Free Rock the Boat by Gia Riley Page B

tossing me into the dating pool. It’s a sympathy visit. “Shower and my bed. That’s about all I have planned.”
    She sits down on the bed and starts picking at her nail polish. When that bores her, she runs her nails over the sheet on the bed. I’m pretty sure she would sit there in silence all night if I let her. Finally, the question I’ve been waiting for is spoken. “Are you going to see your match again?”
    “I left it up to her, but she was at the show tonight. That’s probably a good sign.”
    Her eyes widen and she looks a little hopeful that maybe she didn’t blow it by forcing me to meet Lark. “Really? That’s great.”
    “We hooked up earlier.” I’ve never lied to Gina since I met her, and I’m not about to start. She may not like what happened, but she’s going to have to live with it. I promised her I would try. I didn’t promise I would keep my hands to myself.
    She smacks her palms against the bed, her frustration busting out of her little body in the form of a tantrum. “Easton, no! You’re killing me—actually shoving a knife through my heart. I thought that maybe for once you could try to go on a real date. One that didn’t end with you two in a bed. Don’t you get it? A beautiful woman is here solely for you, and you’re treating it like she’s nothing more than a fuck buddy.”
    “We didn’t have sex, Gina.”
    She sits up so fast I’m surprised she’s not dizzy. She pushes her hair out of her eyes, her mouth opening and closing twice before she gets actual words to come out. “But you said you hooked-up.”
    “I may fuck up sometimes, especially when it comes to beautiful girls, but one look at Lark and I could tell she’s not used to my world. I wouldn’t play her like that.”
    “So, you’re really trying? You’re taking her seriously like I wanted you to do all along?”
    “I guess you could say I’m trying, if you consider not being an asshole a step in the right direction. We had a little fun backstage, and I left her with an open invitation. It’s her call if she comes back for more or not.”
    “More? As in a date? Or sex?”
    “That’s up to her, too. I have no problem taking her out on the ship, but if all she wants is the physical shit, then I’m down for that.”
    “You don’t care one way or another?”
    I toss my empty water bottle in the trash before dousing her with another dose of reality she may not like. “She’s fuckin’ hot Gina. My dick cares.”
    I’m rewarded with an aggravated roll of her eyes. “That’s the least romantic thing you could have possibly said. A girl wants to feel special—she wants you to work for it. Not tell her to show up for some fun.”
    “What can I say? I’m a sure thing, Gina. If she wants me, all she has to do is say so.”
    “And what if she wants more than sex? What if she wants you more than seven days? She may not be used to your world, but underneath the attitude, occasional alcohol binges, and when you’re not hiding, you’re a catch.”
    I interrupt her because I’m not hiding—not from Lark. All I have to hide from now is guilt. “I’m not going to hurt her if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    “I’m not worried about Lark. I’m worried about you, and what you’re constantly passing up. You’re so worth it, any single girl on this ship would be lucky to have you. If you let her see the real you, she’s going to fall for you. You don’t need the persona on stage to make that happen.”
    I stare at her, not able to come up with a single response for her that isn’t negative, so I stop trying. “I appreciate that, but she has no reason to want me. I guarantee you if it wasn’t for The Perfect Match, she would never give a guy like me a second glance.”
    “A guy like what? A decent human being who has the capacity to love her so hard she’d be deliriously happy? You can make all the excuses in the world, but eventually, you have to let someone in.”
    Before I can