Before Sophie could get her words out, Colby had already swept her off her feet, literally, and carried her to the bed like she weighed nothing.


    "Colby!" she yelped, caught off guard, but he had no ns of letting go.


    "Today''s supposed to be the kickoff of our honeymoon, and they''re just stirring up trouble," he said, a hint of jealousy coloring his voice.


    "Sandy means well. We just haven''t seen each other in forever, so she''s a bit over the top today," Sophie reassured him, settlingfortably on hisp. "We''ve got plenty of time to explore. Let''s just chill on this cruise today, and tomorrow we can enjoy that fancy presidential suite you booked."


    Colby looked surprised. "You figured it out?"


    "Your payment alertse to my phone. So, yeah," she replied with a smirk.


    Colby was momentarily speechless. Over the years, he''d been thrifty, stashing away all his cash into Sophie''s ount. He''dpletely forgotten about those pesky payment notifications.


    Then it hit him. "So, you knew about all the gifts I got you for birthdays and holidays?"


    "Yep, and you''re just realizing now?" she teased.


    Colby''s face fell slightly. Ever since he hit middle age, his sharpness wasn''t quite the same.


    For two decades, he''d overlooked the notifications. "So, you''ve been having augh at my expense all these years."


    "I haven''t," Sophie said, her voice soft, her expression rare and pouty. "I just didn''t want to spoil your surprises."


    "But you had tons of chances to clue me in about the notifications and didn''t say a word. You did it on purpose," he used, yfully poking her cheek. "How should I punish you for that?"


    "No way, I''m in charge here," Sophie dered, leaning in to nt a kiss on his cheek.


    "One kiss isn''t enough."


    "How about another?" she offered.


    "Two kisses still don''t cut it."


    Sophie yfully punched his shoulder, feigning exasperation. "Then what''s it gonna take?"


    Colby gentlyid her back on the


    bed, showering her with kisses et


    between their closeness, he


    murmured in a low voice, "No number will ever be enough.


    Meanwhile, out on the deck, Adler and Jenna had been waiting for what felt like ages.


    Both kept ncing towards the cabin. "What''s taking them so long? Still not back?" Jenna wondered.


    "Should we go see what''s up?" she suggested.


    As Jenna started to rise, Adler quickly pulled her back. "Hold on, where do you think you''re going?"


    "To check on them!"


    "What''s there to see? They''re probably just cozy under the covers," he teased.


    Jenna shot him a look of disbelief. "How do you know?"


    "Didn''t you catch Colby''s sulky little face earlier?" Adler chuckled.


    Jenna and Sandy exchanged puzzled nces. "Did he?" Sandy asked, curious.


    "Definitely Adler said, grinning.


    "Being Colby''s buddy, I know exactly


    what''s


    going on in that head of


    It''s like I''m his inner voice.


    Jenna rolled her eyes, half-amused, half-grossed out. "Inner voice? That''s just creepy."


    After what seemed like an eternity,


    Sophie and Colby finally emerged


    from the cabin. Jenna and Adler


    were already catching waves,


    surfing like pros.


    Sandy bounded over to Sophie, bubbling with excitement. "Sophie,e with me


    for a sec!"