Page 48 of That Ship Has Sailed

“He was,” Courtney clarified. “Beyond good. Really.”

Ashley gave her head a slight shake. “So why don’t you look like someone who was thoroughly pleasured last night instead of someone who lost their puppy?”

Courtney tried to stand. Having this conversation was bad enough, having it in the middle of the pool wasn’t going to happen. Apparently, Ashley didn’t agree. She grabbed Courtney’s arm and hauled her back down into the shallow water.

“Do you feel guilty?” she whispered. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Corey. Kyle is gone. You didn’t cheat on him. He’d want you to be happy.”

Courtney scrubbed her hands over her face. “I know. Everything you’re saying is right. I don’t feel guilty for being with Seth.”

“So . . .”

“Oh my God, Ash, I don’t know if I can say it.” Her cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and confusion.

“Just say it. Whatever it is I have your back. My lips are sealed.” She made a show of sealing and locking her lips before throwing the imaginary key into the water.

“Seth was better.” She slapped a hand over her mouth as if that somehow shoved the confession back inside.

Ashley stared back at her wide-eyed. “What did you say?”

“I’m not saying it again,” she spoke from behind her own hand.

Ashley grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the pool and across the deck. Courtney shot a look over her shoulder and found Seth eyeing the two of them suspiciously.

Ashley found two unoccupied chairs away from everyone else and shoved Courtney into one. “Seth was better than Kyle?” she hissed.

“I’m sure it was just because it’s been so long and . . .” She couldn’t even come up with enough to convince herself.

“Was Seththatgood or was Kylethatbad?”

Courtney paused, considering her friend’s question. “Sex with Kyle was great.” Honestly. She’d had no complaints about their sex life.

“But,” Ashley urged, a mischievous grin stretching her lips.

Courtney sighed. “But sex with Seth is . . .” She didn’t have words. She didn’t have any other experiences to compare it to.

Ashley squealed, bouncing in her seat. “I knew it.”

When Courtney didn’t join her in her excitement, Ashley paused. “What is it? What’s wrong? You had the best sex of your life with a hot fireman. Why am I the giddy one?”

Courtney didn’t know if she could say it. Surprisingly, sleeping with Seth hadn’t felt like a betrayal of Kyle, but this next part did.

Ashley’s smile melted away. “What is it?”

“I think I’m in love with Seth.”

No squeal escaped her friend’s lips this time. Instead, Ashley’s eyes filled with tears. “That’s good, honey.” She squeezed Courtney’s clasped hands.

Courtney jerked away. “Good? How can you say that? You’re supposed to tell me it’s too soon and it was just because the sex was so good and . . .”

Ashley smiled sympathetically. “Do you think those things are true?”

No. But that didn’t mean Ashley wasn’t supposed to tell her anyway. What was the point of a best friend if they didn’t talk you out of dumb shit?

“You’re not some innocent virgin, Corey, you know the difference between good sex and love. I think you can trust your emotions.”

Courtney shook her head. She couldn’t trust her emotions because they’d betrayed her. First, they’d led her to having the sex she’d sworn she wouldn’t have on this trip, and now . . . Now they’d gone and fallen for a man she couldn’t be with.

“Have the two of you talked about how you’re going to see each other after the cruise?”

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