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

Chapter 13

Seeley

I was beyond pissed. I could count on one hand how many times I have had to go to court since becoming a corporate lawyer and still have more than half my fingers left. No one wanted a lengthy trial that could cost millions. The closest I got these days was arbitration. Yet these motherfuckers were pushing for a court date just because they heard I was fucking out of the office.

I had been at this all night. Josh was doing his best to hold them off until I got back, but we were either going to have to agree to their demands or set a date. That was the last thing our client wanted.

I ran my hand through my hair and looked at my watch. It was almost seven in the morning. Aurora would be waking up soon. I hated that I was no closer to a solution then when she came out earlier.

This wasn’t what I needed right now. We had just found each other again. I didn’t want to spend the night at a desk instead of beside her. I definitely didn’t want to see that look of pain I saw last night when I snapped. She had to know I was mad at the situation, not her, never her. She was everything.

A part of me felt like this was my fault. I set my life up where I had no life. Everything I did was for the firm. I never took a vacation. Why should it surprise me that other lawyers would try to take advantage of the one time I do something different?

That was going to have to change when we got back. Josh was right. My whole life couldn’t revolve around the firm. Not now that I had Aurora back. I wanted to be there for her. I want to be involved in planning our wedding. Be able to take time off for our honeymoon and not have to worry about work. I wanted to be there for every doctor’s visit when we got pregnant, and hold her hand when our child was born. I didn’t want to be at the office, glancing at my phone, and waiting for a text.

“Hey.” Aurora walked out of the bedroom already dressed. “I’m going to meet Darby and the others for breakfast.”

I scratched at the scruff on my face. “Give me ten minutes to shower and change, and I’ll join you.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” She pulled in a breath. Shit, something was definitely wrong.

“Lee, I think we rushed back into this.” Her words sliced through me.

“Don’t say that.” I was in front of her in seconds. My hands holding onto hers. That was when I felt it. I lifted our joined hands between us and looked down. “Where’s your ring?”

“On your bathroom counter.” She wasn’t looking at me. “I’m sure you can return it or give it back to me later when you’re sure about us.”

“I’m sure about us now.” How could she not know that? “Aren’t you sure?”

She hesitated and all my breath left me.

“I want to be, but...” She shook her head. “I can’t do this again.”

“Do what?”

“Believe in you when I know you are going to leave.” Tears fell easily down her face. “I love you, but I can’t.”

“Baby.” I put my arms around her and just held her close.

I had thought we could just pickup where we left off, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. I didn’t take into account what my leaving before did to her. The trust that I broke, and would need to earn back.

“I’m sorry, Rory.” I kissed her shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” Again those words didn’t feel like enough.

I pulled back and walked us over to the couch. I sat down and drew her onto my lap.

“I want to marry you. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. Not my law license. Not my firm. Nothing has ever been as important to me as you.” I told her everything that was in my heart.

“But you left.” She cried. “You broke my heart, and you didn’t even give it a second thought. How do I know you won’t do the same thing again? How do I know there isn’t going to be some case or some opportunity that pulls you away?”

“Cause I would burn it all down for you.” There was nothing but truth in my voice. “I’ve spent all these years wishing I had fought for you. Wanting to know how I lost you. Wishing I had you to come home to. There is no way I would take that chance again.”

“I know what it’s like to live without you. Why do you think I’ve been pushing for us to get married so soon?” I asked. “It’s because I don’t want another day where you aren’t the biggest part of my life.”

“But your case.”

“Baby, I love my job, but I love you more.” I told her. “If I had known trying to solve this damn thing would cost me you then I would have told them to deal with it without me. I’m sorry I didn’t think about how my working right now would bother you.”

“You shouldn’t have to choose between me and your career,” she said.

I cupped her face in my hands. “There is no choice. It’s you. It’s always been you. I might have been too young, foolish, and cocky to admit it before, but you are everything to me.”

“Seeley.”

“I won’t lose you again.” I cut her off. “Not if I can help it.”

“I’m scared,” she said quietly.

