Twenty-Two

Cory

I hadn't meant for us to fuck, but he was on my mind all day. Seeing him work and really put in an effort had shown me he was serious about making a change, and even though I'd seen him at his worst, everything felt so right with him. When we were lying in the bed together, I wanted him more than I'd ever wanted anyone. I thought of how annoyed I was with him on the beach and huffed out a laugh while turning on the water in the shower.

"What?" he asked and hugged me from behind.

"When I saw you on the beach, I would never have guessed I'd be having the best sex of my life with you just a couple of days later." I turned and kissed away his smile.

"The best sex of your life?"

"Yeah. I'm not going to try to deny it," I said and stepped into the shower. It was tiny so we wouldn't be in there long, but we'd be a little cleaner than we were now.

A short time later we were lying in bed facing each other when he smiled at me. "What?"

"It was the best sex of my life too," he whispered.

"How did this even happen? I'm so confused because I legitimately did not like you, now I can't imagine you not being here," I said and cupped his cheek. "How can that be?"

"Fate? I'm not sure. I've never wanted to be with anyone for more than one night. And I really do mean no one. But you did some kind of magic or something and made me fall—" His eyes widened as he clamped his mouth shut and I knew what he was going to say without him saying it. I fought against saying those words myself. But it wasn't time yet.

"It might have been magic," I said and pulled him close. "Whatever it is I don't want it to end."

"Me either. Even if I have to do dishes," he said before shaking with laughter. "The things I do for you."

That made me laugh and the two of us rolled around the bed just enjoying being together without there being a ship full of people around us. "We still have nearly a week, let's just enjoy it and see how we feel when the cruise is done," I said, and hoped that gave us enough time to see if it was just lust or—

"I like that idea, but I can tell you right now I won't change my mind." He looked so determined, or maybe he just liked to be challenged.

"Well, I won't change my mind either." Just then his stomach growled. "I forgot we were going to go back out and eat."

"Do they still have food out?" he asked. I knew he had to be starved, he wasn't used to working all day like he had. Checking my phone for the time I thought we might get lucky.

"Let's go see." We both threw some of my clothes on and hurried down the hall barefoot. Crew showed up to eat in all stages of dress so no one would think twice about us not having shoes on. We walked in and there were still a few people eating. The hot food trays had been taken away but the food that was left was wrapped in foil. "Looks like burgers," I said, and the two of us took two each and some bags of chips.

"Can we eat in your room?" Jackson asked.

"I don't see why not." We did another onceover of the food, and both grabbed some cookies before walking back across the hall.

He flopped on his bed and patted it next to him. "Let's eat here so we can sleep in your bed. It'll be like a picnic."

"Like I could say no to that." We sat next to each other eating our burgers, fighting over chips, and sharing bites of cookies. It was romantic in a very nonromantic way and felt so good to finally not have all the bullshit between us. Being with him now, I didn't recognize the guy from the beach, and I hoped I never had to deal with that part of him.

"So, tell me what you did today." That seemed to surprise him, and he set the remains of his food down and reached for my hand.

"It was good. I think they were all expecting me to give up because they hadn't been keeping up on the dishes but I wasn't going to give up, and knowing they expected me to fail pushed me even more."

"You're competitive," I said and grinned.

"With some things, not so much with others. I like to finish something that no one else thinks can be done. Dishes are easy, they didn't require any thought, just a lot of elbow grease."

"Why aren't you working at your family's hotel?" I asked and hoped that wasn't a sore subject.

"I thought that's what I wanted to do, but it's my dad's thing, not mine. When I worked in the kitchen I didn't mind it. He mainly leaves the restaurant to the restaurant staff, but the hotel is a whole other thing. He has his hands in every part of the business. I understand why he does, but it made working for him very stifling. Sometimes he cares a lot more about his hotel than he does about anyone who works there or his family." His eyes darkened as he stared off for a moment before looking back at me and smiling. "He's definitely been happier since I've been out of the state."

"Jackson. I had no idea. I guess we just think money is what we need to be happy, but it doesn't sound like that's always the case." I wasn't sure what else to say, I really felt bad about his family situation. Or what he perceived it to be anyway.

"It's not as sad as it seems. My brother and sister both work for the hotel and they're happy."

"It's not for everyone though. I never understood a parent who would push their kid to do the same job but then be critical of how he does that job. It's obvious to me you're a hard worker."

"I don't mind working, but I prefer physical work to mental, and it's not that I can't handle the mental work. It's that I get more satisfaction from a day of hard physical work," he said with a shrug.

"I get that. I'd rather be busy running around all over than sitting behind a desk. Which is why I never went to college. When I graduated high school, that was enough school for me."

"I have a master's degree in business," Jackson said with a grin.

"Ohhhh look at the big brain on you," I said and ruffled his hair. "I thought you said you have a degree in Physical Education?"

"I do. I stayed in school hoping to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Eh, I'd still rather wash dishes." He laughed then, but this laugh was different. It was light and happy and sounded like a burden had been lifted with his words and he was somehow happier. And looking into his eyes I could see it. He was happy, and I was now worried how fast the remainder of the cruise would go by and he'd leave while I was on to the next cruise.