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7
Rick
“You look like hell. Were you up drinking all night?” Mario asked when he finally showed up in the dining room to help me break down the tables and set up for the next event.
“I’m not hungover and I’d appreciate it if you kept your voice down,” I growled quietly.
“Head hurts? I’ve got just the thing for a hangover.”
“I’m not hungover,” I repeated.
“Or in a bad mood, either?” Mario chuckled. I glared at him, and he added, “So, if you’re not hungover, what’s your problem?”
I wasn’t going to dispute the fact that I was in a sour mood. “How about the fact that you were supposed to be here more than an hour ago?” It wasn’t my business where he’d been, but I didn’t want to do both our jobs. Hell, I didn’t want to do mine. Doing the responsible thing by showing up for work this morning meant leaving Valentina’s bed. Although she’d been sleeping soundly, I had wanted her to wake in my arms. I wanted to know she didn’t regret last night. I know I don’t.
Mario shrugged. “Sorry. I was talking to Betty. Time got away from us I guess.”
“You think? If you don’t give a shit about your job, at least think about hers. She seems to really want to make this a career. Don’t fuck it up for her,” I warned.
Someone should probably give me advice on how not to hurt Valentina, too. Because sleeping with her without addressing what happened in our past sure as hell feels wrong. She’s probably feeling the same way.
“Yeah. You’re right. She said that, too. But I can’t help it. I want to be with her all the time. She’s…amazing,” Mario said.
“Then show her that! Support her decisions, help her achieve her goals. That’s what you do in a relationship,” I said.
That’s what Valentina did for me. God, it must’ve been hard for her.
“Not easy when everything on this ship is about falling in love. But I guess you don’t have that issue. You’re not interested in finding love.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked. Just because I wasn’t seeking it, didn’t mean I was opposed to it.
“We’ve worked together a few days now, and not once have I seen you checking someone out. Seriously, I saw drop-dead gorgeous women come up and ask you a question, and you answered like you weren’t interested,” he replied.
I laughed and shook my head. Yeah, I don’t have the raging hormones of a twenty-year-old anymore. I know what I want. Or at least I did before I saw Valentina again. Maybe that’s why I slipped out this morning without saying goodbye. I needed a little time to think. Not that I’ve had much time to do it.
“You’re being paid to work, not talk,” I snapped, angrier at myself than at Mario.
“I can do both,” he replied, grabbing the other end of the table and flipping it over with me.
If he wasn’t going to shut up, then I was going to change the subject. “Did you remember to grab the tablecloths on your way here?”
“Betty reminded me,” he said.
Thank God she has a good head on her shoulders.
“What do you think of her?” he asked.
“I hardly know her,” I said. Or you. I’d like to keep it that way. Somehow Mario had decided we were going to be friends, and he wouldn’t deter from that. “She seems nice enough.”
“We hung out on deck for about two hours after we got off work. She’s so smart. I was blown away by the stuff she knows about. I could’ve listened to her talk all night, but we both had to get up early, so we decided to continue our conversation tonight.”
“Good. So let’s finish up so we can focus on our time off,” I said.
“Sounds good.” He picked up the pace and soon we were putting on the final tablecloths.
“Now you’re free to go plan your date for tonight,” I said.
He shook his head. “You’re right, I need to think about Betty and what is good for her too, not just me. I think I’m going to ask her out after the cruise is over.”
