Suddenly, I’m glad I’m on the boat. I’m not sure how I would have fared if I were home and saw Rob on my front porch.
“Not this time.”
“He’s really trying to make it up to you.”
“He is?”
“Not that you have to accept! But as the days go on, he’s getting more and more serious about it.”
I wish he wasn’t serious at all. He said what he said.
And I won’t take an apology this time.
“You don’t need to be in the middle of this, not with your party coming up. Just tell him I need space.”
“I’ll try. You know how he is when he’s determined.”
I do. And now that I’m away from him, I’m not sure I like it.
That determination was the main thing I liked when he asked me out. He showered me with gifts and attention. And with the information that he just wanted to fuck me, all of it is shallow now.
Does he want me to take him back because he’s sorry, or is this a challenge for him?
“I do, but that’s his issue to deal with.”
“Fair enough,” Quinn says. “How is the cruise, though?”
“Great,” I lie. “I mean, I’m with Nate. What could possibly go wrong?”
“That’s fair. You two always manage to have fun.” She laughs. “Enjoy it. And take pictures!”
I promise her I will before I see Nate on the pool deck looking for me. He must have taken the shortest shower ever.
With a deep breath, I stand and wave at him. No more of the weirdness. I’m determined to be normal.
Ten minutes into breakfast,I mess it up by mentioning Rob.
“He went to your house?” Nate asks slowly. The grip on his fork seems to tighten.
“Yep. Thank goodness I wasn’t there.”
Nate’s only answer is a hum. He doesn’t look like himself and I hate the frown that’s made its way to his face.
“Nate, I’m sure he thinks a pathetic apology will be enough, but it won’t be. Not this time.”
His gaze flicks up to me and back down at his cup. “Yeah, sure.”
I narrow my eyes. “What? Do you have a different opinion?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does.”
He lets out a long sigh and takes a drink of his coffee. “Do you really wanna do this?”
“I do.”
“Fine.” He leans forward. “Do you remember the time he didn’t talk to you for two weeks straight? It was three or so years ago.”
