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Sebastian’s words send a snake writhing through my gut, twisting and tightening like there’s an innocent mouse it wants to squash. I wish Anna was still awake. I crave her voice. I desperately want to know she’s okay.
“I hope you’re wrong,” I whisper, no longer talking about the couple beside us.
CHAPTERNINE
SEBASTIAN
I stareout at Montego Bay from the pool deck, a little jittery about seeing Anna today. Our first day in port, and my second chance to win her over. I can’t screw it up. It feels harder than it should after last night, which was so bad, and so good, all at once. I couldn’t sleep when I went back to my room. The dream, combined with the feel of her next to me in the netting, and our intimate conversation, all conspired to keep me wired till the wee hours.
Reggae beats float up to the ship from port, even this early in the morning. The lush blue mountains of Jamaica stretch up behind the city, calling us in to the land of Red Stripe beer, green parrots, smooth rum, and majestic waterfalls. I hope the splendor of this place will distract me. So far, I’ve done all right. I resisted every temptation last night, even when Anna seemed inclined to take my face in her hands right after my apology. I wipe my sweaty hands down my shorts and head downstairs to disembark.
On shore, I scan for Anna and her boys as I walk to the van for the river float excursion. After nearly missing Anna’s spa day, I want to see her climb into the vehicle before I follow. When I spot her, it seems the sport massage did wonders for her ankle. She’s left her crutch behind and is walking almost fluidly.
When we reach the zipline and river tubing park, she’s one of the first off the tour van. Anna seems perkier today. One might almost say excited. Is it me, or is she coming around on cruising? She seems positively upbeat the entire time our group is getting fitted with zipline harnesses, helmets and gloves, and unlike some of the other participants, she jumps off the zipline platform without hesitation, letting her squeal of delight float back to her friends on the wind. Not gonna lie, I get a natural high too, while flying over the jungle. After the excitement of zip lining, everyone in our group seems relaxed, Anna included, especially once our guides hand out the first round of late-morning rum.
“Hey look, it’s our honeymooners!” Anna says, coming up beside me and pointing at the couple waiting for a raft at the river’s edge. They’re wearing matching outfits- the wife in a tropical cover up, hubby in a tee with the same print.
“Let’s find out if I’m right about their honeymoon.” I hold out my arm for Anna, and when she makes a face, I roll my eyes. “The path is rocky. You don’t want to mess up your ankle again.”
“Fine. You’re going to be wrong, so I’ll give you this.” She takes my arm and goosebumps rise along my skin at her touch. I blink, my breath hitching. A few feet away, Oscar and Jamie are smirking at me. My jaw clenches. Thankfully, Colin has gone snorkeling with some new crush, or he’d be doing worse than smirking.
“Excuse me, is this your honeymoon, by any chance?” I ask the matching couple when Anna and I get close to the river.
“Why yes, it is!” The woman sounds excited to be asked.
“You two look like you’re in love, so we were taking bets,” Anna says.
“She owes me a drink now,” Sebastian says. “I was right.”
“You said ifyoulost, you owedmea drink. Not the other way!” But the husband drowns out Anna’s words by making a loudawww.
“Isn’t that the cutest bet they had, Laurie?” He wraps his arm around his wife.
“See? Youdoowe me a drink.” I look pointedly at Anna, and she shrugs. Has she forgiven me for my rudeness these last few days? It’s hard to know.
“Please proceed ahead,” says a river guide, gesturing for the honeymooners to launch their raft. “You two, step over here.” He leads Anna and me towards the empty two-seater at water’s edge.
“We’re not together,” she says.
“We’re friends though.” I hope it’s true. “I’m fine to ride with you. Unless you want to ride with Aniston.” He’s the only friend of hers who isn’t partnered right now. Anna glances behind us. Aniston is talking to a skinny black girl in line beside him. When she sees this, Anna tilts her head in assent.
We clamber onto the raft together and push off, swirling away down the slow river into the jungle. Parrots croak in the trees and big red flowers droop off hanging vines towards the water. The sun filters through the canopy above, and despite the fifty-some other cruisers on the river with us, it’s easy to forget myself in the wildness of this overgrown rainforest. I glance at Anna, and she’s staring upwards, her soft mouth open. She shifts, catching my eye, and grins.
“It’s not so bad, is it?”
“Not so bad,” she says. “It reminds me of our family trip to Disney World when I was little, only this river is real, not concrete.” Anna trails her fingers in the cool green water.
“So you’re saying there’s something about this cruise you like?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” She splashes my feet with hers. “I liked the Disney trip in part because both my parents came, even though they were divorced, and because my sister and I got to perform there. We had a two-girl variety show when we were kids, performing all over LA. Sometimes, we did shows on vacation to get free accommodations. I think Mom was trying to live out her own dreams through us.”
“Did all that make you and your sister close?” Anna winces, focusing on droplets of water that fall from her hand to her perfect knee when she lifts her arm. I have no business asking questions like this. It’s not anything I need to know to help my case with Mike. I’m crossing a line again, but I’m curious about her.
“We were pretty inseparable growing up,” Anna says eventually. “Even though there’s a four-year age gap, Mom encouraged us to dress like twins, act like best friends, and do everything together. We don’t dress alike anymore, but we’re still best friends.” She puts her hand back in the water, twirling again. Her brown eyes are warm when they meet mine. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“No, but I wish I had one. Even a half sibling, maybe. Except neither of my parents stayed with anyone else long enough to have another kid.” It’s my turn to play with the water and avert my eyes.
“Were you lonely growing up with your grandparents, all alone like that?” My chest clenches. She seems to always do this. To see straight to the heart of how I feel.
