I’m starting to bond with Natalie, the ship’s entertainer. I thought I would be annoyed with her after her kissing stunt. If it were anyone else I had to kiss, I might be.
; The kiss was too good to regret. It helps that Natalie is really fun to be around. She and I have been bonding over the past few days on the ship.
Pretending to be in love with Ashley has been great too. I enjoy every moment I’m with her.
It’s easy to pretend to be in love with someone so beautiful and charming. I’ve hardly had to act. She makes me laugh so hard that tears stream down my cheeks. When I’m with her, I smile until my face hurts.
It’s been fun having a rich, sophisticated girlfriend too. I have to say, I don’t mind that she’s so willing to pick up the check. I hate taking handouts, but a bit of fun costs her practically nothing and me practically everything.
At first it felt strange. I wanted to go half way on everything, but I didn’t want to bring attention to us. It would be strange for us to squabble over the check.
So I had to get used to it. I figure this is all part of her plan anyway.
I have Ashley’s arm locked with mine. We are taking a walk around the ship’s deck. It’s a beautiful evening.
And, of course, it’s about to be ruined by the group of gossipy rich girls we keep running in to. Every time I see them, I worry that they’re on to us. They seem determined to trip us up.
Gail flips her long, blonde hair when she’s sees us. She’s lounging in one of the deck chairs, looking out onto the water. She’s wearing a swimsuit even though it’s far too late to be catching a tan. I think she’s trying to catch a man instead.
She lowers her sunglasses at us, taking us in. “Oh, just look at you two,” she says. “You’re just best of friends, aren’t you?”
“Friends?” I ask. “Would a friend do this?” I dip Ashley down and give her a long kiss on the lips.
I don’t even care what Gail and Sarah’s reaction is. I’m just happy I get to do that.
When I pull her back up, Ashley looks breathless and has a big grin on her face.
Gail rolls her eyes and lays back in the chair once again. Ashley and I walk away, satisfied that we’ve won.
Ashley and I find ourselves passing them a lot. Almost always when Ashley is the one leading our walks. I giggle to myself as I wonder if it’s because I always do that to shut them up.
At the end of the first week, I feel so satisfied. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this content with the world. I can see now why people love cruises.
Of course, not everyone on a cruise gets to go on it with a beautiful and rich woman.
I go into the dining room and settle in. Ashley is supposed to meet me. She told me to go ahead. I feel so strange being here by myself. There’s a knot of anticipation in my gut that I can’t seem to shake loose.
I know what’s coming. It’s the proposal. I have to act surprised. I can’t seem like I know what’s going to happen.
I try to act as nonchalant as possible.
Ashley is going to come in looking beautiful. She’ll get down on one knee, and I’ll say yes. Then, we head back to our suite for the night to relax.
I feel my shoulders tensing up as I wait. I’ll have to get another massage after this is over.
I feel music start to play. Natalie strolls into the room and winks at me. Not now! I think to myself. I’m filled with nerves and worried we’ll be interrupted.
The longer this drags on, the longer we’ll have to wait for the proposal. It has to seem natural.
The music is upbeat. Natalie is dancing far more vigorously than her usual lounge singer sway.
A door opens and Alex walks out. I almost don’t recognize him at first. He’s dressed in a little captain’s uniform.
I put my hands over my mouth to stifle a giggle of surprise. He looks so cute!
He goes over to Natalie and they do a little dance together. His face is screwed up in concentration as he tries to remember the steps. There’s a huge grin across my face as I watch him.