AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chase frowned. “Tantra?”
“That’s part of Mitch’s New Age cruise.”
“That could get a bit sticky,” Chase said with a smirk that made me giggle. “I mean, people stuck on a cruise, having sex with strangers, could get awkward if someone’s interest is unreciprocated.”
“That’s what I thought,” I said.
“We’ll have questionnaires to establish participants’ expectations and waivers,” Mitch said.
“That’s how we met,” my mother said, entering the room.
Was I ready for the humiliation of Chase discovering that my mother was hooked up with my ex?
Taking a deep breath, I said with an embarrassingly squeaky voice, “They actually met through me. Mitch and I dated.”
Chase looked at me as though I’d admitted to dating a bear. “Really? Wow.”
My mother broke the sudden tension with a big beaming smile. “We’re really happy. And it looks like you two are getting on nicely. You look great together.”
“Mom,” I appealed, hoping she wouldn’t prattle on about our astrological charts.
“You’re a Pisces, I believe, and Ivy’s a Cancer. Very compatible.”
Chase took my hand. “I don’t need astrology to tell me that.”
I cocked my head and smiled.
How sweet.
Turning to Mitch, Chase said, “I have a client who runs luxury cruises. I’m working on a campaign for her right now.”
“Chase works at an advertising agency,” I explained to my mother.
“The CEO, Cassandra Smith, was talking about cracking into the New Age cruise market.”
“Oh really?” Mitch’s eyebrows rose. He rarely looked excited over anything. That was the most animated I’d seen him. “I’d like to meet her.”
“So, these cruises solely offer Tantra?” Chase asked then looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
“That’s only a small part,” my mother said. “There’s yoga, vegan cooking classes, chanting, chakra dance, and all kinds of activities designed to help people shed destructive layers.”
“Sounds like fun,” Chase said, lounging back with his arm around the sofa, hovering over my shoulder.
Like hell.
“You’d have to go without steak for a week,” I said.
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I like veggies.”
“It’s all about healing and detoxing,” my mother said. Her face brightened as she turned to Mitch. “How about a ‘cruise of self-discovery’ for the subtitle?”
He nodded, and his eyes shone with warmth. It suddenly occurred to me that this relationship, unlike the many others, except for that with my father, would do the mileage. A heartwarming realization. I wanted to see my mother happy, regardless of whom she chose as a partner.
Chase appeared riveted as he listened. I wondered if he was looking to shed destructive layers. His player layer would be a good start.
“Do you have a card? Brochures or anything? I can mention you to Cassandra. Maybe even a campaign?”
Mitchell opened his satchel and handed Chase a card. “I’d like to talk to someone in that industry.”
