, no love having my ass slapped. Who would have thought? Not this girl!
The show last night was incredibly good, and Bella Vista was by far the best filet I’ve ever had, ever. Interesting that the restaurant had the same name as AJ’s house in Saint Thomas? The double-baked potatoes with Ritz crackers on top, shut up! The garlic jumbo grilled shrimp on the steak was fantastic! I have not had a bad meal on this ship! Kudos to Chef Marcus !
Meeting up with Jess this morning before making my way to the pool with my guy. Did I really just write that? My guy?! Shit! But it’s true, I want him to be all mine. I want him to be my guy and I want to be his girl. I asked him before I left his room, “What if I don’t want to date other guys?” and left him speechless. Should be an interesting day at the pool!
“Hey, how are you?” Jess asks, walking up to me with her arms wide open.
Embracing, I say, “Great, thanks, and you?”
“Tired! I’m ready for a break. I know, I know, we’ve been on a cruise for a week, but it’s been non-stop with the girls, and I’m exhausted.”
“I’m sure,” I validate. She’s right, though. Being responsible for the team can be stressful and there isn’t any downtime, and outside of sleeping, absolutely no alone time. We’re experiencing two different thought patterns. While she’s happy the cruise is over in less than twenty hours, I’m completely dreading it.
Jess booked us a conference room so we could have some privacy. I spend a lot of time taking pictures with the girls, signing autographs, and talking about my Olympic experience. I do enjoy being around the sport, and every once in a while, I toy with the idea of coaching. Jess would most certainly hire me if she thought I was interested. I guess it’s a valid fallback, but my freelance writing, endorsements, and consulting jobs like this one on Pinnacle are taking care of me financially.
“Delaney, one more picture, please?” asks a young woman who has been waiting for a while.
“Sure. What’s your name, and where are you from?”
“I’m Stacey from Indianapolis. So excited! I’m such a huge fan. I actually saw you compete in Nationals before the Olympics. I was eight at the time.”
Ouch! #gettingold
“Ok, ladies, Delaney has to get going,” Jess announces, noticing I was checking my watch. “Thank you so much for visiting with us today.”
“Thank you!” I hear several of the girls say. “We love you!” comes from another.
“It’s been so great to be with you guys. Thank you for letting me spend some time with you today.”
It’s 1:30, so I go to my room and change so I can meet AJ at 2. Being with the girls was a great distraction as my mind immediately began thinking about my last comment to him and his reaction. I’m sure I’m overreacting, so I’m just going to calm down. I’ll see him, and I’m sure he will put my mind at ease.
Andrew
The board moved the meeting to two p.m. due to scheduling issues with several members who are also traveling today. That’s not convenient since I’m supposed to meet DJ at two p.m. at Oasis. Maybe her meeting with Jess went longer than expected, and I can get through this call in fifteen minutes. Wishful thinking, I know.
“Andrew, we’re set for 2:15,” says Kristen on the other end of the call.
Damn it! I’m getting more frustrated and annoyed with the delay. Last time I checked, I’m the fucking CEO, right? For the first time in my life, I want to prioritize a relationship over work. I want to prioritize DJ!
“Ok, I just want to get this over with.”
“Hold on, your father wants to speak to you.”
“AJ?”
“Yes, Dad?”
“Remember, keep your answers brief. They may slap your hand for not communicating with them, so take your medicine and avoid conflict.”
“Dad, I’m not going to let them push me around and treat me like a kid.”
“Settle down. This is what I’m talking about. They need to see you poised and willing to take guidance. I’m not saying you can’t push back. Just be respectful and professional.”
Those are all very good points, as he knows that I can get animated and defensive very quickly.
“Ok, see you on the call, and thanks for the advice.”
This call has been a needed distraction since DJ’s comment is still in my head, “What if I don’t want to date any other guys?”
I’m falling for this woman, and it appears the feeling is mutual. She caught me off guard this morning. I should have responded the same way, but I couldn’t move. Regardless, as soon as this meeting is over, I’m going to tell her that I don’t want to date any other women.
Delaney
It’s 3:30, and AJ is still not here. All my instincts are telling me this is bad. Why isn’t he here? I’m almost sick thinking about it. I’ve gotten up several times to scan the area to make sure he isn’t sitting somewhere else.
Did something happen to him? You know, like in An Affair to Remember when Cary Grant is waiting on the top of the Empire State Building, and Deborah Kerr’s character jumps out of the cab, is hit by a car, and never makes it to the top. Cary Grant is just left waiting and waiting until they turn the lights out, never knowing why she never showed up. Am I Cary Grant? Did he fall off the ship? Because right now, that’s about the only excuse I would accept. I haven’t seen a helicopter leave, so he must still be on the ship.
In all seriousness, I’m working myself into a tizzy right now. Why isn’t he here? Did I scare him? Does he even like me? Was it all about sex with him? No. But maybe? Shit! I can feel tears welling up under my sunglasses. I’m just so confused and angry right now. How could I have been so wrong? All the same feelings of me standing at LAX years ago, waiting for the guy whose name we don’t mention, are swirling in my head and stomach. It just feels bad.
