Chapter 5

Over the next few days on the cruise ship, Scarlet found herself spending more and more time with Robin when she didn't need to be leading band meetings or performing for the passengers.

They were both early risers so they got breakfast together on the second morning and found a secluded spot on deck where they could linger over their coffee as the sun rose.

They went to Lex's first comedy set, and Scarlet fell in love with Robin's full-throated laugh more than she paid any attention to the jokes.

Dinner was turning out to be the best part of each day. Apart from the mouthwatering food, which Zoe had not skimped on, Scarlet looked forward to it because it was a great opportunity to get to know different people on the ship. The more people who got to know them, the more likely they would pick up an album, recommend it to a friend, get the word out. Scarlet made a point of sitting at a different table every night, and she tried to get the rest of the Begonias to split up and do the same.

Tonight, she and Robin were dining with Nat and Christy, who she didn't exactly have to schmooze but who did a great job of leading the conversation. Also at the table were Raven Cross and Kit Davis, an adventurous pair who'd met on the Appalachian Trail, and Krys and Darcy Cosgrove-Stevens, a married doctor and paramedic couple from the Chicago area.

"We're really looking forward to the day excursions on the islands," Raven was saying. "The ship is beautiful, but we're happiest when we're roughing it."

"I hope we get to see some giant tortoises," Robin added. "Closest I've ever gotten is at the zoo."

"Don't forget the blue-footed boobies," Kit chimed in. "If I don't see boobies, I'm going to demand my money back."

"I'm just lucky I convinced this one to take some time off work," Darcy said, nudging Krys with her elbow. "We've had exactly one vacation where we left Illinois and didn't take overtime shifts since we got married, and that was our honeymoon."

"What about you two?" Krys asked, looking between Scarlet and Robin. "How long have you been together?"

"Oh, we're not–"

"Two days," Scarlet teased. "We met on the ship."

"That's adorable," Kit said. "I hope we're witnessing the start of a long and wonderful relationship."

Scarlet felt her cheeks coloring and she looked at Robin. They hadn't even kissed yet, if you didn't count that diversionary one when Zoe was on a collision course for them.

Not that Scarlet wanted to discount it.

It'd been a hot kiss.

Hardly counted as a relationship, though. Had she overstepped?

"So, what's your favorite thing on the ship so far?" she changed the subject.

"Free spa services," Christy said without hesitation.

"Yeah, that's been one of my highlights too," Robin said, throwing a wink Scarlet's way.

It was day four when the ship approached its first scheduled stop in the Galapagos Islands, everyone onboard buzzing with excitement. Scarlet stood on the deck, the wind whipping her hair as she watched the lush, green island grow larger on the horizon. Robin stood beside her, practically bouncing on her toes with anticipation.

"I can"t wait to see what animals there are," she said, craning her neck as if she could see them from out on the water. "Do you think they'll let us wander? I'd love to see them in their natural habitats rather than in a zoo."

Scarlet beamed, in awe of Robin"s enthusiasm. "Don't get me wrong, I love animals too, but I don't think I've ever met anyone as enthusiastic about them as you. What's your research about?"

"Nothing that this trip will help me with," Robin said. "I'm researching gene therapy for inherited diseases. Human medicine is so far ahead of veterinary medicine in that field."

Scarlet grinned. "So you're like, an uber nerd."

Robin laughed. "I just love animals and if we can prevent or cure their diseases, we should."

"I wish I could see the island through your eyes today."

The best she could do was go along with Robin on the adventure. While a lot of the other passengers had opted for bathing suits and beach towels, planning to spend the day in the sand, the two of them were dressed in shorts and moisture-wicking t-shirts, plastered with sunblock and prepared to go trekking. Scarlet had even borrowed a pair of hiking boots from Kit, who assured her she'd keep up with Raven just fine in her sandals.

The ship docked on Fernandina Island and Captain Russo told everyone to be back by five. Zoe had already briefed them at breakfast on the activity options on the westernmost island, and even with a tour guide, a lot of the passengers were hesitant to leave the safety of the beach.

Robin, on the other hand, led Scarlet off the pier and straight toward the guide and the lush green jungle.

They spent the whole day hiking as their guide led them through lush vegetation and beautiful scenery. Robin pointed out some of the plant species before the guide did, and she gave Scarlet a brief dissertation on the famous evolutionary adaptations of the Galapagos finches when they spotted a few flitting about in the trees.

