Chapter 8 #4
“Jameson, this is like, a million times worse. Please.”
She continued to rub small circles on his back and noticed the terrain was as muscled and firm as expected. “You know, I thought
you were just being dramatic about getting sick when you mentioned it that morning in my apartment.”
“I wish.”
“Have you always gotten seasick?”
“Yeah—that’s what kept me out of the navy, unlike Carl.”
“He was in the navy?”
“Yes. He’s not just a tourist cruise boat captain.”
“Oh, so he’s like, a captain , then.”
“Right.”
“Well, I think it’s really sweet of you to lend him a hand despite your condition.”
“Why are you being so nice? How drunk are you right now?”
“Unfortunately, not at all. Someone has to Big Sister this party, and it looks like my services are needed beyond the gaggle
of smashed bridesmaids back there, lucky for you.”
“What services?”
“You haven’t puked since I’ve been out here, have you?”
He pushed himself up to standing straight and faced her. In her heels, Emmy’s eyes hovered closer than normal to his. His
eyes were bloodshot and his face pale and clammy but, damn it , he was still so good-looking. How dare he, truly. If she’d been the one hurling over the rail, she’d have been a frizzy,
sweaty, ghostly white nightmare. Probably with puke in her hair. But Gabe Olson even made seasickness look good.
“You’re right, I haven’t since you’ve been out here.” He glanced back like he’d only then noticed her palm rubbing circles
on his back.
She stopped the motion and dropped her hand. She awkwardly smiled at him. “Well, glad I could be of help.”
He did his best to muster a grateful smile, but it came out more of a grimace.
The boat hit another wave, and they both stumbled. Her footing slipped out from under her, and she slid straight into him.
The firm wall of his body stopped her, and before she could get her feet back under her, she was pressed against him with
his hands gripping her upper arms.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“You all right?”
“Yeah. Who knew a boat in heels would be a bad idea.” She stiffly laughed.
“Um, I think everyone knows that, Jameson.”
When she looked up at him and frowned, she found a cheeky grin on his lips. “Glad to see you’re feeling well enough to insult
me, Olson.”
He fully smiled at her, and she realized only then they were still standing chest to chest.
“You going to let go of me now?”
A deep flush filled Gabe’s face with all the color the seasickness had robbed from it. He dropped his grip and took a step
back. “Sorry.”
Emmy didn’t have time to process the curious feeling of regret brought on by his sudden absence before they hit another wave.
They mirrored each other in gripping the rail, and while it only sent Emmy slightly stumbling, it drained Gabe’s face again
and put a miserable crease between his brows.
Emmy reached out and patted his arm. “Come on. Come sit with me. You’ll feel better. It won’t be weird. Well, I mean, there
are tiny purple penises everywhere, but what are you going to do on a bachelorette booze cruise?”
He weakly laughed. “You sure?”
“Yes. Just keep in the corner so they don’t think you’re a stripper or something. They’re pretty rowdy right now.”
He laughed again. “Duly noted. And, Jameson? Can this little episode be a secret too?”
She pretended to twist a key in front of her lips like he’d done earlier. “Captain Carl’s boat rules.”
“Thank you.”
They spent the rest of the cruise sharing a couch at the back of the boat, Gabe sipping ginger ale and Emmy promising everyone
who came and asked her to dance she’d be right there, and then never getting off the couch because they forgot after a minute
anyway. Gabe quietly laughed every time she lied, and it became a running game to see if anyone would remember she’d made
them a promise. No one did, and by the time they returned to the dock, half the party was passed out and the other half declaring
the night was young and making plans to continue in the Gaslamp instead of going home.
Thankfully, Piper was in the pass-out camp, and Emmy would not have to supervise any more debauchery because she, too, was
ready to peel off her party outfit and climb into bed.
Captain Carl stood at the top of the gangplank as they deboarded and bid each of them good night. Gabe stood at the bottom
back on the pier looking profoundly thankful to be on solid ground and held out a hand to help each of them off the boat.
By that point in the night, Piper walked barefoot with her shoes dangling from one hand and her veil tiara slipping from her
messy hair. Emmy had her propped against her hip, nearly dragging her like a rag doll, until they hit the end of the gangplank
and she saw Ben there waiting for her. Emmy had texted him a heads-up to come collect his bride to put her to bed.
At the sight of him there in his jeans and windbreaker and floppy hair blowing in the breeze, Piper gasped and took off running
for him. “ Baaaby! ” she shouted, drawing out the word.
“ Oof ,” he grunted when she leapt into his arms. Piper wrapped her long legs around his waist and smashed her lips to his. “Hi there,” he said between kisses.
“Oh my god, babe, we had so much fun, but I missed you,” Piper slurred and kept kissing him like she’d been away at sea for years.
Ben struggled to hold her and simultaneously remain on his feet after her near tackle. “Yes, that’s great, Pipes. I missed
you too. Honey, your dress is kind of short for this—? Okay.” He did his best to shield her butt with his hands as she clung
to him and kept kissing him. Luckily, it was only Emmy left with a view from behind as she was the last one off the boat.
Gabe stood behind her and politely averted his eyes.
“Piper, you’re flashing the pier,” Emmy said as she paused to scoop up her tiara that had fallen on the concrete.
Piper untangled her legs from her future husband and slid down his body to stand with a wobble. “Sorry,” she said with a coy
bite of her lip.
Ben smoothed his rumpled clothes and kissed her head. “Sounds like it was a good party?”
“It was the best ,” Piper said, and swung around to grip his shoulders. She dangled from him once more. “And get this,” she said, turning around
to sloppily point at Gabe. “This is Emmy’s co-worker.
The guy from work who she hates and who always takes stuff from her that she deserves because he’s a dude and she’s a girl .
His cousin owns the boat, so he’s randomly here.
But it wasn’t that bad? I don’t know. I kind of lost track. I’m sleepy. Can
we go home now?” She said it all in a mortifying spray of drunken babble, and Emmy wanted to shove her off the dock.
She felt her face turn red and couldn’t bear the thought of turning to see the look on Gabe’s.
Ben, ever polite and easygoing, laughed it off and extended his hand. “Please excuse her; she’s had a lot to drink. I’m Ben.
Nice to meet you.”
“Gabe,” he said, and shook Ben’s hand.
“Well, sounds like it was a great night. I better get her home.” He gave them another breezy, Prince Charming smile and then scooped Piper up into his arms.
She squealed in delight and kicked her bare feet. “Good night, sister! Thanks for the party! I love you!” she called down
the dock as she left Emmy standing there in the wake of her damage.
Part of Emmy wanted to keep walking and pretend it had never happened. But a bigger part of her, one prickling with guilt
and shame, forced her to turn around.
Night had completely fallen. The lights out on Coronado twinkled in the distance. Only a few boats bobbed on the water. The
pier sat quiet other than the soft rush of nearby traffic and the sound of Emmy’s own heart beating in embarrassment.
Gabe watched her from close by, an unreadable look on his face.
“I’m sorry she said that,” she offered. “She’s really drunk, and I don’t... um. I don’t hate you.” The words were feeble
and strained, and she surprised herself by saying them at all, but as soon as she heard them aloud, she knew they were true.
She didn’t hate Gabe Olson.
He, on the other hand, looked unconvinced. And that somehow made what her sister had said all the worse. He gave her a stiff
nod. “Okay, Jameson. Have a good night.” Then Gabe turned and marched back up the gangplank to help clean up their party.