Chapter 46

Track 31. How You Get The Girl (2:46)

Jennie

I WAVED AT MY DAD AND Stella as their cab headed for the airport several days later. When I couldn't see them anymore, I walked to the gift shop that was closest to the ship, ready to collect final souvenirs before boarding again.

Tossing a new set of postcards into my basket, I walked over to the wall of monogrammed pens and searched for Lisa's name. When I found it, I picked up a matching hoodie and hat as well.

Since I had phone service here, I was planning to use my final half hour to respond to some of the text messages she'd sent.

Or maybe I should call...Maybe I should call from the ship so we can talk longer than thirty minutes.

Debating, I headed for the checkout line and set my stuff on the counter.

"So, you really weren't going to write me back?" A familiar voice said from behind. "You weren't going to contact me at all?"

What? I turned around and found myself face to face with Lisa. Her eyes gleamed under the lights, and her lips curved up into a smile.

My heart damn near jumped out of my chest as she looked me up and down.

"I'm happy that you you're here and not in Moscow," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Otherwise, I would've had to wait to see you in China next month."

"You would've flown there just to see me?"

"In a heartbeat."

We stared at each other, and all the words I thought I wanted to say suddenly left my brain.

"Miss?" The cashier called. "Miss, do you want me to ring up your things?"

"She does," Lisa said, stepping past me and handing her credit card.

We said nothing as she took her time scanning and bagging my souvenirs, and when she was finished, Lisa handed me the bag and slipped her arm around my waist—walking me outside.

She led me over to a bench, but she didn't sit down. She just stared at me.

Not wanting to waste any of my remaining minutes, I let out a breath. "I was going to write you back. I just finished writing five letters this morning, and I was about to call or text you. I was still trying to see which one made more sense, so it wasn't like—"

"I fucking love you, Jennie." She interrupted my spiel. "I love you."

My heart sped up and she pressed her finger against my lips.

"You heard me," she said, smiling. "You don't have to ask me what I just said, but because I know you'll still need to hear it again..." She kissed my forehead. "I love you, Jennie Kim, and I 've loved you since I was seven and a half years old."

My eyes widened.

She ran her fingers through my hair. "I'm sorry for not thinking about you when I signed off to go to New York for a program I didn't even want to go to. That was beyond selfish, and you were right about me doing it for someone else's approval."

"Did you just say that you've loved me since we were seven and half years old?"

"Yes." She pulled me close and kissed me until I couldn't breathe. "Let me finish..." She waited until I'd caught my breath, then she rubbed her hands against my back. "I'm sorry for not telling you about New York first, for not being willing to stay like you were." She paused. "And I know you're about to get back on your ship, but I want you to know that I'll willing to go wherever you go from here on out to show you how much you've always meant to me. And as much as I enjoy writing you letters, I'd much rather see you in person every day."

"I'll be done in a few months," I said, smiling as she kissed me again. "And I can give you my updated port schedule." I opened my purse and pulled out a copy of the new port stops.

As she took it from my hands, a sound I knew all too well interrupted our moment.

The ten bells at the top of the Eurodam rang out loud and clear, signaling that the ship was about to prepare to leave the port in exactly ten minutes.

As if Lisa knew what the sound meant as well, she pulled me into her arms and kissed me like this was the last time, as if we were never going to see each other again, and she wanted to cement this moment into my memory.

Pulling away from me, she kissed my forehead and sighed. "I really would prefer if we saw each other in person every day."

"Me, too." I hugged her. "I'll call you the second the phone room opens today, and I'll send out those five letters, too."

Seven bells rang.

She smiled and stepped back. "I'll see you at your next port."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Really."

Unable to resist, I kissed her lips one more time before running toward the ship—looking over my shoulder every few seconds until I couldn't see her through the crowd anymore. When I made it aboard, I rushed to my room to search for my telephone access card.

As I was rummaging through my top drawer, the last bell rang and a knock came to my door.

"I'll be at the roll call in once second!" I said, opening another drawer.

The knock came louder and I held back a groan as I walked over to the door.

"I said I'd be there in once second, I was just—" I gasped at the sight of Lisa in my doorway, blinking a few times to make sure this was real.

"Like I was saying," she said, smirking. "I really would prefer if we saw each other every day, and I will be seeing you at every port from now on."

"You're completing your final semester at sea?"

"Hell no." She smiled. "I already graduated, remember?" She handed me a thick binder. "I took my girlfriend's advice and looked up some Creative Writing programs. Turns out, there's one that allows you to finish writing a novel at sea, as long as I teach two classes a week. I've heard life on this ship is fucking miserable if you're alone, so I'm hoping that if the love of my life is aboard, that won't be true."

I felt tears falling down my face. "You have your own room?"

"No." She kissed me. "I have a suite." She looked behind me. "And from the looks of the size of your room, that's where we're going to be spending most of our time..."

I blushed, unable to do anything but stare at her.

"You may want to start making your way toward roll call," she said, stepping forward and caressing my back. "I've heard that the new teacher who is in charge of it wants to get it over with as soon as possible so she can get reacquainted with someone in her suite."

"Are you talking about kissing?"

"I'm talking about fucking." She laughed. "Well 'making love' as you prefer to say and read about."

"I like reading about both."

"Hmmm." She kissed my forehead. "Well, seeing as though my current novel is a romance that has both, I'd appreciate your opinion."

She pointed to the binder she'd given me, and I raised my eyebrow.

"You're going to write a romance?" I flipped the binder over and saw the words, based on a true story. "If you're putting a false sticker on your books to trick women like me into thinking this shit is based on a true story, I swear—"

"It is."

"You've only been in one relationship where you've said the words, I love you, Lisa."

"I'm aware of that, Jennie."

"Okay..." I tapped my lip, not sure whether she was serious about writing a romance or not. "What type of trope is it?"

"Enemies to lovers. Or, more like friends to lovers who think they're enemies. It's a pretty interesting story for you, I think."

"Can't wait to read it." I smiled. "Do you have a working title?"

"I do." Her lips briefly met mine and she pulled me into the hallway, toward the room for roll call. "I think you'll love that part most of all."

"Would you like to tell me what it is?"

She didn't have to answer. When I opened the binder, I saw it printed on the first page of the binder in huge bold print.

Forget You, Jennie

The End*