Fated

CHAPTER 13

JASMINE'S POV

Day 2 ON THE SHIP

I'm so glad I decided to come on this trip. I'm always on the go with my business and rarely relax. I do a little here and there but this is a true vacation. I can't wait to get to the ports and to explore the ship some more.

Our first day here, we went through the emergency procedures and looked around the ship. We ate in the buffet cafeteria and just talked about what we wanted to do. Mason had gotten a suite for our mothers so they were in the lap of luxury. He and I had our own rooms down the hall from each other. After we dropped our parents off at their room, I tried to talk to him, but he said he was tired and walked off.

“Okay, so this won't be easy,” I said to myself as I watched him leave.

It's our second day and the plan is to hang out by the pool this morning. I couldn't sleep, so I was out on the deck, watching the sun rise. The colors in the sky were so beautiful. It held a purity I'd never seen. I laid back in a lounger and just enjoyed the peace and calm.

As more people showed up, I started to watch them. There were families and couples, children chasing each other and kisses being shared. I spied Mason on the other side of the pool. He didn't see me, so I just watched him. He wore a pair of light blue swimming trunks and they fit him perfectly. He looked so good!

Since there weren't a lot of people in the pool yet, Mason sunk in and swam the length of it a few times. I watched his back muscles loosen and tighten with each stroke. He was mesmerizing and I wasn't the only person who noticed. When he climbed out of the pool, I stood up to go to him, but stopped in my tracks.

“MASON?!”

He dropped the towel from his face and a smile formed. “Stacy?”

Awwwww hell! Why did it have to be her? I could do anybody but her! Keep cool Jasmine, just keep cool. I watched as they hugged. I had to intervene before it got too deep. I walked over, pretending I didn't notice Stacy.

“Hey Mason! I thought -”

“Oh my God! Jasmine! I should've known you wouldn't be far behind. You and Mason still the ‘Dynamic Duo’!” She reached out and hugged me. I played nice when really I wanted to toss her in the pool. It's not that I didn't like her, I just didn't like her right now!

I gave her a small smile, “Stacy? Small world! How are you?” She replied that she was good and turned her attention back to Mason. Her eyes drank him in and I wanted to slap her. Should I say something risque? Should I kiss him? Should I grab his hand? Instead I stood there like an idiot, feeling like a third wheel.

“Okay. I'll see you at 2:00.” I wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about (too busy working on scenarios for Stacy to come up missing) so I missed the plans they made. Mason was staring at me and Stacy had walked away.

“What?”

“You zoned out there, Jassy. You good?”

“Yeah. Great!” was my response. My voice sounded too chipper and he just squinted at me. I knew he didn’t believe me, but I couldn’t tell him I hated to see her near him and wanted him to stay away from her.

He clasped my hand and pulled me toward the pool. “Cool. Let's go join that game of water volleyball.”

MASON'S POV

I'd practically avoided Jasmine since we arrived. I couldn't be alone with her. She had brought pansy ass Lance with her to the airport. She had kissed him AFTER the moment we shared! I felt like I meant nothing to her. I'd come there, ready to lay it all on the line, and when I saw her with him, it crushed me. I guess I was too late.

On the first night, when we were walking to our rooms, I knew she wanted to talk about it. I wasn't ready to hear it. I couldn't hear her tell me that she wanted to be just friends. Of course we would stay friends, but man! I wasn't ready yet. I knew we had to have this conversation, but I didn't want it on this trip. I wondered if I could hold it off until we were back home?

Today would be spent at the pool for the most part. I got there early so I could have it somewhat to myself. I found a lounge chair and dropped my towel on it. Out of my peripheral, I saw Jasmine laid back in a chair. Turning toward the pool, I pretended not to see her. It took all my restraint to not go to her. She was wearing this red suit that wrapped across her stomach and back. I wanted to kiss every piece of skin I could see. I got in and swam a few laps.

More folks were coming so I decided to get out. As I'm wiping my face, I heard someone yell my name. I smiled, instantly recognizing that voice.

“Stacy?” I hugged her and her scent enveloped me, vanilla and cinnamon. It brought back so many memories. Stacy and I dated in college and a few years after graduation. I wanted marriage but she wanted to focus on her career as a journalist. We ended on a good note, but I was hurt when she left. We hadn't seen each other in about five years. I must say, time had been good to her.

Jasmine walked up and started talking. I gave her a knowing look. She was pretending not to see Stacy. Jasmine never had a problem with Stacy before, but she seemed to have one now. Even when we broke up, she didn't say anything bad about her and was just there for me.

Stacy interrupted and Jasmine engaged her. Once she was done talking to her, Stacy turned back to me. “I'm really glad I ran into you, Mason. You've been on my mind.”

“Really? All good things, I hope.” She looked me up and down before replying.

“Very good things. I need to go find my friends but I would love to meet up. Let's say 2 today at the pool bar?”

“Okay. I'll see you at 2:00.” Stacy walked off and I looked at Jasmine. She was lost in space. When I asked if she was okay, her reply was a little too enthusiastic. I didn't press the issue. I knew Jasmine and right now, she was uncomfortable, to say the least. I saw some people playing volleyball in the pool, so I grabbed her hand and we joined the game.

Jasmine and I played on opposite teams and I couldn't keep my eyes off her. She looked so good in that swimsuit and I just wanted to touch her. We talked smack to each other and our teammates were laughing.

“How long have you two been together? My wife,” he pointed to a woman on Jasmine's team, “and I have been together for 5 years.”

“Oh, we're just friends. 15 years going strong.” Confusion registered on his face as he looked back and forth between us.

“Really? You two could've fooled me.” By this time, our moms had come down. They both sat and watched us play. Each team won a game. “Best 2 out of 3?”

My mom got up from her seat and said, “Son, we're going to go eat.” I turned to my teammate and shook my head.

“Another time. Gotta go.” He nodded at me and waved goodbye. I watched as he swam over to his wife and kissed her. My thoughts went to Jasmine and how I wished I could do the same. Then I remembered pansy ass Lance and shook the thought from my head.  I needed to get over her.

I hopped out of the pool on the side and Jasmine walked to the steps. As she's climbing, I reached out to help her. She grabbed my hand and as she reached the top step, a child came running by, bumping her. She slipped backward. I tightened my grip and pulled her forward, while my other arm wrapped around her. Her head rested on my chest and I kissed the top of it.

“You good? You alright?” I asked. She looked up at me with those big brown eyes. Her eyes dart to my lips then back up to my eyes.

“Yes, Masey-poo, I'm okay.”

I stood there holding her close to me. Her body pressed to me, her arms wrapped around me, feeling fireworks go off inside me. She laid her head back on my chest and we just held each other. I felt us both relax, like we're having the conversation we need to without words. But that's not going to work. We're going to have to talk, but I still can't do it now. I kiss her head again, then pull away from her.

“Come on, let's go eat.”