Sweet Reality by Laura Heffernan (10)

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the beautiful Bahamas! Our ship will arrive offshore at approximately three o’clock in the morning, ship time. Passengers will awaken to gorgeous views and plenty of options for things to do!

 

Start with breakfast before hopping a catamaran to transport you to the mainland or go straight to the beach to start a full day’s activities.

 

All water sports are available here: snorkeling, paddleboarding, floats, kayaks, banana boat rides, aqua chairs, and more. If you prefer to hang out on the beach, rent a clamshell to enjoy the shore with your sweetheart.

 

Our TV fans can join Suddenly Single in Seattle’s Danielle and Deaf Teen Mother Madison on a glass-bottomed boat ride around the island. The more adventurous among you can follow The Fishbowl’s Ariana and America’s Next Drag Model’s Tabby Rangoon on a dune buggy ride through the jungle, or go zip-lining with Totally ’80s Bake-off Winner Tammy Rae and The Fishbowl’s favorite duo, Jen and Justin. We’ve even got a shuffleboard tournament and a Q&A session here on the ship for those of you who aren’t up for traveling to the mainland.

 

No matter what level of adventure you’re up for, we’ve planned an awesome full day of interacting with the stars while experiencing the very best the Bahamas have to offer.

 

Inside this Edition:

Full schedule of onboard events 2

Map of Princess Cays, Bahamas 4-5

Things to Do In Princess

Cays 3, 6

Meet Your Cruise Director 7-8

 

 

The next morning, Justin and I disembarked at eight o’clock, dressed for adventure in the Bahamas. We’d signed up for zip-lining to give me a chance to talk to Tammy Rae again; apparently, she was into extreme sports. I counted myself fortunate the ship hadn’t offered parasailing, hang gliding, or other activities more likely to make me break my neck. Zip-lining sounded like fun and probably wouldn’t result in bodily injury.

In their infinite wisdom, the Network insisted each excursion group be accompanied by at least one member of the production staff to film us. However, since we were zip-lining, Leanna decided at the last minute to send two: one for each platform. No need to miss a single second of potential drama due to logistics.

To my delight, Connor was assigned to our trip, bringing Ed along with him. The Network preferred they keep their relationship reasonably discreet in public, but no one thought twice about Ed announcing at the last minute that he’d be taking one of the open spots on our excursion. It was, as he said, his prerogative to change his mind several times a day about anything and everything.

On the other side of the platform, our guide Ryan explained how to hook our harnesses onto the line, wait for the go-ahead signal from someone on the other side, and push off. Trepidation filled me.

“We’re hooking ourselves up?” I asked. “You don’t do it for us?”

“We give you the hooks and show you how to do it. You’ve got two lines attaching your harness. As long as you follow directions, you’ll be fine,” Ryan said. “Really, a seven-year-old did it yesterday.”

Once we took turns hooking the two clips over the line, facing in opposite directions, I felt much better. Scientifically speaking, this should work.

The line disappeared into the distance, but Ryan assured us that a megaphone waited at the other end. We would call “all clear” when we landed, and the next person would go. He also said the line angled downhill, so lighter participants could sail into the next platform without getting stuck.

Spectacular scenery unfolded below us. While everything in Seattle would be brown and dead this time of year, tropical plants dotted the landscape with color. In the distance, dazzling white beaches stretched as far as the eye could see, separating the island from the glittering turquoise water in the distance. When I squinted, I pretended I saw our ship, but we were far enough inland that the speck I spotted could’ve been anything.

Usually, Justin was the one making everyone sure everyone else paid attention when someone gave us instructions. Instead, as the guide spoke, Justin kept his gaze firmly planted on his shoes, looking green around the edges.

I sidled toward him, keeping my voice low. “You okay?”

He swallowed and nodded, not speaking. Twelve of us packed the wooden landing, including the guide, but I tried to tug him off to the side as best I could. He didn’t move.

PA Janine went first so she could record the rest of us zooming into view (and possibly capture some hilarious footage when some of us got stuck without making it to the other platform or crashed on the other side).

Ed followed, shoving off with a howl of joy. “Look, Ma! No hands!”

