Chapter 2

Andrew

 

“Mom, I really don’t think that’s necessary.”

“No.” My mother shook her head as she stabbed the keys on the tiny cabin’s phone. “I reserved two cabins next to each other. Not clear at the other end of the ship.”

“Janice.” My dad touched her arm. “He’s thirty-two. He doesn’t need to be next door to his—”

“Yes, this is Mrs. Wentz,” she snapped into the phone. “Yes. Mrs. Wentz. Janice Wentz.” She huffed, rolling her eyes.

Dad and I exchanged glances. He shrugged. What can you do? Not much, that was what. When Mom was on a mission, there was no stopping her.

While my mother read someone on the other end the riot act, Dad and I deposited my suitcases on the narrow twin bed.

“This room really is fine,” I said under my breath.

“I know it is.” He shook his head. “But I wouldn’t unpack yet. Odds are, someone’s going to be moving.”

I groaned. “Let’s at least get some euro out. Whoever ends up coming down here is going to deserve a hell of a tip.”

He grunted softly and nodded as he took out his wallet. We both glanced at my mom. She was gesturing wildly as she verbally tore someone a new one, not even stopping for a breath, let alone to give the other person a chance to speak.

Dad gave me a gentle nudge. “Why don’t you go find one of the gift shops? I think we’re getting low on sunscreen.”

I recognized an out when I saw it and nodded before ducking out of the cabin. Dad would be much better at defusing the situation than me. If I tried, we’d just end up screaming at each other, and we’d either get kicked off the boat or get new accommodations in the brig. Or whatever they called it on a cruise ship. Not the place I wanted to spend my vacation, anyway, least of all with my hot-tempered mother.

Mom and I really did get along most of the time, but we’d been at each other’s throats since we’d boarded our flight in Chicago a few days ago. Add in way too many delays, a miserable flight, and some serious jetlag, and it was a wonder one of us hadn’t tossed the other overboard.

As soon as I was out of earshot and couldn’t hear my mom yelling anymore, I released a breath and rolled my knotted shoulders. It wasn’t like any of this was a surprise. My sister had been shocked I’d taken them up on the offer.

“You,” she’d said incredulously. “And them. For two weeks. On a ship. Have you lost your mind?”

“It’s not like we’ll be sharing a room.” I’d shrugged. “I’ll probably only see them at dinner and on the excursions.”

She’d just grimaced and wished me the best of luck.

As I continued down the passageway, past the long rows of cabins and up to the next deck, I sighed again. Maybe I should have stayed home.

Except what else would I be doing? Sitting at home feeling sorry for myself? I could either be a freshly unemployed idiot sitting at home with his worthless MBA and crushing debt, or I could take my parents up on their offer and be a freshly unemployed idiot sitting on a cruise ship, pretending he didn’t have a worthless MBA and crushing debt. It wasn’t like I had to be diligently applying for jobs daily to stay on unemployment since I hadn’t worked for the company long enough to be eligible for it. Yeah, I needed another job, but I…whatever. I needed a vacation anyway.

Except I had debt. And didn’t want a gap in my résumé. And…

Fuck it. I supposed I could apply for some jobs while I was on the ship.

Oh yeah. That sounded like a fantastic way to spend a vacation—applying for jobs that required two MBAs, twenty years experience, and a notarized reference from God. Though it might be less depressing on a sun chair with a tropical drink in my hand than at home on the couch with store-brand Coke and a bowl of ramen. As a bonus, it might even be an excuse to bow out of whatever activities Mom had signed us—

“Shit!” I skidded to a halt as someone came around the corner right in front of me, but I didn’t react fast enough. We collided hard enough to knock us both off-balance. I grabbed the wall. He grabbed my arm. Between us, we managed to keep from toppling completely.

As I righted myself, he let go. “Sorry,” he said. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I brushed at my shirt for some reason. “Just, uh, wasn’t paying attention.”

He laughed. “Same here. Off in my own little world I guess.” He was an American too, judging by the accent.

“Don’t worry about it. It happens. It’s…” Whatever I was going to say died on my tongue when I actually looked at him.

Holy crap. This guy was hot. Maybe an inch or two shorter than me with rich brown eyes and a pair of black sunglasses pushed up into his dark hair. He had that sort-of-pink complexion like he might’ve been sunburned, but it was quickly fading into a nice tan. A thin, meticulously trimmed beard framed his jaw. I wasn’t usually into facial hair, but on him, I dug it.

He cleared his throat as the sunburn-tan deepened a little, and I realized I’d been staring.

“Sorry. I…” I coughed too. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He flashed me a smile that almost made me stumble again, then turned and kept walking.

Stupidly, I stood there and watched him go. I felt like I should say something, but…what? Hey, come back so I can hit on you?

I shook my head and continued in the direction I’d been headed. My pickup game was about as hot as my job search game. And besides, just because he was attractive didn’t mean he was gay. In fact, with the way my luck had been going lately, he was undoubtedly straight. He was probably on his way to his cabin to meet up with his wife and their two-point-five kids. And he probably had two MBAs, twenty years experience, and that notarized reference from God, and could nail an interview without breaking a sweat.

I laughed to myself. Okay, the jetlag was really getting to me now. I was cranky and bitter, and I just needed to pick up the sunscreen at the shop, go back to the cabin, and gently nudge my parents out the door long enough for me to have a nap. Once I’d had some sleep, I could eat. After that I’d feel fine.

And then my vacation could begin.