“Okay, yeah! No, seriously.” I snapped my fingers, making a mock-disappointed face.

            “Damn, so close… But I’m telling you, Dane, you don’t know what you’re missing!” I arched my eyebrows and winked suggestively, slinging my arms around her neck. She ignored the comment and went on.

            “I got us onto that lesbian cruise thing! You know, the one with Phoebe Sparkle that Bette and Tina talked about endlessly last summer?” My mouth fell open and I gripped her shoulders, shaking her dramatically.

            “How did you manage that?!” She laughed, slapping my hands away playfully.

            “They asked me to be a panel speaker!” She grinned proudly, crossing her arms. I ruffled her hair affectionately, smirking.

            “God, Dane, you’re like this huge celebrity now. It’s weird.” Her face faltered, and I amended myself. “But totally cool. I mean, that’s like, everyone’s dream.” She spun around and then bounced up and down.

            “I know, I know!”

            “When do we leave? Do I get to share a room with you?” I asked, dropping my voice to a whisper. She grinned, grazing my lips with her own, making me lean forward.

            “We’ll see.” She whispered back, trailing her hand down my neck, past my collarbone. “We leave tomorrow, though. That is, if you want to come. But I won’t make you.”

            “Aw, but I want you to make me come.” I pouted. To my surprise, she didn’t roll her eyes or make any smart ass comments back at me. She pulled me into another kiss, nibbling on my bottom lip, then rested her forehead against mine, smiling.

            “Soon, baby. Don’t worry.”

            “Is soon now?” I mumbled against her lips, running my hands up her shirt. She shook her head, whispering a ‘no.’

            “I’m sorry, I just…don’t want to go that far while I’m still…with Tonya.” I nodded, unable to speak. I didn’t know how much longer I could take this. Damn that girl for having a conscious.

                                                                         ***

            The hot summer sun beat down on us as we walked along the pier to board the ship the next day. The green ocean waves splashed playfully against the surface of the water, and the warm breeze carried the spray of the sea to gently splatter against our faces, giving us temporary relief from the heat. A little ways down the wooden walkway, a mob of excited children screamed with delighted terror as they chased or jumped out of the way of a loose crab, scurrying across the timber path. A group of slightly older kids, probably early teens, sat calmly on the planks, dangling their bare feet over the water’s edge, talking and laughing with each other. Some held fishing poles, casting out into the deep green in hopes of catching some sun fish or even bass, while others lowered crab nets and cages into the water, tying the ropes to the poles holding up the boardwalk.