Andrew
I can’t believe I’m still on this call. It’s now four p.m., and we’ve been going non-stop since 2:17, to be exact. I can’t even imagine what DJ is thinking. The same thing I’d be thinking, and it kills me. I never would’ve thought this call would consume my entire afternoon. My patience is wearing thin, and my frustration festers with each minute that I’m on this call instead of sitting next to the woman I’m falling for.
“Jack, I reviewed the information with Hans when I saw the test reports, and since they were exactly the same, I didn’t feel there was an issue.”
Jack Flanigan is a long-time board member and the biggest pain in my ass right now. He’s having a difficult time understanding why we didn’t just do the test again. I’ve tried to explain that a delay would cause the cancellation of the VIP cruise, and that’s worth millions of dollars in advertising.
“I think we should have been made aware and consulted,” he insists.
“Respectfully, sir, the decision was mine to make,” I counter, getting a little aggressive. I watch my father shift in his seat. “Safety is my number one priority, and after I consulted with Hans and we were given the green light by the Maritime Board, it was the right call.”
“Andrew, it may have ultimately been the right call, but we should’ve been notified. God forbid a safety situation does occur, and the board is held responsible. We shouldn’t be caught off guard,” he returns.
Looking at my watch, I’m more upset about not being at the Oasis than arguing with Jack. He’s a notorious pontificator and spends more time talking than listening. DJ is never going to talk to me again, thanks to this jackass!
“I feel we’ve exhausted this conversation,” my father says.
It’s the first thing he’s said during the entire meeting. He just threw me to the sharks and watched me defend my decision and reasoning.
“Jack, I think Andrew understands your concern regarding how this situation was handled. At the end of the day, Andrew is going to be making these calls, and just as the board has supported me over the last fifty years, I would hope you would extend the same support to Andrew,” he encourages.
Thanks, Dad, for finally speaking up. Nice to know my wingman is still on the call.
“Since I’m still traveling, I will send a full report to the board within forty-eight hours once I’m back in Fort Lauderdale. Thank you all for your time today.”
With that, I’m outta here at 4:37…shit! I’ve got to get to the pool before it’s too late. Racing down the hall, I have no idea what I could possibly say that’s going to justify my absence this afternoon. I don’t want to give her the details because it will only get me more pissed thinking about it, and she probably doesn’t even care. The second reason, we said we weren’t going to talk about our jobs, but I also need her to understand there was a legitimate reason for my absence and that I wasn’t ghosting her. Ugh!
I get to the Oasis, out of breath, scanning the chairs and pools, and see no sign of DJ. Maybe she’s in the bathroom or at the bar, so I keep pacing back and forth, hoping to see her. Nothing. I stand around until 5:10 and finally head back to my room.
Fuck! Double fuck! I’ve totally blown it. I have no idea how I can possibly recover from this without telling her the truth.
Delaney
I asked him before I left his room, “What if I don’t want to date other guys?” and left him speechless. Should be an interesting day at the pool!
Oh…it was an interesting fucking day, alright! He never showed up! Stood me up! Dickhead! I’m so upset, and angry, but most of all, sad. I really like-liked him and he ghosts me…WTF?!
I’m so hurt, especially after last night. How do you sleep with someone and then treat them like this? Who does that? Assholes! Assholes do that! How could I not see it coming? Was it all a ploy? Is his name really AJ?
I can’t help but question everything he’s said. Was it all just to get me into bed?
I head out to my balcony and just sit. I need to calm down and try to relax. I can’t turn my mind off. I’m replaying all our conversations and there were no red flags or signals that he was a dick. I allowed myself to get attached and I got fucked, literally and figuratively. I woke up this morning not wanting this cruise to end. Now, I can’t wait to get back to port and get off this fucking ship!
Andrew
After pacing in my room for the last ninety minutes, I remember that we have a date tonight at Three Forks at seven p.m. Well, we did when the day started. Now, after this afternoon, I have no idea if she’s going to be there, but I have to try.
Arriving at 7:03, I scan the room to see if she’s here. I spot her sitting alone against the wall of windows, sipping on her drink. Her back is to the entrance, so she doesn’t see me. It also means that she’s not looking for me. If she were, she would be facing the entrance, waiting to flag me down and get my attention. I’m in deep shit right now and have no idea if I have a big enough shovel to dig myself out.
“Is this seat still available?” I gingerly ask as I approach the table.
Silence. No head turn. Nothing.
“DJ, I can expl—”
“Please, stop!”
She turns her head; her eyes are puffy, and it’s obvious that she’s been crying. My heart breaks.
“I’m so sorry,” I plead.
“AJ, my energy is zapped. I don’t think I’m in a good headspace, and this is not the place to have this conversation.”
“DJ, please let me explain,” I beg. “I don’t want this to ruin our trip.”
“A little late for that,” she quips.
“May I please sit down? You don’t have to say anything. Please listen.”
“Fine.”
