Sailing with My Sister’s Best Friend (Cruisin With Curves)

Chapter 12

Aurora

W e had one more practice before the competition, and now I was the nervous wreck. Between Darby and Aunt Kelly monopolizing our time and enjoying the last island, we hadn’t been able to rehearse as much as I would have liked. Sure this was just a friendly competition, but I wanted us to do good. I wanted Seeley to feel comfortable with the routine we came up with, and I wanted to make his family proud. They were going to be my family too.

It was amazing Darby wasn’t sitting here wedding planning with me right now. From the second Seeley suggested we get married before the ship docked, my best friend hadn’t let me have a moment’s peace. Thankfully, Aunt Kelly wasn’t as vocal about her opinion. She just smiled, patted my hand, and whispered “my brother would be so happy” every time we were together. Then she would dab at the corner of her eye and look away. Honestly, the two of them were breaking my heart.

I didn’t want to hurt them but there was no way that I could marry Seeley in less than forty-eight hours. Even if I didn’t take my parents' feelings into account, there were just way too many things to do to put together a wedding.

I would need a dress, shoes, and flowers. There were only the five of us so it wasn’t as if we would have to host a huge reception, but I would still love to have a wedding cake. Let’s be real. Cake was the biggest selling point of any reception.

Then there was getting a marriage license. Could we get a license in the middle of the ocean? Was it legal if we didn’t have one? Seeley was a lawyer. I didn’t want him to end up in jail because we didn’t wait.

But the biggest reason was that I wasn’t ready. We have spent more time apart than we did together, and the girl that Seeley fell in love with wasn’t exactly the woman I am today. Losing my shot at being a professional dancer, then losing him, changed me. How did I know our separation hadn’t changed him too? What if it did? Was that a good thing or a bad one?

Seeley had always been driven. Always determined to succeed at everything he did. In high school and college, he worked all the time. It was his work that pulled us apart. His determination to be the best, and have the best, made him leave without saying a word. How could I jump into marrying him without knowing if he would do the same thing again? What happens if I need him and he’s too busy to be there?

I twirled the ring on my finger. Maybe these were things I should have taken into account before I said yes, but I got so caught up in the past. The feeling of his body on mine and his hands touching me. The look in his eyes when he told me he loved me. All of it transported me back to when he was my world and I thought I was his. Now I wasn’t so sure.

“Sorry.” I felt his lips brush the side of my face. “I’m so sorry. I got a phone call from back home and I needed to take it.” He came around my chair and held his hand out to help me up.

“Is everything alright?” I stood, and let him pull me into his arms.

“I’m not sure yet, but that isn’t important.” His smile was a little off. “All that matters is you.” He leaned forward. His lips brushed the corner of my mouth.

I wished I could believe him but something felt off. I just couldn’t put my finger on what.

I ROLLED OVER IN BED . My hand reached out to touch cold sheets beside me. My eyes blinked awake finding nothing but darkness.

“Seeley?” I called out wondering where he might be. The cabin was peacefully quiet. “Lee?” Still no sound.

I sat up on the side of the bed looking for something to put on. I didn’t mind walking around naked at home, but this wasn’t home.

I found Seeley’s shirt on the floor where one of us had flung it in our rush to make love and put it on. I stepped out of the bedroom and found the man I was looking for bent over the desk in the main part of his room. His computer was open and papers were in his hand.

“Seeley?” I went toward him and he looked up.

“Rory. Did I wake you?” He laid the papers down before putting his arm around my waist.

“No.” I looked over the papers spread out on the table. “What’s all this?”

“My case back home is falling apart.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to fix it, but it’s harder than I thought it would be.”

“Can’t it wait?” We would be back in two days.

“Unfortunately it can’t.” He let me go and ran his hand through his hair. “I knew this was a bad time to be away.”

I tried my best not to let his words get to me, but I couldn’t help it. Was he regretting being here? Regretting us?

“I’m sure there are people in your office that can handle this.”

“If they could then they wouldn’t have had to call me.” He snapped. He stood and walked over to the mini -fridge. His back was to me so he didn’t see the hurt on my face as he pulled out a bottle of water. He must have felt it somehow because he turned back with remorse written all over his face.

“I’m sorry baby. I shouldn’t have said that.” He shook his head and came back. “I’m just frustrated. This isn’t what I want to be dealing with right now.”

“I understand.” I nodded. “I should go back to my room.” I hadn’t used it since the night he proposed. Both of us wanted to spend each night wrapped up in each other.

“No.” He instantly shook his head. “Go back to bed. Hopefully, this won’t take too much longer.

“Sure.” I held my emotions close and went back into the other room. My mind told my heart I already knew what was coming next.