Cindy

I'm having a blast today with Millie, Pete, and Sam. It's a day at sea, and we enjoy the ship's activities. The Cruise Director is a hoot. Right now, we're getting ready to play a hula hoop game. We had to pair up. Millie went with Pete, and I was happy to go with Sam. We stand there waiting for the game instructions with about eight other couples.

Once every couple got a hula hoop, the Cruise Director gave us the game rules. "This is a musical hula hoop game. Pick a teammate to go first. Once the music begins, get that hula hoop going around your hips. The last one to get it going in any hula motion is out. When the music stops, the hula hoop goes to your partner, and they must do the same thing. The team that has the last standing hula-hooper is the winner. Ready to get started?"

We all hoot and holler. I look at Sam. "On a scale of one to ten, give me your hula ability."

He laughs. "I honestly don't know. I never hula hooped, ever. I will tell you that I'm very, very competitive and will give it my best shot."

My competitive self rolls my eyes. "Is it too late to pick another partner?"

I look around, and he quickly pulls me into his arms. "Nope, not going to happen. I'm afraid that you are stuck with me!"

I know that we're joking around, but something in his eyes tells me that he's serious. I can't hide the blush on my cheeks.

He kisses my head. "You go first and teach me by example."

I step into the hula hoop and ready myself for the music to start. When it does, I work that hula hoop around my hips like it is my fucking job. I chuckle over at Sam, whose eyes are wide and mouth open. I see Millie killing it. She gives me a wink. The music stops, and we both jump out of the hoop. The boys jump into the ring.

The music starts again, and the men do their best to get that hula hoop moving in some way before the others do. Millie and I are laughing so hard I almost pee my pants. The guys get the hula going around a little haphazardly before a few other people, so the four of us are all still in the game.

The music stops, and it's back to Millie and me. We get it going even faster than before. My eight-year-old self would be proud of me working this hoop like a boss.

We go back and forth a few times. The guys are getting much better. We go a few more rounds. The last two standing are Millie and me.

"Okay, ladies. Now that we're down to two, we have a hula hoop face-off." The Cruise Director says there's a million dollars on the line when it's a Norwegian Line tee shirt. "The first one to drop their hula hoop is out."

I look at Millie; she looks at me. "You're going down!"

She responds, "I hope that you like my new tee shirt because I'm wearing it every fucking day!"

We laugh, and the music begins. We both spin our hula hoops and start moving our hips. The ring moves around both of us with ease. It's strictly going to be an endurance test. I may be competitive, but Millie loves to go to the gym. We can hear everyone on the deck screaming encouragement, but the loudest are the two adorable men in front of us.

We're several minutes in, and my hips are aching. I'm struggling, and Millie is over there like she could hula hoop for the entire cruise. I know when I'm beaten and stop to let the hoop fall to my feet.

I see Sam bury his face into his hands while Pete jumps up and down like he's the damn winner. I appreciated his enthusiastic support of Millie.

I give Millie a congratulatory hug as the Cruise Director approaches us with his microphone. "Well done, ladies. Can you both tell us your name and where you're from?"

He extends the microphone to me. "Cindy, from San Diego."

"You gave it a good shot out there, Cindy." He smiles at me and places the microphone towards Millie.

"Millie, from San Diego?" She smiles as she receives her prize.

"Congratulations, Millie. You're our reigning Hula Hoop Champion!" He holds up her hand like she just won a boxing match.

After the spectacle, we return over to the guys, and they start bowing before us like we're royalty.

We both give a curtsy before settling back into our lounge chairs. Pete leans over and kisses Millie on the cheek. She smiles shyly. "Thank you for winning! Now, this guy has to wash and detail my car."

I lean up and look at the two guys. "You bet on us?"

Sam looks down. "Maybe..." he mumbles.

Millie smacks Pete playfully. "You're welcome!"

I laugh. No wonder Pete looked as if he had just won the damn lottery!

I place my hand on Sam's thigh, and he looks towards me. "Sorry that I let you down, Sam."

He gives me that damn sexy grin. "No need to apologize. My prize was watching you work that hula hoop!"

***

We ended up staying at the pool till dark. We had been snacking all day, so we all decided to have a late dinner.

Millie and I are showered and dressed for the evening. We're meeting the guys outside of our door in fifteen minutes. I put the last makeup touches on my face, and Millie is slipping into her strappy red heels. She looks stunning in her body-hugging, red sparkling, strapless dress. Her curls are smooth ringlets that bounce around her pretty face, and her makeup is spot-on especially the bright red lipstick. Pete is going to lose his mind when he sees her.

I have a bright blue satin baby doll dress. It accentuates two of my best assets. The low-cut neckline showcases my full breasts, and the hemline is three inches above my knee, allowing my legs to be on display. My makeup is more natural except for the powder blue eyeshadow. I slip into my white, low-heeled sandals.

"Ready?" Millie asks while she stands up and gives one last look in the mirror.

I finish applying my pink blush lip gloss over my lips before placing it into my clutch. "Ready."

We still have a few minutes, so I ask Millie about the guys. "Do you mind hanging out so much with the first two guys we met on the ship?"

She looks at me and smiles. "I see how much you enjoy Sam's company, and Pete is funny and adorable. I don't mind at all."

I sigh with relief. "I'm glad because I'm enjoying their company."

She smirks. "Yeah, right! You tolerate Pete; you enjoy Sam's company."

I shrug; she's not wrong.

*****