She was fully in her element, and Scarlet loved every minute of Robin's excitement.

They'd made it most of the way around the island and Robin was starting to worry that they weren't going to see any giant tortoises on this particular excursion when the guide held up a hand to stop them in their tracks. "Look."

He parted the giant leaves of some low-growing vegetation and Robin let out an excited little squeak. Scarlet chuckled, then clamped her mouth shut. Through the leaves, she could see a tortoise's large dusty shell and she didn't want to scare it off.

The idea nearly made her laugh again.

How fast would it run away if she did?

"Can we get closer?" Robin asked, reaching for Scarlet's hand.

"Don't touch," the guide warned. "But quietly, yes."

Robin pulled Scarlet slowly through the leaves. They crouched down and the tortoise retracted its long, wrinkled neck until just its face peeked out of its shell.

"What's it doing?" Scarlet whispered.

"They spend sixteen hours a day resting," Robin said. "We probably interrupted a nap."

She dropped to her knees, leaning closer, careful not to disturb the massive creature as she examined it.

"The shell pattern is so intricate. Did you know you can tell a lot about a tortoise's health by its shell?"

"I know literally nothing about tortoises," Scarlet laughed.

"Okay, we'll leave you be now," Robin addressed the tortoise. "Thanks for letting us look at you."

She backed up just as slowly and carefully as she had approached, and she was all smiles by the time they were back on the trail.

"That was incredible."

"It's not all that common to see them on hikes," the guide explained. "You got lucky."

"Sure did," Robin agreed.

When the hike was over, they found that the ship's crew had brought a picnic lunch down to the beach. They helped themselves to overflowing dishes of seafood rice and fresh coconut water, then sat down on the beach where the rest of the passengers had gathered.

"Kit and Raven must have gone off exploring," Scarlet pointed out. There were a few other couples missing too, but they had about an hour before they had to board the ship again.

"Do you need to get back, do some warmups before your set tonight?" Robin asked.

"Nope," Scarlet answered, looping her arm in Robin's. "I'm right where I want to be."

The sand was warm and they kicked off their shoes, letting the ocean water lap over their toes and the sun bake down on them. Scarlet looked around to all the other couples cuddled up on their beach towels and rested her head on Robin's shoulder.

"I'm glad we found each other. It'd be lonely on this trip without you."

"Ah, you wouldn't even notice the difference," Robin said in a modest attempt to brush off the compliment. "You'd be networking like a champ. If anything, I'm holding you back."

The polite thing to do would be to deny that, and right away. Unfortunately, Robin had just put pressure on the exact wound Scarlet was nursing. It was an insecurity she couldn't shake.

"I do worry sometimes," she said. "Not that you're holding me back –you're not. But I don't think any of the other girls take the success of the band quite as personally as I do. I'm Scarlet, they're the Begonias, or at least that's how it feels sometimes. Like it's all on my shoulders, you know?"

"I get what you mean," Robin said. "I'm still making a name for myself right now, publishing papers and doing what research I can at the university. But eventually I want to secure funding, buy specialized lab equipment… If I don't work my ass off, I'll never get there."

"You will get there," Scarlet said. "The way you looked at that tortoise, the minute detail you explained the finches with…"

Robin chuckled. "Sorry about that."

"No, it was so interesting, and I could see your passion, your drive. I'm totally convinced you will achieve whatever you want in life."

"And I know you will too," Robin said. "With a voice like that, with a band as good as the Begonias… the world is yours, Scarlet Day."

Scarlet found herself leaning in, closing the distance between them. She could smell the coconut on Robin's breath, mixing with the sea salt air. Her eyes lingered over the curve of her lower lip.

"And you?" she breathed. "Will you be mine, at least for the rest of this trip?"

"I'm yours," Robin agreed, and then their lips met in a tender kiss, the world around them fading away. Scarlet"s heart soared as she melted into Robin"s embrace, the warmth of her body a comforting presence against the cool ocean breeze.

She'd never expected this, to find someone who called to her soul the way Robin did, no less on a cruise that would only last ten days.

What came after this… maybe nothing.

Maybe it couldn't be anything. She was so busy with the Begonias she didn't think she could offer more if Robin wanted it, and Robin was caught up in her own life.

But for right now, for the remaining six days of the trip… they could take a break from their lives and just enjoy each other.

Have something they couldn't have in the real world.

And that was enough for Scarlet.