5. Jamie

The line for jet skis isn't as bad as I feared, and we secure two for the morning. Great Harbor Cay has a bunch to see around it, so we join a guide who carries fishing poles and things I'd forget, like water.

While I'm not into fishing, Teddy seemed keen to try it. He's less enthusiastic when the guide points out sharks.

"They won't hurt you, these aren't the aggressive ones. Those will show up when we bait our lines," our guide, who has a French Caribbean accent and goes by Junior, says like that will calm Teddy down.

Teddy pulls his knees up and wiggles to get his ride closer to mine while Junior helps a couple near us.

"I'm regretting the choice to take a trip around the island."

"It was a package deal," I point out. "Jet skis, a guide, fishing, and lunch included."

"Yeah, and you said we were a couple again," Teddy punches my arm and almost falls off his jet ski, making him wobble while I laugh. He has to grab my arm, that he just hit, to regain balance.

"Only way to get the deal," I whisper back, not wanting to clue our guide in on my fib. "We're two people on an excursion, the price was a package for two people."

"It's like the cruise business is built for couples," Teddy mumbles and tunes into Junior explaining that they'll be fishing in shallow water and not keeping anything they catch, so they won't be worrying about the sharks.

He's not wrong. On the ship, I saw people in trios and groups, and on shore it was all couples and families. Not bad, just different than we were used to. I need to adjust my expectations and I'll stop being surprised.

I enjoy our morning on the water as the sun heats up, accepting sunblock whenever Teddy uses it, and going further out to see how fast I can get my speed up to while the rest of them fish closer to shore. By the time we get back, I'm pleasantly sore and starving. We switch out the borrowed life jackets for our phones and I start eying the nearby restaurant.

"Food?" Teddy asks when he hears my stomach rumbling at the rental return.

"Yes, food now."

"Okay, caveman," Teddy chuckles and straps his watch back on. I tried to point out it was waterproof before we left, but he said he didn't want to lose it. "Us, food, now."

We are seated beside each other, a bar along the railing is our table top on the patio of Pirate Eats. They accept our meal vouchers and we put in drink orders before looking at the menu. Everything sounds delicious. Palm trees and the beach are only feet away, and the waves make a pretty accompaniment to the calypso music being performed live.

"Damn, this is the life," I throw my arm over the back of Teddy's chair. "And we have five more days of this."

"You won't hear me complaining," Teddy nods and I side-eye him. "Fine, I won't complain much. I'm still annoyed at the couple thing. It's dishonest."

"But cheaper."

"True, and it's messed up that people in a sexual relationship get the discount but friends don't," Teddy admits.

"Finally, you're seeing my side," I tease before seeing two hot young women seated near us. "Finally," I repeat, but for a different reason.

Teddy follows my line of sight to see the women, a blonde and a brunette, looking close to our age. He doesn't say anything, so I lean across his lap to greet the newcomers.

"Hi, having fun?"

"Hello, I'm Britany," the brunette replies with a flirty wave, but the blonde seems shyer. "This is Ashley."

"I'm JJ and this is Teddy. You're American, too?"

"Canadian," Ashley says under her breath.

"We're from Ontario," Brittany adds. "What about you too?"

"We go to college in North Carolina, getting our–"

"Pictures for the couple?"

A heavily-accented voice interrupts, and I see Junior right behind us. He has pictures printed out from our trip, with Teddy and I beside each other on the jet skis, squished together to fit in the frame. We're both smiling wide and looking beyond happy in the shot, and I know I have to get it.

"Picture to remember your trip to Great Harbor Cay?" He repeats when we don"t respond right away.

"Of course," I pull out my wallet. "How much?"

"Twenty dollars, but for such a handsome couple…" Junior winks and holds out the picture decorated with a paper frame sporting images from the island. "It was part of your package. No charge."

"You're just saying that to get a good tip," I smirk and hand him a ten while Teddy takes the picture to get a better look.

