Chapter 26 #3
Great. Now I’m crying in front of gorgeous strangers. This day just keeps getting better.
“Are you okay?” the man with the dimples asks. His voice is warm, and he seems genuinely concerned.
“Oh, I’m fine,” I say quickly, wiping away tears that are immediately replaced by fresh ones. Apparently, my tear ducts didn’t get the memo about maintaining my dignity in public.
“It doesn’t look like you’re fine,” the blonde woman says gently. “Is there something we can do?”
“Someone we can call?” the rugged man offers.
“No, no, that’s okay. Really, I’m just fine.” My voice breaks on that last word, which really undermines my credibility.
I start to slide off the barstool, and the man with the dimples catches my arm. He offers a friendly pat, and something in me comes alive at the warmth of his touch. It’s been so long since anyone touched me with kindness instead of calculation.
“Did you just get off one of the cruise ships?” he asks.
“No, I actually just left a hotel.” I wipe my eyes again, but it’s like trying to bail out the Titanic with a teaspoon.
“Do you need help getting to the airport?” the blonde asks. “Or your next destination?”
“Technically, there is no next destination.” The words taste bitter just saying them.
How do I explain to these kind people that I just walked away from my entire life?
My eyes connect with the dark-haired, dimpled god again, and something in his gaze makes me want to trust him. Which is insane, because my trust-o-meter is clearly broken.
“Where are my manners?” He extends his hand. “I’m Wes Crawford. And these are my friends—” He gestures to the others. “Trixie Troublefield Baxter, her husband Ransom, and back at the table we have Bess and Nettie.”
“So nice to meet you all.” I wipe away tears once again, but that doesn’t stop more from falling.
“I’m Marina. Uh, Maxwell.” I nod, the name feeling strange on my tongue.
Marina Maxwell. That’s exactly who I’ll be.
I have the ID and passport ready—I don’t see why not.
Fresh start, fresh name, fresh disaster.
“Marina,” Wes says softly, though his eyes never leave mine. “That’s a beautiful name.”
I give a little laugh that sounds slightly unhinged.
“My parents raised me on a boat until I was in middle school. I suppose it seemed fitting. I love the water.” I gesture toward the harbor visible through the window as if that explains why I’m drowning my sorrows.
“Anyway, I should probably get going.” I move to stand, but this time it’s Trixie who catches me by the hand.
“Hey, we don’t mean to chase you off,” she says, and I can’t help but notice the deep look of concern in her eyes. “Where are you headed? You said yourself you don’t have your next destination mapped out.”
Ransom purses his lips and studies me with intent. “Are you traveling solo?”
“No,” I say quickly. What if they’re looking to rob a solo traveler and I’ve just fallen into their clutches? Although I’m not getting that vibe from them. Not that my instincts are anything to brag about, as evidenced by—
I glance down at my bare ring finger.
“The truth is, I don’t know what comes next for me,” I say with a heavy sigh. “But I do know one thing, I need to get the heck out of Copenhagen.”
And fast. But they don’t need to know that. They don’t need to know anything about me.
Wes glances at Trixie and Ransom, then back at me, those dimples digging in deep. “Do you need a lift?”
“Do you have a car?”
“I’ve got a boat.” His smile curves just enough, and there’s a twinkle in his eyes that, for some reason, makes me feel far too safe.
Somehow, within the next ten minutes, three perfect strangers have convinced me to take a cruise to Iceland with them.
They might be harboring a few secrets, but I’ve got more than a few of my own.
My phone buzzes in my purse, and my heart rate spikes. I glance at the screen long enough to see his name before burying the phone back into the depths of my bag.
I force a smile at my new friends. “Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learned today, it’s that sometimes the best way forward is to sail in a completely different direction.”
Trixie grins. “Welcome aboard, Marina. Trust me, life on the high seas is never boring.”
She has no idea how right she is.
Thank you for reading!