“I think ... coming on my honeymoon with my friend was a poor choice.”
“I see.”
“But not for the reasons you think,” I rush to say. “Nothing is happening with him. Not at all.”
Scarlett stares me down. “Really?”
“No. We’ve been friends so long that I can’t ... Iwon’tdo that. I’m just confused. He’s got these walls I never noticed until now, and then other people are asking about us and I ... I hate it. I hate all of it.”
Scarlett is quiet for a long moment and her lips press together. “It’s safe to assume that your friendship is very important to you.”
“Yes,” I say. “So important to me.”
“I’ll be honest with you, there’s a lot to unpack there. More than should be dealt with in a bathroom, but I will say this. You’ve had a lot of change, right?”
“Too much,” I say. “And I hate change.”
“Then there’s going to be discomfort.” She says it slowly. “But that doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. It means you’re changing. Sometimes it’s a good thing.”
I think about it. Am I changing?
Hell, I’m on a shipwillingly. I’m branching out. Or trying to. And I’m getting time with Nate that I could’ve lost. The alternative was letting Rob separate us.
“Is it possible that things changed between Nate and me because of my ex?”
“Definitely,” she says. “And now you have to find your footing without someone else in your life. The biggest question is where you’ll end up.”
“We’ll be friends.”
“Fair enough, but what kind of friends is the question.” I don’t know if I want to answer that. “Give it time,” she says softly. “And maybe enjoy the boat while you’re at it. Have you been to the pool? It’s where I’m heading next.”
I flounder for an excuse. “It’s a little late.”
“It’s the middle of the summer and there’re lights for after dark. There’s plenty of time.” She waves her hand. “You don’t have to spend the whole time mulling in your friendship. Have some fun.” She winks at me before leaving the bathroom.
I sigh when I’m alone. I have no idea if I know how to have fun on a boat in the middle of the ocean.
But I need to try.
By some miracle,I manage to make it through the dinner without any more incidents. The talk with Scarlett helped more than I can say, and I feel a little more levelheaded in her presence.
It also helps that Nate must have said something while I was gone, because Trixie and Aaron drop the subject of us and talk about other happenings on the boat.
The food is delicious, and I’m happily full as we retire to our room for the evening.
“Feeling better?” he asks.
“I was fine the whole time.”
“Oh, you mean when you lied about having to go to the bathroom? You went right when we got on the boat.”
I gulp. “You caught that?”
“I catch everything. Also, next time you make an escape, choose a place where I can follow you. The ladies’ bathroom is a terrible place for me to try to make you feel better.”
“Sorry,” I say. “I really needed a minute alone.”
“Was it what Trixie and Aaron were saying? They barely know us, berry.” He waves it off. “And they know how we are now. It shouldn’t happen again.”