Junior suggests the kingfish off the menu and heads out to lead an afternoon group on their trip around Great Harbor Cay. While Teddy takes a picture of our new souvenir, I order for both of us. A giggle reminds me that I was flirting before Junior interrupted.

"What are you ladies drinking?" I ask, leaning past Teddy again. "Want to join us for lunch?"

"We wouldn't want to interrupt," Brittany beams at me and I think they're going to join. "Are you celebrating an anniversary?"

"Not really," Teddy replies with his brows scrunched in confusion. "Though it has been five years since our first vacation."

Dammit. I realize where their question is coming from. It feels inevitable now— from the restaurant in Florida to my mix-up with booking a Pride cruise— everyone thinks we're a couple. While I love messing with Teddy's comfort levels, I need to adjust my expectations. And why shouldn't I keep my friend on his toes in the process?

Grabbing Teddy by the back of the neck, I squeeze and lean in, "Sugar-dick and I moved in together three years ago, so it is an anniversary of sorts."

Teddy does his choking on air act and I smirk to myself. The girls coo over how cute we are and how all the good ones are gay.

"Not gay, actually," I tell them as our food arrives. Maybe I can explain I'm not married to Teddy and free to mingle. But they stand up when their food arrives in a to-go container. "Headed out?"

"Our ship leaves in an hour," Brittany explains, pushing in her chair. "You two have a great vacation."

All I can do is wave as the girls leave.

Teddy makes a crash-landing sound, complete with the hand motions. "Burn."

Stabbing my fish, I take a bite and my mood improves a bit at the delicious taste. Still… "Why do we keep getting mistaken for a couple?"

He rolls his eyes, "Because you keep saying that we are."

Teddy stating the obvious doesn't help, but he's busy eating his own fish and texting someone.

"Who are you messaging? I'm your best friend and I'm right here?"

"My sister," Teddy replies and slides it over to me so I can read. His younger sister, Elizabeth, thinks it's hilarious that we booked a gay cruise and keep getting mistaken for a couple.

"See, Lizzie thinks we're adorable."

"She hates that nickname," Teddy takes his phone back and tucks it into his side pocket, which has dried since our time in the water with the hot Caribbean breeze. "And she said it was adorable how stupid we were not to know. Not the same thing."

"Tomato, potahto."

Teddy sighs but doesn't stop smiling at my malapropism. I decide to send our jet ski picture to my parents and sister, but don't expect a quick reply in the middle of a work day. I also haven't told them about my booking mix up. My dad would not be impressed, and my sister would tease me for eternity.

We're both finishing our drinks and our plates have been taken away when Teddy taps me on the shoulder.

"Do you see that, along the tree line?"

"The chairs? You want to go sit on the beach?"

"No, look," Teddy points and I focus on movement close to the sand. "I think it's the pigs."

"Perfect timing," I toss a generous tip onto the bar since our meal was covered and stand to give Teddy space. "Let's go see these famous swimming pigs."

Teddy is grinning like a child in a toy store as he jumps off the raised wooden patio to the shady sand below. I hear a snort and Teddy stops in his tracks, making me collide with his back.

"Don't scare them," Teddy whispers and steps forward so I'm not right up against him and almost fall over.

"You're from Jersey City, what do you know about pigs?"

"Like you grew up on a farm?"

"I bet Virginia has a lot more of them, but I would never claim to be an expert with pork," I chuckle at my own joke. Growing up Jewish, I never ate it. It hurts my stomach to even try, now. "Are we supposed to pet them or something?"

"Let's just admit neither of us has a clue," Teddy turns and we almost collide again. He catches my arms and his smile is back in place, "And swim with the piggies."

We have hours to be back on the boat, and no woman was going to be interested when we were constantly getting mistaken for a couple, so I might as well enjoy myself. Plus, watching Teddy coo to the pigs as they snort back is plain adorable.

No, not adorable. What? Entertaining. His sister's words, and those girls at the bar, must be getting to me.