Hey guys! I'm typing this on my phone so I can't reply to y'all's reviews. I'll do it next chapter!
Chapter 25
The next morning I began my day by blading along the jogging trail before most people were up and about. The rhythm of my blades was calming, and helped me put things into perspective.
And how could anyone stay uptight or bummed out when on a cruise? The sun easing over the horizon and reflecting off the water was inspiring. It made me feel like I could do anything, accomplish any goal.
Even Mr. Perfect-for-One-Night didn't seem quite so daunting. Especially when I had Fabio's attention.
Actually I'd been hoping that I'd run into him this morning. He was really nice and caring when he was trying to make sure that everyone had a good time.
And I certainly enjoyed being with him. Maybe have was the one I'd been looking for all along.
I rounded a corner that I'd gone past at least half a dozen times already, and I nearly tripped over my own feet at the sight of Logan caught in another lip lock.
Only this time he wasn't with James. He was with Beau. They broke apart. He tossed his head back, and laughed-his familiar dramatic pose.
Then he spotted me, waved, patted Beau on the shoulder, and walked toward the jogging track. I came to a stop.
"Geez, you're out early this morning," he said.
I looked past hi. To where Beau had been. "So are you."
"I spent the night with Beau. He was walking me back to my cabin."
I hardly knew what to say. "But yesterday you were hitting on James-"
"He is so boring."
"James is boring?" I'd never found him boring. What I the world was he going on about?
"Definitely," he said. "No chemistry whatsoever."
No chemistry? But what about what I'd felt when James had kissed me when we were parasailing? I'd definitely felt chemistry and electricity.
Logan obviously thought Beau had chemistry, but when he'd kissed me...
Well, he'd done nothing for me. Not even a up-on-my-toes kind of feeling. I guess it went to prove kissing was subjective, and what one person liked, another didn't.
"Want to get some breakfast?" Logan asked.
"Sure. Let me get my shoes." I rolled over to where I'd left my backpack and shoes; I'd figured both were relatively safe on the bench. Everything important I'd carried with me, but shoes and an empty backpack- who'd really want them.
I sat on the bench, removed the Rollerblades, stuffed them into my backpack and slipped on my slides. Then I joined Logan.
We had breakfast at a little corner bakery kind of café. I had a cream cheese Danish and hot green tea, while he had a blueberry muffin and an expresso.
"So how did you and Beau hook up?" I asked genuinely curious. He'd still been snuggled against James when we'd returned to the ship just yesterday evening.
"When we got back to the ship, you took off for parts unknown," he said. "The rest of us hit the club. James didn't stay long. Beau did."
"So it's not like love," I said.
"No, not at all. Are you looking for love, Kendall?"
I didn't know why his question felt like a blow to the midsection. I wasn't looking for love. Was I?
I decided to confess. "I was sorta hoping for a ship board romance."
"So why aren't you having one? We've met a lot of guys."
"But none of them have bn Mr. Right."
He rolled his eyes. "Mr. Right is long-term. You have to lower your standards if you want to get hot and heavy with a guy real fast."
"Is that what you did?" I asks. "Lower your standards?"
He laughed. "I've no ver had high standards. Love 'em and leave 'em, and no ver get hurt."
"But you did get hurt. What about the guy you just broke up with?"
"I don't want to talk about him. I'm here to help you get it on with someone."
"I think I can find someone without your help."
"Who has been the one to find us all the guys? I'm a guy magnet," he said.
"Yeah, but the guys you find don't really do anything for me."
"What about Hawk? You found him on your own."
"He's too much into guzzling beer. Everything is a competition with him. I don't want to feel like I'm a prize."
"Kendall, Kendall, you really don't get the casual dating scene."
I dumped a packet of sugar into my tea, and stirred it to give myself something to do while I thought of what I should say. Logan wasn't my best bud, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend on this cruise.
"Logan, I've never slept with a guy."
He gave me some his incredulous look. "You slept with James."
it was embarrassing to admit, but I'd gone this far. "All we did was sleep."
His mouth dropped open, and he flopped back against his chair. "You mean, you only slept, like with your eyes closed, and snores, and dreams-"
"Right. It's a long story, but the first night when I got back to my cabin I didn't have my key with me. It was late, James and I were a little drunk, and I sort of fell asleep in his room.
"He doesn't kiss like he's straight."
I laughed at the absurdity of his response. "He's not straight. He's bi, like you."
"Then why did he only sleep with you?"
"He's not attracted to me."
He looked completely baffled. "That makes no sense. I mean, you're hot. With that whole blonde short look going on."
"It doesn't matter," I said hastily. "The point in my telling you all this is so you'll realize I need someone special. I'm not opposed to lowering my standards some, but I can't lower them all the way, because I need someone special. For me it'll be the first time."
"I'll say." He sat up straighter. "We need to go on a guy-hunting expedition."
"No we don't. I may have found someone," I confessed.
He raised his eyebrows at that. "Really?"
"Fabio."
"The activities director?"
I nodded. "I went to that singles' meet he had last night. He introduced me to several guys, but it was like he was hoping I wouldn't really be into any of them. It was like was doing his job, but only because it was his job."
"That's interesting. He's cute."
"I think so."
"So what are the plans for today?"
"We'll be arriving at the Grand Cayman soon. We'll go snorkeling."
"Oh right." He scrunched up his face. "Another water thing."
"Logan, we're on a ship, in the middle of the ocean, heading for an island. Yes another water thing."
"It's just that it's a total waste of time to style your hair or do your makeup, because the wind, the sand, and the water screw it all up. Too bad we don't have time to get you at tattoo, something to make you seem mysterious."
Was that the reason I didn't have guys hanging all over me? Because I didn't have a tattoo?
Although truthfully I'd had several guys express an interest. I'd even had four of them kiss me. It's just that none of them really did anything for me.
Except James, who wasn't interested.
"I don't think a tattoo is the secret," I told him.
"It doesn't hurt. Are you sure you don't want to get your tongue pierced?"
"I'm sure."
He scowled. "Where is your sense of adventure?"
"I keep right next door to my common sense."
"Dullsville." He stood and started gathering his trash. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
I stood as well. "Logan, don't. I've got a handle on the situation, and Fabio doesn't need any prompting. He liked me just fine last night."
"But 'just fine' doesn't get a guy into your bed."
"I'm not sure he's even allowed to do that sort of thing with passengers. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure he's not."
He grinned. "Which means he must be a rule breaker."
He started to walk off, and I grabbed his arm. "Logan please, don't do anything."
He released a sigh of frustration. "Oh, all right. But if you decide that you want help, don't hesitate to let me know. I have a way with guys."
"So I noticed."
"I can tell from looking at a guy if he's any good in the sack or not."
"How can you tell?" I asked, not even trying to hide the skepticism in my voice."
"It's all in their eyes. Bedroom eyes, I call it. It's just a hot sultry look. Guys with blue eyes come by it naturally. All the others have to work at it."
"So is Fabio good?" I asked, even though I didn't believe he had psychic abilities or anything.
"Oh, definitely, and before this cruise is over, you'll know for sure.
Here's the chapter! I'm sorry I couldn't update yesterday. It was storming like crazy!