Cece mimed locking a key in a door. “Yep. Locked in like Fort Knox. Isn’t that right, Addi?”
It was a moment before I replied. I didn’t really want to agree with her. I mean, a trip to a B&B? After the cruise we’d just had? At such short notice? But she was my friend.
“Right. Yes. That’s what we’re doing. A B&B.”
“She’s been hassling me about it, haven’t you Addi? Just the other night you were saying ‘When do we get to go to your aunt’s B&B?’, weren’t you?”
“I was,” I said through gritted teeth.
“She was,” confirmed Sam.
“Sorry about that, Ryan, I’m surprised you didn’t know.” I said to him. “I didn’t realize.”
“The family will get over it. There’ll be plenty more chances to meet them. Next shore leave, okay, Cece? We’ll lock it in.”
“Next one? Uh, yeah, sure. Lock it in.”
Ryan mimed locking a door the same way they had before. She stared at him. He nodded at her, and then she repeated the mime.
“Locked in,” she said nervously.
“Right. Got to go. We’re almost there and they’re going to be down for the body the second we arrive. I’ll call you later, Cece.”
When Ryan was gone I glared at Cece. “Thanks.”
She smiled at me sweetly. “You’re welcome. I wanted it to be a surprise for you. It’s going to be great. Just you and me and the biker bar.”
“What’s that?” said Ethan, sidling up beside me. I hadn’t even seen him coming. “You’ve got plans, Addi? I thought we were going to—”
“Sorry, Ethan. I didn’t know I had plans. Cece just sprung them on me. A surprise.” I shot another fiery glare her way. “We’re going to stay at her aunt’s B&B.”
“Goodness. This cruise must really have got you in the spirit of it. Me? Personally I think it’ll be at least a year before I can face going to one after this cruise.”
“A year, huh?” The three of us who were there for Jake’s conversation began to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” asked Ethan.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just… the B&B people said they enjoyed the cruise so much, they’re thinking of coming against next year!”
Ethan slowly raised a hand into the air and then slapped it against his forehead. “Give me strength.”
When the laughter had stopped, I took him by the arm. “We’ll have a drink or something as soon as we’re ashore. Cece doesn’t mind waiting a bit, do you?”
She shrugged. “No problem. I’ve got to call my aunt anyway.”
Yeah. Call her and see if she has any room, no doubt.
“Hey, babe,” said a deep voice with an accent.
Sam melted into a puddle. Nearly, anyway.
“Hey, hunk,” she said and then proceeded to kiss Scott right on the lips, in front of all of us.
“Fraternization rules,” I hissed at her. “The first officer’s here!”
But Sam and Scott ignored me completely. Ethan just shook his head in a kids? What can ya do? kind of way.
Scott slung his arm over Sam’s shoulder.
“Ready to go?”
“Where are you going?” I demanded.
“We’ve got a date,” said Sam. “Catch you later!”
“She moves fast,” said Ethan.
“Yeah, too fast.”
There was a long sounding whistle.
“That’s us. We’ve docked. I’ve got to see the VIPs off. In fact, I should be there already!” Ethan was already moving, and his last words came over his shoulder, “I’ll text you later, Addi.”
When he was gone, it was just Cece and I left.
“Are we really going to your aunt’s B&B? After what we’ve just been through?”
“Yep. We sure are. Don’t worry. She’s crazier than any of the ones on this cruise. It’ll be a blast.”
And that’s just what I was worried about.
Cece and I headed inside to grab our things before we disembarked. It was the end of another cruise that felt far longer than the mere week it had lasted.
But in only a few short days, we would be back again. Eager and ready to serve customers and give them another, truly unforgettable cruise.
But, I thought to myself, it would be nice, just once, to have a cruise that was forgettable.
Just once.
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries 10 - Bed and Breakfast and Cruises Page 17