Page 19 of Cruising for Christmas
“Mom, seriously?”
Her eyes widened as if it was an innocent question. “I’m only asking what you think of her, Ian. I’m not telling you to marry her. Although she would be an excellent choice.”
James nodded his head in agreement, but when he caught Ian’s eye, he immediately shook his head before focusing on his salad.
Ian rolled his eyes. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a hand in putting Norah in my room, knowing full well it didn’t have two beds.”
Linda remained quiet as she ate her salad, and Ian’s eyes widened.
“Mom! Did you?”
She shrugged innocently. “I didn’t tell Shay to put Norah in your room. The only thing I did was mention how you were rooming alone. But that was it. If Shay had gotten the idea from me, it wasn’t intentional on my part.”
He sighed. “I actually believe you, but only because Shay would do it without the idea implanted in her head. It actually didn’t surprise me to find out I had a random roommate.”
“It’s not so bad, is it?” James asked.
Their entrées were brought by next, and Ian’s thoughts flashed to Norah. It hadn’t been bad. Not at all, albeit a little awkward.
“No, it isn’t bad. She’s a nice person.”
“I wonder what she’s doing for dinner tonight. I don’t think she’s eating with Shay and Ryan. Shay told me the two of them were going alone,” Linda said.
Ian hoped Norah wasn’t eating alone, and he glanced quickly around the dining room, half expecting her to walk up at any moment, saying she lost track of time. Ian turned back to his meal and didn’t miss the look his dad gave him. It said, “I know you are attracted to her.” Ian gave a look back, which he hoped said, “She’s Shay’s best friend, and we live on opposite sides of the country.” Fortunately, his mom was busy with her meal and missed the exchange.
10
Norah stared out at the Caribbean Sea from the balcony of their stateroom. The flying fish were jumping beside the ship, and she watched them, mesmerized. It was dark out. Dinner had been quiet as Norah dined alone at the buffet. Shay and Ryan had booked a separate dinner at a fancy restaurant on the ship rather than sticking to the included meal, and Norah hadn’t wanted to intrude on Shay’s parents and Ian having dinner together. Despite Shay’s parents making Norah feel welcome, it felt weird eating with them without Shay present.
She took a bite out of the cupcake she had gotten at the cake shop on the lobby-level of the ship.
Damn. That’s amazing.
“Hey,” Ian said, startling her out of her thoughts.
She looked back at him and licked frosting off her lips. “Hey.”
He stepped out onto the balcony and sat in the chair beside her. “You missed dinner.”
“No. I ate. I just went to the buffet.” She awkwardly held her cupcake in her lap, wanting nothing more than to devour it, but also not wanting to stuff her face in front of him.
“Why?”
She looked at him. The back light from their room made it hard for her to make out his expression, but he sounded… disappointed? She had to be misunderstanding that.
“I knew Shay and Ryan wouldn’t be there, and I figured you and your parents would enjoy spending time together without some random person there.”
“Hmm,” he hummed. “You aren’t random.”
“Just a stowaway,” she giggled lightly. “Here. I got you a cupcake,” she said. Another wrapped cupcake sat on the small table between the chairs.
“You got me a cupcake?”
She looked up at him and gestured to her own. “Of course. Cupcakes are delicious, and if you don’t want it, I’ll eat it.”
He laughed and took it off the table. “I love cupcakes. Thank you.”
“Good. I can’t be friends with cake haters.”
