Unchartered Curves (Cruisin’ With Curves)

5. Anisa

Chapter five

Anisa

T hank goodness I’d gotten a birth control shot before the trip, I thought. I’d wanted to take off my suit and get into that tub, then climb into bed with both of them.

Whew. Was it this cruise or did I really feel this strongly after only one day of being with them? I didn’t know, but I did need to get some contact solution and more sunscreen at the shop. And I was feeling confident enough to grab a bright red bikini. I selected some Chapstick, too, as I had a feeling my lips were going to get a real workout on this trip.

As I paid for my purchases, I heard my name.

“Anisa?”

I turned to see Steven, my ex. I just blinked at him in surprise for a few seconds before I found my voice. “Steven? What are you doing here?”

“Surprise!” He said. “I joined you after all. I’ve been looking for you.”

“By the pool deck?” He was sunburned, so maybe he hadn’t been looking for me. “I’m… not alone.”

“What? We planned this. Come on, Anisa, no cruise fling will give you what we have.”

Yes, I thought. What we had was heartache, and it was only after you left that I really saw it.

“I thought you got your deposit back?”

“Well, I couldn’t, but I could get my own cabin. Can we combine and get a bigger one now, or can I just join yours?”

“Steven. I’m not doing this. I haven’t heard from you in months. If you thought I’d take you right back, you wasted your time and money.”

“Anisa!”

Yep, he was actually following me out. He didn’t follow me this intently while we were dating. And I definitely didn’t want him to know where my cabin was. Should I go to the guys’ penthouse? No, I wanted to spare them from him.

I turned and faced him again. “Please, just leave me alone.”

“But I came here for you? Can’t we just get a cup of coffee and talk?”

I really doubted he came here for me. More than likely, he couldn’t get a refund. “If you really came here for me, why didn’t you contact me after the ship set sail? I mean, I just ran into you.”

“I was on my way to see you.”

I doubted that. “Where?”

“In your cabin.” He pointed toward where I was headed, but there were a lot of cabins there.

“Come on, we dated for years.”

“Less than two years.” Now he was rewriting history. “I have to go.”

“Can we meet later?”

“Sorry, Steven,” I said, smiling at last. “I have a date.”

***

I pulled on my one-shoulder black dress that was fitted and had a long skirt with a high slit. It was stretchy and sparkled a little. While I bought it around the holidays, somehow it fit on the cruise. I was ready to sparkle with my two dates.

My hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, with tendrils on each side of my face. My mind flashed on an image of Duane holding my ponytail while he moved into me from behind. And in front of me? I had my hands, then my mouth, on Gill.

“Whew!” I fanned my reddening face. That would be fun, but I didn’t want to scare them away by jumping them tonight. I wondered what they would do if I did, though.

I glanced down each way in the hall when it was time to leave, making sure Steven wasn’t there. The hallways were getting busy again, as people went to get dinner or find an evening of fun. I knew they were doing speed dating at the Golden Sunset Sushi Bar. When I’d looked up my plans originally, I’d thought about doing that. Happily, I found the perfect guys already on this trip.

Clearly, others hadn’t, as the line to get into the sushi bar was very long. I skirted around it to find the stairs up to the Stellar Sky Lounge Was that Steven? Yes, Steven was talking to a young woman with very high heels, in line for the speed dating. He recovered pretty quickly, I thought, with a snort.

I didn’t see Duane or Gill right away, but doubting they would come never entered my mind. I saw a table for two and pulled over another chair.

***

Within minutes, they both arrived, each looking amazing. Duane had on a black linen shirt and white slacks. Gill wore a green dress shirt tucked into black pants. I was glad I’d worn this dress as soon as I saw the welcoming heat in their eyes.

“You look wonderful,” Gill said, kissing me.

“So beautiful,” Duane murmured when it was his turn to kiss me.

“You two look so handsome. And this lounge is incredible,” I said, gesturing towards the ocean views from all sides. The moon was providing a lot of light in the lounge.

Music was starting, and some people were swaying on the tiny dance floor in the corner.

A server took our order, after suggesting some frozen cocktails and appetizers.

“Shall we dance while we wait?” Duane stood and held out his hand.

I stood, taking it, wondering if I would take turns, but Gill joined us.

I was a little self conscious as Gill was behind me with his arms around me and I leaned into Duane.

“You okay with this?” Duane asked, looking into my eyes.

“More than okay,” I said, realizing it was true. I kissed him, then turned my head to give Gill a kiss.

After a few minutes of kissing and dancing, we returned to the table, with me holding hands with both of them.

As we approached our table, I saw Steven.

“Anisa?”

I didn’t drop my men’s hands. “Duane, Gill, this is Steven.”

“I had you for Econ!” He said to Duane, as if he’d done something wrong.

“Your ex is on the cruise?” Gill released my hand, but he held my chair out for me.

“Yes, I ran into him on my way out of the shop earlier. I hadn’t known he’d be here, truly.”

“I wanted to surprise her. Looks like the surprise is on me.”

I bit my lip hard to avoid laughing at his cliché. It felt like a soap opera line. “You didn’t ask if I was seeing anyone.”

“I never thought you’d turn out to be a Hopeton slut,” he said, still standing next to the table where we were all seated, now.

I put a hand on Duane and Gill’s arms, not wanting this to escalate. I knew Steven would love that. “Do you mean because I’m dating both of them? Best dates I’ve ever had.”

Petty, but I couldn’t resist it. I picked up my frothy blue drink and took a sip. It was solid alcohol, but that seemed to be what I needed right then.

“Maybe you should leave,” Duane said quietly, using a voice I remembered from his classes, when people were inappropriate.

“Didn’t I see you at the speed dating entrance? Maybe you should go back there. Steven, I’ve moved on.” I knew I was the one spouting the cliches now, but I didn’t know how else to move this on.

“We’ll talk again, Anisa,” he said, before leaving.

“So he insulted you and then said you’d talk again?” Gill covered my hand with his. “Are you okay?”

“I really don’t understand this.” I took another sip of the drink. “It’s not as if I blocked him. After he broke it off, he never even tried to contact me. I saw him in passing on campus, and he was civil. Why the full court press now? Because I’ve moved on?”

“You ruined his big gesture.” Duane smiled. “Ego warring with pride there.”

I nodded and then changed the subject. “Did you guys work on your proposal at all this afternoon?”

As they started telling me about plot points, I tried to ignore the feeling of unease that Steven’s appearance left.