Bad Cruz

“We can forget this conversation happened,” I suggested.

I meant the one with the cruise staffer.

“Sure. Or the days before that,” Tennessee said, referring to the talk we were having right in that moment.

There was no more talk after that when we checked out, got off the Elation, and boarded the Ecstasy.

Some ecstasy it was.

Later that evening, Tennessee and I were sitting around a large dining table, joined by the rest of our families. I sat in one row with Wyatt, Mom, and Dad, and she was with her own parents, Trinity, and Bear.

Bear looked so much like Rob, I did a double take the first time I saw him. The kid was a replica of my ex-best friend, dimples, chestnut hair, and all.

He wore a denim shirt and black jeans, and I had to say, he looked like a well-off kid from a good family. It made me feel guilty that it surprised me.

I remembered Tennessee mentioned that she bought his clothes. Anger slammed into me. How could I not see it all those years I’d ignored her? How she always put her son first? How she prioritized making people (other than herself) look like a million bucks?

“What are you playing these days, kiddo? Fortnite?” Wyatt asked Bear.

“No flicking way.” Bear shook his head, munching on a tip of a French fry. “I’m more into the story of the game. Character-building. Stuff like that. Fortnite is all about running and shooting aimlessly. I need context.”

“So what are you playing?” I interjected. I used to be big on video games before I became the town’s healer and saver full-time. “If not Fortnite.”

Bear turned to look at me for the first time. I wondered if he knew about his mother’s deep dislike toward me, at least until a few days ago, but judging by his blank face, he had no idea.

“God of War.”

“Isn’t that the game where the characters are a father and son?” Wyatt shoved a whole rib into his mouth, smacking his lips together as he ate.

“And so what?” Bear frowned defensively. “It’s still good.”

“If you like God of War, you are going to love Assassin’s Creed,” I commented.

“I know.” Bear’s eyes lit up as he turned to me again. “I’m saving up for it.”

“I have it.”

“You do?”

Wyatt seemed relieved to be able to get back to conversing with my dad about football.

I nodded, and because apparently, I was not above shameless manipulation, I added, “Anytime you wanna play, just let me know. I have a game room with every console you can think of. Air hockey table, too.”

I shot a glance at Tennessee.

Her neck immediately extended, and she put her hand on Bear’s arm.

“Honey, Dr. Costello is just being polite.”

“I’m not being polite.” I popped a piece of chicken into my mouth. “If he wants to come play, that’s perfectly fine with me. We’re practically going to be family now.”

“That’s entirely unnecessary.” She shot me a faux-polite smile.

“Just trying to be a good brother-in-law.” I flashed my teeth right back at her.

“So how did you survive Nessy for four days, anyway?” Mrs. Turner twisted toward me in her seat, chuckling lightly. “I hope she didn’t give you too much trouble.”

The only trouble Tennessee was currently giving me was the fact that she was back to wearing Pretty Woman clothes and was drawing attention from every male in the dining room of the Ecstasy.