Justin still hadn’t looked up. I nudged him again. When he didn’t respond, I grabbed his chin and tilted it upward. “Talk to me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Really? Because you look like you’re about to throw up.”

On the other side of the platform, Tammy Rae called my name and gestured toward the lines. I motioned for her to go on ahead, realizing most of our group had left. Only Ryan, who needed to see everyone safely across, and Connor remained, waiting to film the last of us pushing off.

“Justin? Are you afraid of heights?”

“Of course not,” he said. “I have no problem with being on high landings or balconies or . . . anywhere I’m not going to fall and die. I’m just not a fan of rickety landings and throwing myself off firm ground into the air for no good reason.”

“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

“I forgot. Florida’s mostly flat, remember? No one’s invited me to face certain death in a while.”

Poor thing. All I wanted was to take him into my arms and tell him everything would be okay, but the cameras were rolling. He might not appreciate me treating him like a child.

I grasped his shoulders and brought him to face me. I focused on Justin, trying to ignore the camera moving in. “Listen. We’re going to be okay. The two of us. We’re a team, remember? Jen and Justin. And while it can be frustrating to feel like half of a whole sometimes, there is nothing the two of us can’t accomplish together. We’re going to leave here, zip across, and land on the other side, safe as houses. You hear me?”

He nodded. “You’re going to go with me?”

“You’ll have to go first,” I said. “But I’m right behind you.”

“Why don’t you go first?”

“Because if I do, you’ll climb down the ladder and catch a taxi to the beach.”

He chuckled. “You know me too well.”

Ryan approached. “You guys okay? I don’t mean to push you, but everyone else is waiting on the next platform, and they can’t move on until we clear this one.”

I held out my hand. “We’re coming. Right, Justin?”

He swallowed and nodded, eyes still attached to mine. The love and trust reflected there warmed my heart. Maybe Justin was afraid to zip-line, but “Jen and Justin” embraced the opportunity for a new experience.

“You know, guys,” Ryan said. “There are two lines side-by-side. We tend to send newbies one at a time, but you could go together if you wanted.”

“You mean we could race?” I asked.

Justin perked up immediately, his competitive spirit awoken.

Our guide shook his head. “It’s not much of a race, since the heavier person is nearly always going to win. But sure, you can race. Or you can hold hands and go over together. That works especially when one of you isn’t sure about taking off.”

A smile broke across Justin’s face. “I like the sound of that.”

Finally, with Connor still filming everything, the two of us moved to the other side of the platform and Ryan reminded us how to strap in. I leaned back in the harness, letting it hold my weight and surveyed the land below. Absolutely beautiful.

Justin reached across the gap between us. His clammy hand enclosed mine. Hopefully, he’d feel better after the first jump, or we’d need a backup plan. I couldn’t expose him to this type of fear over and over so I could spend the day with Tammy Rae. Not even if it made for good television.

“You ready?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “But I trust you.”

“Okay then. Count of three.” With a deep breath, I counted, and on “two” I shoved my feet against the platform as hard as I could, pulling Justin with me. He yelped, but I held firm, and a moment later he zoomed past me, taking the lead. Our arms stretched across the distance, a visible reminder of our connection.

Since the harness held me securely, I didn’t need to grip the lines. I let my other arm fall free behind us like Ed. My head fell backward, and I laughed as the wind rushed past my face.

Justin twisted in his harness. “This is amazing! It’s like we’re flying!”

A peal of laughter escaped me at the pure joy on his face. When we signed up for zip-lining, I never dreamed it would be this exhilarating—not only for me, but for both of us.

We hit the platform on the other side with dual thuds, the sound swallowed by the claps and whistles of the rest of our tour group. Ed put two fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle he’d learned from Abram, one of our competitors on The Fishbowl.

Beside me, Justin grinned from ear to ear. The second our harnesses released, he scooped me up and spun me around. “That was amazing! Thank you. God, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. My arms went around his neck as warmth shot through my body. I parted my lips with a happy sigh. Justin’s tongue found mine. Our bodies melded together, and for a moment, we were the only two people in the world. Everyone else on the platform faded away.

