“Got it. I love doing laundry and organization, so that won’t be a problem at all.”
“Me too. I think we’ll get along just fine, Adella.”
“Me too,” I reply, grinning. I shake her outstretched hand.
“The day won’t start until eight tomorrow, so sleep in a bit.”
“The bathroom?” I ask, wondering why she didn’t show me one on the way in.
“Oh. You have your own,” she says, opening the door to what I thought was the closet. Inside is a pretty spacious bathroom with all the amenities.
“Wow. Thanks.”
“No problem. Have a good night.”
“You too,” she says before leaving me to my own devices. I packed light, assuming that I’d be back on the cruise ship within the next few days, but this is better. So much better. Growing up in Kissing Junction, Texas, my family of ten was dirt poor. The second I finished high school, damn near two years ago, I was out the door and out of the country. College was never an option for me; I hated school, and as the second oldest, my parents still have plenty of mouths to feed without me being a burden. I send money home every paycheck, and I pray that it’s helping. I finish unpacking and take a shower.
I’m not sure what people wear in their off time around here, so I pull on some yoga pants and a sports bra, wanting to find the gym I read about in the packet Valens gave me. Out in the crew kitchen, I find no one there, but there is kind of a mess. Empty beer bottles and wine glasses litter the table, so I make myself useful and clean up the mess, loading the dishwasher behind the bar area. It’s not a full kitchen, but it has a sink, fridge, and dishwasher. I pop my earbuds in and put some Britney Spears on, getting to work. Under the sink, I find a plethora of cleaning products. I’m singing, dancing, and scouring the sink. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this happy at work before. I turn away from the sink and let out a little squeak. The Captain is standing there, staring at me. Shit. Does he look mad? I quickly pull my phone out of my pocket, hitting pause before taking the earbud out of my ear.
“I’m so sorry, sir,” I say, regretting all my life choices right now.
“No apologies necessary, Adella. Please continue; I was very much enjoying the show,” he says, making me blush. I can feel the heat rising from my toes.
“Um… thank you?” I question, not really sure what to say.
“Have you eaten dinner yet?” he asks, surprising me.
“No, sir.”
“You don’t have to call me sir, Adella, but fuck, I do like hearing it coming from your lips.”
“Sir?” I ask, confused.
“Come have dinner with me, Adella. Don’t say no.”
“Is that an order?” I ask, saucily. Saucier than I intended to, but it’s too late now.
“Yes,” he replies simply.
“Aye-aye, sir,” I say, giving him a mock salute. “Give me a few minutes to change.” I shimmy past him slower than necessary.
“Take your time,” he says, clearing his throat, our eyes meeting as I brush against him.
I smile and lick my lips, nodding. I don’t trust myself to say anything else.
Once in my room, I lean against the door and take several deep breaths. Am I really doing this? Am I really going out with my boss? The boss I literally just met an hour ago. Hell yes, I am, I think as I strip quickly, putting on a floral sundress and grabbing my “formal” Birkenstocks.
“I’m ready,” I say after walking back into the dining room. He grins at me in a way that tells me I am most definitely not ready for what he has planned for me. I shouldn’t want that. I should tell him that I’ve changed my mind and go to bed, but I won’t be doing that.
I want this, and I want him; consequences be damned.
3
I swear I wasn’t seeking her out, I was going to get a bottle of water before going to my cabin, but then I saw her. Shaking her juicy ass as she sang, and I couldn’t help myself. I want her, but I can’t bring myself to deny it for the first time in years. For the first time in forever, I am going to take what I want and give her everything in return.
It’s crazy, but as we walk down the pier talking, I feel like I already know her. She’s telling me about her family back home, and I feel for her. I tell her that my parents are home in New Jersey, but they split their time with my sister and her huge family in Florida.
Despite already having six grandchildren, my mother never fails to ask me when I’ll be adding to the brood. I never wanted to add to it before, but now I do. With her. I’m not even going to try to explain it. My parents met in December 1984 and were married on January 5th, 1985. My dad told me he the second he saw her across the crowded bar he was in that she was his. I didn’t believe him, but I do now. It can happen that quickly. He’ll get a kick out this for sure.