Chapter 14
Claire
Dinner with Forrest and Wells went way better than the first time.
Neither of them brought up what happened with Megan today, and they were both a little more touchy feely.
I loved every second of it. I thought about going back to their room and having a repeat of the other night, but I needed some space to think.
Forrest gave me his jacket from dinner before we parted ways and I made a promise that if I wasn’t feeling well that I’d contact them immediately.
I just need some time to catch my breath. It’s been a whirlwind since I stepped foot on this ship and when I’m around Wells and Forrest, it’s almost like I can’t think straight.
There isn’t a single regret over what Wells and I did earlier. I wasn’t drunk, definitely more confident with the champagne in my system, but I wanted him so badly. And, okay, maybe seeing Megan touch him made me feel like I needed to mark him as mine, but at the end of the day I just wanted him.
I even liked having him in my mouth, watching him fall apart and the power I had over him. Spending the day with him has only made my feelings grow. I can’t remember ever just enjoying space with a man like that. He makes me laugh, I feel comfortable and safe around him.
Yet…there’s still this pit in my stomach.
I can’t decide if it’s guilt or not. There’s absolutely nothing for me to be guilty for, but there’s this small piece of myself that still is holding on to hope for Elliot.
Without a doubt, I know he and Wells would become instant friends. As for Forrest and him, I’m not sure how they would get along.
I groan into my pillow, hating this train of thought, because it’s pointless. Elliot isn’t here. He doesn’t want to be. I have two amazing men who are pursuing me, who I like and should be lying in bed with right now. Who cares how fast everything seems when it feels so right?
I need to stop over thinking and let myself be all in with Forrest and Wells. I’ll come clean about not giving them my last name and the reason for it, and it’s time to leave Elliot where he belongs, in the past.
The ship is in a frenzy as new Alphas, Betas, and Omegas board in Miami. The ship already felt full, but now it’s almost overwhelming.
The lines for the buffet are longer, there are fewer empty tables, and a plethora of new scents.
I’m shaking my leg under the table as I eat breakfast with Forrest and Wells and a big palm lands on the top of my thigh, pausing the shaking.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
Forrest doesn’t mince words by asking if I’m okay; he knows I’m not and he doesn’t want me to just say that I’m fine and brush it off.
“I think I’d like to get off the ship tomorrow. The ship’s getting kind of crowded and it might be nice to spend some time on land.”
“Yes,” Forrest says.
“It will have to be a cruise certified excursion and you’ll have to be my chaperone pack.” Maybe I say chaperone in a shitty tone, but it makes Forrest smile.
“Finish your breakfast and we’ll go pick something out,” he says, pushing the bowl of fruit in my direction.
I want to roll my eyes, but can’t because I like the way he takes care of me.
I’m just waiting for the right moment to tell them who I am and why I felt I need to hide that information, and maybe I need to tell them about Elliot, too.
If it’s making me feel guilty, then it’s probably something they need to know.
When we finish up breakfast, Wells easily takes my hand in his as we make our way to excursion services. There are a few other people milling about in the space. It’s a large glass room with multiple tablet kiosks to swipe through to choose which activities you’d be interested in.
It’s in the middle of the ship, along with guest services, a few bars, and the main cafe.
We pick a kiosk that faces out toward the hall and I begin swiping.
Forrest is swiping on the tablet next to me while Wells has a hand on my back, looking over all the options with me.
“Nothing that involves getting on another boat, and I’m not so sure about the whole swimming with pigs thing,” I say, as Wells swipes.
Luckily, the headings for each of the excursions are in a bold font and it’s easy to keep up.
I’m still not sure what to pick as I look up into the hall and I see the back of a man. He’s broad, with familiar curls on top of his head. It couldn’t be, could it?
Without thinking, I leave the kiosk and walk out to the hallway. Wells is hot on my tail, following me as I shimmy my way through the crowd.
“Claire, is everything alright?” Wells asks. His hand is gripping my dress so he doesn’t lose me.
“Yeah. I think I just see someone I know,” I say, heading in the direction I saw him going. Wells doesn’t stop me, but stays close as we get closer toward the elevators where he’s headed.
When I finally catch up to him, I grab his arm, and he tenses under my touch.
“Elliot?” I say his name and when he turns around, it isn’t him. He’s a complete stranger. My stomach drops and embarrassment floods me over how I just ran out here chasing after him because he was large and had similar hair.
“No. But you can call me whatever you want,” the stranger says with a smile.
“Sorry about that. I thought you were someone else.” I wrap my arms around myself and head back to the excursion kiosk and begin swiping again.
I’m not going to cry, and I’m definitely not going to let my embarrassment show.
“Who’s Elliot?” Wells asks.
“A family friend,” Forrest replies for me, but it feels like his gaze can see right through me, that he knows he was always more than a friend to me.
Did I really, for a second, think that Elliot would show up here? And what? Try to convince me to come home and confess that he’s also had feelings for me all this time.