This was why we needed to be here. It wasn’t all about getting secret recipes and promoting the bakery: we craved time together, as a couple, to enjoy each other.

A thud behind me announced the arrival of Connor on the platform, bringing us both back to reality. Ryan arrived on the other line, seconds behind him.

Justin’s cheeks turned red before he released me. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“You can carry me away any time you want,” I said.

Our other guide zoomed down the line to wait for us at the next platform, while everyone else lined up to take the second turn. From the front of the line, Ed called out to Justin. “Want to race, lover boy?”

He turned to me. “Do you mind?”

“Absolutely not.” He looked like a kid in a candy store. After how upset he’d been earlier, no way would I take that away from him. “If you win, I’ll give you another kiss on the other side.”

Justin leaned forward. “I hope you’re not kissing either winner, because Ed outweighs me by about twenty pounds. He’s solid muscle.”

I laughed. “Go.”

Once the two of them took off, I found myself in line behind Tammy Rae. With several other people ahead of us, this gave me an excellent chance to talk to her–if only I knew what to say after my first attempt at conversation failed so spectacularly.

Before I could say anything, she turned. “That was amazing, you know. What you did for him.”

“It was nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing. He was totally freaked, and you talked him down, got him to come along and enjoy the trip, and now he’s acting like a different person.”

“We complement each other well,” I said. “He helps me when I get freaked out, too.”

“You’re a good team,” Tammy Rae said.

“Thanks.”

“Maybe I didn’t give you enough credit before. I saw the sparks between you two when you were alone, but they also spent a lot of time showing Ariana flirting with him. I bought into all her bullshit about you creating a ‘showmance’ with Justin to take attention away from her. But you care about each other.”

Her words brought a huge, goofy smile to my face. The same one I got whenever thinking about Justin and our future. “We do. It was never about ratings or staying on the show for me. All I wanted was to ignore him and focus on winning the money. But I fell in love with him, even though I kept telling myself not to.”

“You’re a cute couple,” Tammy Rae said as she strapped herself to the line. “Tell you what: I may have been wrong. Give me some time to reconsider. We’ll talk more about the recipe tomorrow after dinner. Deal?”

Before I could help myself, a shriek of joy escaped, and Tammy Rae laughed. I clapped my hands over my mouth. “Yes, absolutely deal. Thank you!”

She grinned up at me before taking off. “Thank you for reminding me what it’s like to be young and in love.”

Young and in love and part of a team. I couldn’t wait to tell Justin we’d be getting the recipe after all. Maybe America only noticing us as one-half of a whole couple wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

After several more thrilling jumps and a mouth-watering lunch, the zip-line company bused us back to the beach. The cruise liner sat in the harbor, awaiting everyone’s return, but we didn’t have to be there for several hours. As I surveyed the beach, wondering what our options were, Justin tugged my hand.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

He pointed away from the others, at a line of small bamboo structures with colorful walls dotting the beach. “Clam shells. Mini ocean huts built for two.”

“Mr. Taylor, are you propositioning me?”

“Oh, God, yes. We haven’t had quality time alone together in days. Those things have beds inside.”

Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Even after more than a year together, I still got excited every time he touched me. That morning when I woke up, I’d reached for him, finding only the disappointment of empty air beyond my tiny twin bed. My body craved his touch. I didn’t know how I’d be able to stand a week of this.

After two days of sleeping apart and being constantly “on,” nothing sounded better than locking myself up in a room alone with my boyfriend. Even one where the walls were just curtains.

“Did you say ‘alone’?” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively, and he laughed.

“I’ll race you.”

Before I accepted the challenge, he took off down the shore toward the bungalows. Without a thought, I followed. Running in sand wasn’t the same as running on the street, and I lacked experience even walking on beaches. Florida-born Justin soon took an impressive lead. Still, I slogged along behind him, determined to catch up before anyone noticed we were gone and tried to stop us.

One word kept me going: Alone. I chanted it under my breath.

In five hours, the cruise liner would leave port, and we needed to be on it. But until then, I intended to fall into my boyfriend’s arms and experience paradise with him. Alone.