Page 1 of Curves and Courage

Chapter One

Stella

There’s a salty ocean breeze that greets me as I step onto the gangway of the Infinity Voyager, the massive cruise ship that will be my home for the next two weeks.

I can’t help but smile as I take in the sight before me.

Backed by bright blue skies, the ship is a gleaming behemoth of luxury and elegance, its white hull shimmering under the midday sun. Hundreds of guests surround me, all snapping selfies with their phones, laughing and chatting with their friends and families. A bubble in my tummy makes me all giddy inside, the energy around me making me extra excited.

I pull my phone out and join the crowd, taking photos of the cruise ship. Towering glass windows reflect the endless blue of the ocean, and lush greenery decorates the exterior where I’m about to embark upon, adding a touch of nature to the sleek, modern design.

“This is incredible!” Freya, my best friend, exclaims beside me, her eyes wide with excitement. “I can’t believe we’re actually here!”

“I know, right?” I reply, excitement bubbling over as the line moves quickly ahead of us. “Such a good idea. Ineedthis break.”

Freya nods and gives me that knowing look that only a best friend can give. “Oh, hell yeah, girl. We’re going to own this vacation.”

We’ve been planning this trip for months. Working nonstop, both trying to climb that stupid corporate ladder in our respective fields, this vacation is our chance to finally unwind and let loose. Freya is a realty agent back in LA, and her bubbly, adventurous spirit complements my more laid-back vibe. She’s the perfect travel companion and, as she bounces up and down beside me, I know there’s no one else I’d rather share this experience with.

We hand our boarding passes to the attendant, who’s dressed all fancy and proper. She scans them with a friendly smile and hands them back to us. “Welcome aboard the Infinity Voyager, Ms. Bennett, Ms. Harris. Your suite is on Deck 10, Room 1002. Your luggage will arrive shortly after we depart. Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,” Freya and I reply in unison, exchanging grins as we step onto the ship.

My heart leaps as I look around, the entire ship opening up before my eyes. The interior is even more breathtaking than the outside. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and soft ambient lighting that creates an atmosphere of pure opulence.

I’ve stepped into another world. A majestic oasis that I get to call home for two weeks.

“Ahhhh…” I breathe, letting my shoulders relax. The tension that’s been living there slowly starts to melt away. “Stunning. So beautiful.”

Freya nods. “Oh yeah. This is next-level luxury. I feel like we’re on a movie set or something.”

“Not the Titanic, I hope,” I laugh, my eyes darting from one stunning feature to the next.

“No way. Babe, this is exactly what we need.”

We move through the crowd and check out the giant cascading water feature in the lobby. There is plush seating everywhere where dozens of couples stand arm-in-arm, all happily in love. I notice there aren’t many people standing alone, and I start to wonder if there will be any singles on this cruise.

Eventually, we navigate our way through the grand lobby and find the elevators. Everything is so perfectly curated, from the color arrangements of the flowers right down to the art decorating the walls.

Damn… I can see myself getting lost.A lot.

We ride the elevators to Deck 10 and roam the corridor looking for our room. Freya is racing ahead of me and shouts out at the end of the corridor when she finds Suite 1002. I tap the keycard and the door slides open with a soft whoosh, Freya and I both gasping at what’s behind the door.

“Oh my god!” Freya shouts, rushing into the room. “Look at this! It’s like something from my wildest dreams!”

The suite is a luxurious sanctuary, with rich wood accents, soft ambient lighting, and a king-sized bed that looks like it was made for sinking into after a long day of doing absolutely nothing.

But it’s the view that steals my breath and I race to the balcony to push the doors open.

Panoramic windows offer a stunning vista of endless ocean, stretching out as far as the eye can see. We’re still docked and the buzz around the harbor is electric, even from all the way up on Deck 10. I can’t stop fucking smiling as the sunlight dances on the waves, casting shimmering patterns of light across the water.

“This is insane,” I whisper, completely mesmerized by the view.

I breathe in the sea air and let it flow into our cabin. For the first time in a long time, I feel… free.

No deadlines, no meetings, no endless to-do lists.

Just me, the ocean, and whatever adventures I can find on this ship.

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