With a smile, she headed out, and as soon as she clicked the door closed, I went to the window and figured out how to slip it open. Inhaling the briny and oily air of the port, I sucked it in deeply through the four-inch gap. I’d never had textbook claustrophobia, and I was sure it wouldn’t be crippling, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t going to need to have a window or door cracked with the promise of fresh air. I’d have to ask what the rules were about keeping the windows open. Last thing I needed was for sea water to lap in with a big wave. I bent my neck to glance down and saw my cabin window was pretty close to the greenish and oil-swirled surface of the water. That wasn’t creepy.

My phone buzzed from somewhere, and I dug around in my purse.

Meredith.

Instead of texting, I opened my settings and found the Wi-Fi, and then dialed her number through a Wi-Fi calling app.

She answered on the third ring.

“Jos, you made it?”

“I did. I’m on the boat. I say boat, but a better descriptor would be cruise ship.”

“Oh my God. Is it lush? I bet it’s amazing. Do they have a crew? Of course they do.”

I smiled. “They do.”

“I’m imagining you on the cast of Below Deck. Is there a mad genius chef?”

“Don’t know yet.”

“And are the deck hands cute?”

I thought of Evan. “Yes, the one I’ve met is. His name is Evan and no, before you ask, he’s not my type.” I’d felt nothing in the way of attraction to Evan. Certainly not in the wake of the gut punch attraction I’d felt to the one person I shouldn’t even look at like that—my new boss. “God.” I flopped back on the bed. “So much has happened in two days. I can’t believe I’m on the other side of the Atlantic. How’s my mom? Did you call her?” I’d asked Meredith and Tabs to check in with her periodically. I hated that I’d had to leave in such a hurry. She’d been shocked when I told her I quit. Even after I explained why, she didn’t seem to understand the choice I’d made. I assured her my trip was just temporary—a paid gig while I found another job and got my career back on track, but all I could see on her face was shock and disappointment. I hadn’t even had the heart to tell her how Tate had mentioned my stepfather, Nicolas.

“Your mom is fine. I called her last night, and I explained everything in more detail. Told her you were helping Tabitha out.”