Four strangers from different walks of life meet on a cruise and spend an unforgettable week together. All of them on their own self-discovering journeys, and onboard for different reasons.
Texan heiress and ballet prodigy, Brooklyn Brankovich, lon...
I was leaving the gym, walking out with the owner, Frank, when someone caught my eye.
"A-huh," I sounded in response to Frank's dumb ass story about his home improvement fails. My eyes followed the girl walking inside the building. Eh.
She was average height, and skinny with light brown hair. She had freckles sprinkled over her pointed nose and small, flat lips.
Noticing I was no longer paying attention, Frank followed my line of sight and spotted the girl.
"That's Ella," he let me know, "she's been coming here, like a week - mostly squats, trying to get an ass, you know. Cute, but not really your type, though." Frank knew me well. I'd been going to his gym every morning for years now, Gael, too. If Terrance is like a father to me, Frank is like my uncle.
"I don't have a type, Frank. Pussy: that's my type. Excuse me," I ruffled the hair under my hat as I walked back inside to talk to Ella.
Her friends noticed me before she did since her back was facing my way. I caught them snickering for her to "act natural" as I approached.
Just as I was about to speak, she spun into me and giggled.
"Oh. Hi," she snorted. I almost laughed but didn't want to embarrass her.
"Hey," I said back smoothly.
It took a threatening look from Ella over her shoulder to get her two friends to scurry away and give us some privacy.
"I'm Ella," she swallowed hard, going for a hand shake.
"Noah. You come here-"
She cut me off to say, "I'm going to cut right to the chase. Do you want to go out sometime?"
"Uh," I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck, "sure. That was easier than I thought." I'm kind of both embarrassed and relieved I didn't have to put in work for it.
"Sorry if that was too forward," she spoke lightly, "it's just that my therapist said I should say what's on my mind, and ho-ly abs, you are beautiful."
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
"I'm fine, I just haven't been on a date since my ex. He's in jail now - robbed a bank. I had nothing to do with it. Ugh, sorry I'm rambling, I just get SO nervous around hot guys," she gushed, frantically toying with her fingers.
"You're good, Ella," I voiced, holding her hands to stop them from shaking. She parted her lips and I casually put her arms at her flat sides. I took a pen from the front desk and snatched one of Frank's business cards so I could write my number on it.
"Text me later, we can, uh, figure something out?" I suggested, handing over the card.
Ella smiled, showing off her rosy, high cheekbones. "See you tonight, Noah." She licked her lips and skipped over to her friends.
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