Behind me, a door opens and closes followed by another—Graeme must be returning to his own cabin. Heat fills my cheeks as disappointment barrels through me like a flash flood.

I can’t think about that right now.

Walsh has been flirting with Graeme since we boarded the ship, and I nearly kissed him. I catch Walsh by the arm just as she reaches the stairs.

She whirls around. “What are you doing?” she demands, breaking free of my grip.

“Walsh, I—”

“You get back in there right now and kiss his face off!”

“What?”

“You heard me. I know what you guys were about to do. Damn it, Henley, why didn’t you tell me you liked him!” She punches me in the shoulder.

“Ow.” I rub the spot.

“Go. Get your man.” She turns to walk up the stairs and I grab her again. This time, I don’t let go.

“We need to talk. Now.” Gripping her by the elbow, I steer her into our cabin.

“Why didn’t y—” she begins once the door closes behind us, but I cut her off.

“What is going on with you? First you throw yourself at Graeme, and now you’re all ‘go kiss him’?”

“Look, it’s not what you think.”

“Well, what is it then?”

Walsh sucks in a deep breath, like she’s bracing herself. “I was trying to do you a favor. You want this promotion more than anything I’ve ever seen you want in your life. So I thought, maybe I could distract the competition. If Graeme’s with me, he’s not thinking about work or this proposal thing you guys have to do.”

My jaw falls open like an unhinged door.

“I was trying to give you an edge. Pay you back for taking me in when I needed a place to stay.”

“By being my jezebel?”

She shrugs. “He’s hot. I’ve done worse. We’re both adults. I figured, what’s the big deal?”

Walsh has done some pretty nutso things in her life, but this one takes the cheesecake. “The big deal is that it’s unconscionable. You’re trying to sleep my way to the top. How messed up is that?”

“I know, I know. It seemed like such a good idea… and then I ruined everything, as usual.” Her miserable expression ignites a fresh wave of guilt.

“I shouldn’t have said that, Walsh. I’m so sorry.”

Perching on the edge of her bed, she rakes her fingers through her loose hair. “It’s true though. I can’t hold down a job. I fail at every relationship I’ve ever had. And now you’re in trouble with your boss and it’s all my fault.”