Rebel(28)

She waves briefly. “Of course, dearie. Remember. If he doesn’t make you tingle, then out he goes. Now go talk to him. Life’s too short for useless husbands.” She gives me a little wink. “But if he’s a good fuck, give him a chance. Make-up sex is worth a few tears.” And with that, she walks off, leaving me speechless. Did she really just say that?

I’m still blinking when she opens the door into the ship and disappears. I can’t tell if she’s off her rocker or brilliant. Either way, she’s probably got a point. Gavin might not actually be my husband-to-be, but I’m going to have to deal with him for the rest of the cruise.

With a sigh, I go to find him. Like it or not, he does make me tingle.





Chapter 14: Angie


It takes an hour of scouring the ship, but eventually I find him in one of the many bars onboard. The ship is like a miniature floating city, but cleaner. Why it needs that many bars for one ship I have no idea, but they all have themes. Like the one I tracked him down in. It has an old timey western feel. The sort of theme park Wild West that probably never existed outside movies. Saloon doors, a long bar and a burly bartender who looks like he’s about to spit in the glass he’s holding to wash it.

Gavin’s off in a corner, nursing something golden amber that probably isn’t apple juice.

I slide into the chair across from him. “Howdy pardner.”

He looks up, his hazel eyes glassy. “Did you remember something else to bitch at me about, or just couldn’t stay away?”

The bitter tone in his voice makes me wince, because he isn’t far off. Is it possible I actually managed to hurt him? I push aside the guilt. He probably doesn’t deserve it. “Sober up. I need you to answer something, and for once can you just be honest with me?”

Waiting for him to straighten up, I put my elbows on the table and lean my chin on my hands. Even buzzed, he’s hot as hell, his t-shirt painted on him, showing every ridge and edge of his chiseled physique. Joyce’s advice rattles around uncomfortably in my brain, but I’m not ready to forgive and forget.

Maybe he actually realizes that I’m serious, since he sits up and blinks away the booze fog. With a frown, he watches me intently. “Alright. I’m listening.”

That went almost too easily. “Did you know cell phones work here? I had no idea.”

“Of course they do. All of these ships have cell service. They have indoor plumbing and Wi-Fi too, but I guess that’s not what you’re here to tell me about, though I appreciate the public service announcement.” One of his eyebrows arches just barely.

“I was just on the phone with Cassie.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“The girl who set us up that... night.” The Incident. Even now I can’t keep heat from flushing my face when I remember.

“The one with the slut phone?”

It takes a second before I realize what he’s talking about. “Yeah, her,” I reply with a little smile. “She told me something, but I’m not sure I understand. I’m pretty sure it’s about you.”

“Me?”

“And Paul.” I lock my eyes to his expecting... something, but he meets them with no reservations. “Yesterday.”

“Ah.” He doesn’t look away.

“Yeah. Ah. What the hell happened, Gavin?” I lean forward, looking for a shred of remorse. Regret. Something. “Why did Cassie tell me someone kicked his ass yesterday? Probably right around the time you were there.”

He shrugs. “Probably because I kicked his ass yesterday.”

Of all the freaking nerve! “Why the hell would you do that? It’s not like you couldn’t just buy a ticket with your pocket change. Was it just to mess with me? That’s over the top, even for you.”

Gavin’s eyes flash and he leans in so close that our noses almost touch. “You think so? Let me ask you something, then. What’s Paul’s girlfriend’s name?” His eyes look huge, filling my vision. Dark and stormy, they draw me in.

“That’s a stupid question.” I say it real slow. “Angie. Do you want me to spell it for you?”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “No, the other one.”

“What other one?”

“Violet.” He sneers, one side of his lip lifting in a grimace like he just stepped in something.

What the hell? Who’s Violet? “Who?”

“You know, his girlfriend. The one he was fucking when I came looking for him. Her name was Violet. Real pretty. Huge fucking tits. They jiggled back and forth so hard while he laid into her I thought she was gonna smack herself in the face.”