Although I know it isn’t. I can tell it isn’t fine that I’m even in the restaurant. Her body language makes that clear. She would rather I jump off the ship than sit down at the table with her.
“My meeting went much longer than I expected. I’m really sorry.”
“Who has meetings when they’re on vacation?” she asks softly.
“I need you to understand that all I could think about was getting to the Oasis to be with you.”
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t you just end the call? Did you not want to be with me?”
“No way! Is that what you think?”
“It’s all I thought about this afternoon and what I was thinking about when I sat down at this table. This unbelievable guy woos me all week. I have the best vacation of my life; we sleep together, and then he ghosts me.”
When she puts it that way, it does sound bad. Shit! I feel fucking horrible.
“I promise that’s the furthest from the truth. I couldn’t get off the call,” I plead.
“What was so important about this call that you had to handle it this afternoon? On vacation?”
“It was an important call.” My voice is a little sharp, as I’m getting annoyed that she doesn’t let it go. “Can we just move on?”
The look in her eyes tells me that was probably the stupidest thing I could have suggested.
“Move on?! You fuck me and then ghost me!” she says in a loud whisper. “How do I just ‘move on’? At this point, I don’t know if I can even trust what you’re saying. Was there really a call?”
“This is crazy. First of all, I didn’t just fuck you, and you know that,” I respond in my own loud whisper, trying not to cause a scene. “Second, it was a fucking important phone call that had to be made today. I went to the Oasis as soon as I could, but I knew I was too late. Please don’t let this one event ruin our evening or our week.”
Just at that time, our waitress comes over. “Good evening, I’m Luiza, and I’ll be serving you tonight along with Paulo.”
“We need a minute, please,” I interrupt.
“Absolutely, please take your time,” she says.
I look back at DJ.
“AJ, I had a lot of time to think this afternoon, and I realize that as much time as we’ve spent together, I don’t really know you. What do you do? Why was the call more important than me? How do you feel about marriage and kids? What’s your biggest regret? Am I just some chick you banged while on vacation? Is AJ even your real name?”
“Where the fuck is this coming from? When we were walking along the pier in Saint Thomas, I told you I would answer any questions that you have. That’s still true. I’ve opened up to you more than any other woman in my life. I took you to my family home, a place that no other woman has been. I hate that I couldn’t be with you this afternoon. I hate that you think I was ghosting you, especially after last night and this morning. But what hurts the most is knowing that after we’ve shared so much, you would question my intentions and character.”
“I just couldn’t understand why you weren’t there, and my thoughts returned to some ugly places I promised myself I wouldn’t go again.”
“I’m sorry about that. Let’s order some dinner and work through this,” I suggest.
“AJ, I’m just not feeling well. I’m going back to my room,” she says, standing.
I get up right away. “Please don’t leave. ”
“Let’s connect tomorrow morning for breakfast,” she suggests.
“This is our last night. Let’s go get some fresh air,” I suggest.
She begins walking through the restaurant, and I follow. We arrive at the elevator bank and wait.
“Let’s meet at the buffet for breakfast at seven a.m.,” she suggests.
The familiar ding is heard, notifying us an elevator is about to open.
I turn and face her, holding her hands. “I’m a CEO and had an important call with my board of directors regarding the purchase of a $1.4 billion investment. The call obviously didn’t go as planned. I do want to get married and hope to start a family. In fact, it’s you that I see in that picture. You are not just some chick I banged on vacation. My biggest regret is leaving you alone this afternoon. And yes, AJ is a nickname reserved only for family and close friends. My name is Andrew.”
The doors open, and I can’t let her go. “Please, don’t go,” I implore.
“We can talk tomorrow morning.”
And with that, she releases my hands, gets in the elevator, the doors close, and she’s gone.
Delaney
Of course, there’s a new floral bouquet waiting for me when I return to my stateroom.
What a fucking emotional rollercoaster! I need to start packing, but all I want to do is lie down and get my thoughts and feelings together. On one hand, I’m mad that he turned the situation around and took offense at my doubts about him. Like he has any right to be hurt by the situation today? I’m the one who was stood up. On the other hand, when I replay our conversation, he did seem very genuine. He really did squelch my insecurities that he was ghosting me. He explained his job and the importance of the call. He was pretty clear that he wants to get married and have kids and that he sees me as part of his future . On top of it all, when he was holding my hands at the elevator, I realized how much I still crave his touch.
Maybe I need to think about this differently. Did I jump to conclusions? What are the facts? He did have an important call that didn’t go as planned. He did come to find me as soon as he could. He did answer all my questions. I guess he does have a lot on his plate with being a CEO and making $1.4 billion decisions. Maybe all my doubts and fears that surfaced before I had the facts led to my emotional response? I wouldn’t have had such a strong emotional response if I didn’t really love this man. And that fact is probably the scariest of all.
My emotions are raw, and as much as I want to see him tonight, I scan my room and realize I have to pack. This ship is docking in eight hours, and I’m nowhere near ready to disembark. When we meet for breakfast, we can get back on track.