Page 12 of Cruising for Christmas
“A upside-down pineapple? That’s kinda weird and very specific, but if you think that’s a good way of communicating, that works for me. I guess we are in the Caribbean, so that wouldn’t raise any red flags, being tropical and all.”
He watched her in disbelief.Dear God, she’s adorable.
Just as they stepped into the elevator, Shay’s voice rang out down the hallway. “Hold the elevator!”
Ian put an arm in front of the doors to keep them open as Shay and Ryan hustled in.
“Thanks!” Shay said.
The elevator doors slid shut as they rode the few floors down to the dining hall.
“So how’s the roomy situation going?” Shay asked cautiously.
“Good!” Norah said quickly. “It’s just that he nearly saw me naked several times because those bathrooms or so fricken small.”
Ian cracked a smile. “It’s okay. We’re trying to come up with a system to prevent any accidental nudity from happening in the future.”
Norah nodded. “We are. I suggested a sock on the door.” She turned to Shay. “Remember how people always did that in college? Ian suggested an upside-down pineapple. What do you guys think?”
Ryan snorted and Shay cackled loudly, while Ian tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably.
“You’re terrible, Ian,” Shay said.
“What?” Norah asked.
“Honey, a sock on the door means people are having sex inside. An upside-down pineapple means you’re down to have fun with other couples.”
Norah’s face flamed, and she turned accusatory eyes to Ian. “You knew this?”
He held his hands up as the elevator door opened and they stepped out. “I plead the fifth.”
Norah crossed her arms and glared at him. “What if I had gone along with your little plan and your parents saw it?”
Shay giggled. “Our parents wouldn’t care. They’d encourage it.”
Norah choked on air. “What?”
“We’d encourage what?” Linda asked.
Norah flushed and pressed her lips together. Ian smiled over at his mom with a devilish look on his face.
“We are thinking about putting an upside-down pineapple on our door.”
Norah elbowed him hard in the ribs, and he doubled over, coughing while laughing.
“Well, that would be silly. You two need to become a couple first. Then it would be much more fun if you partner swapped. It’s not an authentic experience if you aren’t a couple to begin with.”
Shay cackled as Ryan laughed beside her. Ian smiled brightly at Norah as her mouth fell open.
The host came over and led them to the same assigned table they sat at the night before.
Norah tugged Ian’s arm, and he stopped walking long enough to let the group get several paces ahead before they began walking again.
“Did your mom just encourage us to date and partner swap with another couple on the ship?”
He smiled down at the disbelief on her face. “I believe she did.”
“You must have had an interesting childhood,” she murmured.