I’m swiping the kiosk, barely reading anything as massive arms envelop me from behind, Forrest resting his chin on top of my head. His scent is soothing, it’s the first time he’s truly embraced me physically in public.
“Now, what do you want to do? Relax or an adventure?” he asks, letting me off the hook for why I just rushed out there and why I’m acting the way I am.
I just can’t explain it. I mean, I can explain why I want Elliot. He’s beautiful, strong, dependable, and he’s always had my back. Even when we bicker, he’s always been on my side, even when it involves going against my brothers, who are his best friends.
He just didn’t want me the same way I wanted him.
As Forrest holds me and Wells looks at me with a worried expression, I realize that they’re completely on my side, too.
It’s time to let him go.
“How about an adventure,” I say easily and we agree on a pirate sight-seeing tour.
We fill out the paperwork necessary for them to take me off the ship, and I spend the rest of the evening trying to get rid of this sinking feeling out of my gut.
Leaving the ship was exactly what I needed. Our tour guide is amazing, and I love seeing all the history of the place while sightseeing.
Forrest and Wells have been perfect, and I’ve been able to just have fun and let everything go. I’m finally in the moment and not overthinking everything and it feels so good.
We end the tour with a rum tasting, which isn’t my favorite, my nose scrunched from the last sip.
“I think I’ll stick to rum cake,” I say, plopping a piece of the cake into my mouth.
“Mmm, let me try.” Wells’ mouth is open next to my face as I push a piece into his mouth. “Not as good as cinnamon apple cake,” he jokes with a smile.
“How’s your stomach?” Forrest asks, his large hand gently touching my exposed shoulder.
“It feels great, thank you,” I reply.
He was fussing over me the whole jeep ride, shoving his large form in the backseat so I could sit up front just in case I didn’t feel well.
He was also a little aggressive with making sure I kept reapplying sunscreen too.
I can’t deny that I adore how big of a caretaker he is toward me.
It’s never because he doesn’t think I can’t take care of myself, but because he takes enjoyment out of making sure that I’m okay.
The bar is combined with a gift shop, and shopping is shopping. I’m not leaving here empty-handed.
I’m browsing the small trinkets and decide that I’d really like to remember every stop on this cruise. There’s a crystal chest with The Bahamas engraved on the glass and I inspect it. It’s big enough to fit some magnets, pins, and other little gems I find along the way.
I grab a fake gold doubloon as well and bring it up to the register. Wells has an armful of Tortuga Rum Cakes that he places on the counter.
“You know they don’t let you eat these until the end of the cruise,” I remind him.
“Oh, I know. I checked all the expiration dates,” he jests, pulling out his credit card.
“Thank you,” I say, putting the fake coin into the chest. “I want to create a box of memories of this trip, pick up something from every stop.”
“Turks and Caicos is next. We’ll have to pick a new excursion,” Wells adds, holding three bags of rum cakes along his arms as we go to meet with our tour group.
“I was thinking maybe just relaxing at the beach?”
“Whatever you want,” Wells says with a grin, his hands are full, and I’m pleased when Forrest takes the initiative of sliding his hand in mine.
I lean my head into his arm as we walk and he kisses the top of my head and I melt, and it’s not even because of the Caribbean sun.
No, this moment is perfect.
“A picture for the happy pack,” one of the crew says, stopping us from boarding, where he directs us to stand in front of the ship to take a picture.
I smile wide at the camera as he takes a few pictures and scans my bracelet.
“Photos will show up on your app by this evening,” he tells me.
I’m absolutely buying that one and adding it to my box.
We’re handed ice cold towels and cups of water before we re-board. They seize Wells’ cakes and there’s definitely some disappointment there, even though he knew what to expect.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you a slice of cake for dinner,” I tell him, running a soothing hand down his biceps.
“I’m going to need to start hitting the gym with Forrest with how many treats they have available. I got three soft serve ice creams yesterday. Three!” he goes on.
“It’s vacation, you’re supposed to live it up,” I say, as we walk to the elevators. No discussion yet with where we’re going. I wonder if this is how people in college felt dating and finding packs.
“Speaking of which, tonight is the black and white party. Are we going?” Wells asks.
Forrest groans, and I give him a smirk.
“Andie asked me to be her wing woman, so we have to go. We can get cleaned up, dressed for the party, grab dinner, and then go?” I suggest.
“Sounds perfect to me,” Wells says, leaning in my direction and giving me a quick kiss. Forrest follows suit, kissing me, his beard lightly tickling my skin as he kisses the side of my face too.
My perfume goes crazy and the big Alpha has to clear his throat.
“Message us when you get to your room,” Forrest says and I nod.
I watch them both walk away, admiring the fact that they both have amazing asses. I’m not sure if it’s this crash course in courtship and spending all our time together, my pheromones, or my impending heat, but I think I’m going to need to take our relationship to the next level tonight.
After I tell them everything at dinner, then we can finally take the next step. Because truth be told, I think taking Forrest’s knot would help me relax even more.
As long as they don’t have any preconceived notions about my family or have an issue with me having withheld my last name, then we’ll be fine.