“You don’t have to be scared.” I kissed her. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” I said just as my phone rang.

“You should get that.” She got up, but I held her close as I picked up the phone.

“Lee, they aren’t backing down.” Josh started talking as soon as I answered.

“Fuck ‘em.” I put my arm around Aurora’s shoulders. “Tell them I look forward to seeing them in court when I get back. Right now I have a dance to do with my fiancée.” I hung up the phone and threw it down on the desk.

Aurora’s eyes went huge. “Seeley, what did you just do?” She looked down at the phone.

“What I should have done the first time they called.”

She glanced up at me. “Are you sure?”

“Of us? Without a doubt.” I kissed her and relaxed when she kissed me back. “Let’s go to breakfast.” I’d shower later. Hopefully with her.

“Just a second.” She stepped out of my arms. “I need to go get my ring.”

Her words filled my heart. I waited patiently and together we went to join our family.

AURORA AND I STOOD off to the side of the dance floor watching the last couple to dance before us. It was an older couple that moved together as only two people who spent their whole lives in each other’s arms could. I watch them with a sense of awe and hope. I wanted that to be Aurora and me one day.

“Are you ready?” She leaned into my side and asked.

“Uh-huh.” I lied. I was a nervous wreck, but I trusted her. I knew that if she was dancing no one would be paying attention to me. She was a vision when she moved.

The couple finished and the whole room applauded. They took their bow and the gentleman placed a kiss on his wife’s cheek. She smiled and giggled as if they were in their twenties and not well past sixty. It really was a beautiful thing to witness.

My mind drifted to my parents. I wished more than just about anything they could be here to see Darby and I. Whether it was here or at my wedding, they would have been that older couple looking at each other as if they just fell in love.

“What’s wrong?” Aurora asked right as the director introduced us.

“Nothing, baby.” I kissed her cheek.

“Are you sure?” I nodded, and led her to the middle of the floor.

“Go Seeley. Go Aurora.” Darby yelled out and I shook my head.

The music started, and I faltered in my steps. It wasn’t the song that we practiced to. The band was playing Faithfully by Journey. I would know this anywhere. It was my parents’ song.

I looked at Aurora and she smiled up at me. “I figured it was fitting considering it’s their anniversary.”

I swallowed down the emotions clogging my throat and held onto her. The two of us moved as if we were one. The dips and turns she worked in, beautifully highlighted her grace and form. She was breathtaking and she was mine. I could hardly believe I had gotten this lucky. For a second it felt as if my heart was going to burst right out of my chest. There was no way anyone could be as proud as I was right then.

The song ended and we bowed to each other the way she choreographed it. The jump into my arms after was completely off-script and absolutely perfect. Both of us laughed at her spontaneity.

“You did it.” She beamed at me.

“We did it.” I corrected. “There’s nothing we can’t do together.”

She gave me a quick kiss before she jumped back down. We took our official bow and walked off the dance floor where she made her way back into my arms.

“I’ve been thinking about that wedding on the ship idea.”

My heart took off in my chest. “Oh yeah?” Was she saying what I hoped she was saying?

She nodded. “And I think I have a way that will make everyone happy and honor your parents.”

“We dock tomorrow.” I reminded her. Although if she was willing to get married now I would hunt down the captain, and pay him whatever it took to make this happen.

“We are not getting married tonight.” She tilted her head.

“Then what’s your idea?”

“What are you doing this day next year?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Spending it with you.” I planned on spending all my days with her.

“Well, I was thinking about another cruise.” She smiled. “Are you interested?”

“As long as you are there, I’ll go anywhere.”

“Then let’s go talk to the captain and see about those wedding packages.”

“I like that idea, Mrs. Adler.” I held her close.

“I’m still not Mrs. Anyone.” She put her arms around my neck.

“As I told you before. You’ve always been Mrs. Adler to me.”

“Then let’s go and see about making it official.”

“Let’s go.”

I forgot all about the competition. I had already won the greatest prize there was. A second chance with the only woman I could ever love.