Closing her eyes against the sturdy breeze bracing off the ocean currents Harper sighed and leaned against the rail. Stupid cruise. Adventure was not as easy to find as she had first supposed. Her two best friends had shoved her onboard this behemoth of an ocean liner to go on the cruise of a lifetime over two weeks ago. Today marked the halfway point of her vacation and no riotous adventure had taken shape, not even close. She could barely convince the people she had been spending time with to hang out with her.
The distant Italian shore seemed more ominous than exciting since she had no one to explore it with.
After another weary sigh, she turned and strolled into the closest dining room. It was one of three, each with their different themes. Apparently she had accidentally chosen the dessert theme first.
Looking around for a familiar face, she couldn’t find any of the people she had become acquainted with over the past two weeks. Actually she rarely was able to find them anymore. It was as if they’d decided that she wasn’t worth having around if it could be avoided. And there were only so many places on a ship that they could hide, even one as big as this.
Attempting to appear unaffected by the lack of company, Harper gracefully sank into one of the white linen chairs at an unoccupied table off to the side of the entrance, taking the time to carefully situate her yellow wrap dress. She’d be seen if anyone came looking for her but if they weren’t looking for her specifically there was a good bet she wouldn’t be noticed and at the same time not pitied for sitting alone.
It was several minutes before one of the staff came over. They weren’t busy. They probably figured she was waiting for the rest of her group and had waited for them to arrive. She was sure that was why they had taken so long. Her heart felt as though it was crumpling in on itself as she carefully avoided looking at all the empty chairs surrounding her table. After giving her order her gaze sank to her hands in her lap. Disappearing to her room again was sounding better and better.
“This seat taken?”
Harper looked up into a pair of familiar blue eyes. “Arthur!”
He bowed and sat down next to her. Leaning in, he winked. She could smell his cologne waft over her. “It seems you’ve already found the best place to look over the newcomers.”
“What?” Glancing around she took note that several more people had come in. “Wait. What are you doing here?”
“Browsing.” Arthur threw his hands back behind his head, the epitome of careless nonchalance gifted only to the strikingly handsome who knew how good they looked.
Rolling her eyes she resisted the urge to smack him. “I meant onboard. You can’t possibly tell me that you have been onboard this whole time and I didn’t know it.”
“You want me to lie then?” His gaze pierced her for a mere second before he went back to casually scoping out the women within his view.
She shook her head. “No.” Arthur had always been like the friend in college you kept around to make sure you got invited to the best parties. He wasn’t a ‘feelings and romance’ kind of guy. Harper dropped her head and breathed. As she sighed, she didn’t know whether it was of relief or disappointment. At least she wasn’t sitting alone anymore. For a few minutes at least, only until Arthur scoped out the girls in the room and decided on which one he’d choose to lavish attention on for the night.
It was at that moment that the group of friends she had been trying to find walked in, all of them together, laughing. Immediately they went in and sat in the center of the room. Whether or not they had seen her sitting there in the corner or not, Harper wanted to sink into a puddle under the table. They had all met up without her.
Arthur’s casual pose of indifferent observation dropped as he laid a hand softly on her arm. “You ok?”
She nodded, not daring to look at him.
“Those aren’t your friends.” He said, his voice sinking even lower.
Harper shrugged. Obviously they didn’t think so.
Arthur abruptly stood, pulling her up with him. Several girls from her friend’s table turned to look and instantly smiles bloomed. The millisecond of joy in Harper’s heart at such a reaction withered as they called out, “Arthur!”
Even more surprising than the fact that her friends knew Arthur was that he ignored them completely, sliding his hand around Harper’s waist to escort her out. Together they walked out to where they had the once crowded deck to themselves.
Stopping by the rail Arthur turned to lean back against it. Harper laid her head on his shoulder. No words were said as they stood there, his arms wrapped around her.
After several minutes Arthur shifted, pulling her in front of him. He gently raised her chin to look at him. “Natalie made me promise to leave you alone. And I’ve regretted agreeing ever since.”
Harper stood up straight at the mention of her best friend and roommate’s name. “What do you mean?”
He shook his head not answering, his eyes closed.
“On the cruise? Why?” Harper tilted her head. “I’ve been so lonely.”
Arthur shook his head again and sighed. “Natalie doesn’t know I’m on the cruise. When they told me that they were going to surprise you with this trip, I bought a ticket. I tried to stay away. I wanted to let you have the adventure you’ve always talked about without my interference.”
Harper folded her arms, desperately trying to rein in the confusion swirling through her. “If Natalie doesn’t know you are here, why would she make you promise to leave me alone?”
The crash of the waves against the sides of the ship was the only sound as he looked at her with pleading eyes. She refused to break the silence. This was an answer she was more than willing to be stubborn about waiting for.
“She made me promise that on the night we first met.”
Harper’s jaw dropped. “That was three years ago, Arthur.”
He nodded.
“Why?” Harper tried to take a step back but he was faster.
“Please don’t go.” He pleaded. She had never heard him ask anyone to do anything. He was one of those commanding but funny people that could tell someone what to do and laugh with them as they did it.
Harper still took another step back, shaking her head. “Why would Natalie make you promise that?”
“She knew I liked you.”
Skepticism flooded her. “After the one night?”
As he nodded her heart dropped, stealing her breath. “Oh.”
