*Shelby*“This lever here is the gas, and you steer just like you would with the handlebars on a bike,” Michael said from behind me on the jet ski. He had insisted that he would teach me how to drive on our way back.“Just take it nice and slow out of the cove, you can get up to a higher speed when we get to open water, and you feel more comfortable,” he continued.I could feel his warm breath on the side of my neck, and it sent goosebumps all across my body. I imagined his lips pressing to my neck where his breath was warming. I wondered what his hands would feel like on my body.“Shelby?”“Oh, um, sorry, what?” I said, pulling myself out of my daydream. “Are you ready to go?” Michael said with a small chuckle. I was glad he was sitting behind me, so he couldn’t see my face turn red at what I was just imagining.“Yes, I think so,” I said with slight hesitation. “Don’t worry, I’m right here,” he assured me. “Just take it slow.”I eased
*Shelby*I walked out of Amorebelle wearing a new outfit with light pink clothing bags weighing down each arm. I could not remember a time in my life when I had gotten this many new clothes at one time.I also had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that these clothes cost more than I made in an entire year. The saleswomen Jane and McKenzie wouldn’t let me look at the price tags on anything, but as they were ringing up my picks, I caught a glimpse of the total on the computer screen. I didn’t know how I would ever be able to pay Michael back for this shopping trip. I also couldn’t help but wonder how often he did this for women. Jane, who’d worked at the shop the longest, had recognized him when we walked in the door.I didn’t have time to contemplate this because I noticed a maid I recognized from the yacht. She made her way to me and started relieving me of my bags. I made sure to keep the bag with my dress and shoes for the evening. “Miss
*Shelby****“Todd, I am so glad we finally get to spend some time together. It seems like I barely get to see you anymore. I’m so sorry I have been so busy,” I said, smiling at my fantastic boyfriend. I really missed him, but with graduation so close, I had to put all of my efforts into studying.“I’m glad you finally found some time for me,” Todd said in a flat tone. I guessed I deserved that, but the comment still stung.“Where do you want to go eat? I heard there is a great new sushi place just a few blocks over,” I said, trying to switch the mood to a more positive one.“Yeah, that works,” Todd muttered as he pulled out his phone to send a text.We started walking over, and I couldn’t help but feel like something was off, but I relaxed as Todd’s fingers locked with mine.“So, how is work going?” I asked. Todd had graduated with his Bachelor’s degree the year before and started working for his dad’s financial firm after that. “It has been great
*Shelby.*Michael stared at me for a long time after I said that I would be leaving when we got to port the next day. Or at least I hoped I would be. I didn’t even know where we would be, let alone if there was an airport or a ticket home I could afford. “I would really hate to see you go, Shelby,” he said with a serious look on his face.“I think it's for the best,” I answered softly.“The best for you?” he asked. I stayed quiet for a long time. Was I deciding what was best for me and/or running from my problems?“I don’t know….” I answered truthfully. I took another small sip of the wine Michael had poured me and watched the liquid as I swirled it around in my glass.“You know wine always tastes better in the sauna,” Michael said, watching me.I turned to him, “That does sound nice, but I am sure the staff who work the spa have already gone to bed.” “Well, good thing the sauna is in my bathroom,” he said as the corners of his mouth eas
*Shelby*The sun was streaming through the glass doors of the balcony when I finally opened my eyes. My head was pounding from a lack of sleep and caffeine. I wanted to order coffee up to my room, but I needed to shower too badly to wait. After running all the way to the yacht and then sitting in the sauna with Michael, I was salty with dried sweat.I probably should have showered last night, but, after reaching my room in the early morning hours, I collapsed on the bed and had fallen asleep in my clothes.I walked into the bathroom, expecting to look like a mess from all the events of the night, my clothes were extremely wrinkled, but I was surprised to see my hair still looked flawless.“I wish I could afford to get a blowout more often,” I said to my reflection, pulling on a few strands as I admired the style.I put my hair up and stepped into the hot water of the shower, washing off the previous day. I stood under the steaming water until I was getting a
*Shelby*The clock read 4:30 pm before I finally got out of bed and dressed for the day. I picked out a form-fitting sundress with a delicate blue shell pattern along the hemline.It was one of the pieces that Michael purchased for me at Amorebelle. I wasn’t used to wearing dresses, but I wanted to look nice when I saw him. I carefully did my makeup at the vanity table in my bathroom, purposely emphasizing my eyes, which were my favorite feature. As I stepped back and looked in the mirror, I was impressed with my own appearance; I looked like I belonged–almost.I made my way to Michael’s secret deck. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I got closer. I stopped as I rounded the corner to the private location; all I could see was the back of Michael’s head as he was holding a phone to his ear. The muscles in his shoulders were tense, and I could tell by his low tone that the conversation was not a pleasant one.“What do you mean he is threatening to contact m
*Michael*I made my way up to dinner alone. I silently wished Shelby would be joining us. She was one of the only ones in the group that I actually cared to have a conversation with. However, it might be for the best that she wasn’t coming. I found myself always drawn to her, and if I weren’t more careful, Lauren would catch on to my interest in her friend.I knew that would not go over well.I was the last one to arrive, and I took the only seat available next to Lauren’s new fiance, Todd. “I never got the chance to congratulate you on the engagement last night,” I said as I shook Todd’s hand. “I rushed out because I had an urgent business matter I had to attend to.”I hoped that would adequately explain my quick departure the night before. I felt a little guilty that I had not stayed to celebrate and instead took off after Shelby to make sure she was okay.If I was being honest with myself, my evening spent with Shelby, talking in the sauna, was
*Shelby*“I am a normal person,” I said again, with a smile as we walked. Reggie looked at me and raised a single eyebrow with skepticism.“You don’t believe me?” I asked.“Right, because us normal people get invited to one of the largest private yachts in the world as guests all the time. You don’t have to pretend you’re not rich to fit in with the crew. They will like you because you are actually nice,” Reggie said.“I am the furthest thing from rich,” I laughed.“Oh, yeah? Prove it,” Reggie said with a teasing smile on his face.I quickly pulled out my phone and found a picture of me and my two roommates in our apartment and showed it to Reggie.“What does this prove?” he asked.“This is a picture of me and my two roommates, Lin and Aubrey; we are sitting in the living room of our one-bedroom apartment. I am a bartender at a little dive bar, and I currently have two hundred and thirty dollars in my bank account,” I said matter of factly.