Page 12 of Curves and Waves

I turned to face him, suddenly very aware of how close we were standing. "Thanks. Want me to do yours?"

Caleb's eyes darkened. "Please."

As I reached for his zipper, my fingers trembling slightly, Jake's voice cut through the moment. "Hey, slowpokes! We're boarding!"

We jumped apart as we joined Jake and his new redheaded friend on the boat. The boat ride to the snorkeling site was mercifully short. As we prepared to enter the water, Stacey went over the buddy system one last time.

"Remember, always keep an eye on your partner," she said. "And most importantly, have fun!"

Caleb caught my eye, a glint in his. "You heard the lady, shortcake. Keep your eyes on me."

We slipped into the water, the coolness a welcome relief from the tropical heat. The underwater world was breathtaking. Colorful fish darted between vibrant coral formations, and shafts of sunlight danced through the clear blue water. But as amazing as the scenery was, I found my gaze continually drawn to Caleb.

At one point, he gestured excitedly towards a sea turtle gliding by. As I swam closer to get a better look, his hand found the small of my back, steadying me. Even through the wetsuit, his touch sent a jolt through me. We explored the reef for what felt like hours, communicating through gestures and shared looks of wonder. It was intimate in a way I hadn't expected, sharing this beautiful, silent world together.

As we surfaced for a break, Caleb pulled off his mask, grinning widely. "This is incredible," he said, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. He swam closer, his legs brushing against mine under the water. "You know," he said, his voice low, "I'm starting to think this cruise was the best idea you've ever had."

I laughed. "Oh really? And why's that?"

His gaze softened, before checking to see if Jake was still underwater with his buddy. "Because it finally gave me the courage to do this."

Before I could react, he closed the distance between us, capturing my lips in a salty, sun-warmed kiss. I melted intohim, wrapping my arms around his neck as we treaded water together.

When we broke apart, both a little breathless, I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Well, now I’m hot again."

I could see Jake surface and look over at us. I pretended to dunk Caleb and swam away before Jake could see what we had really been doing. By the time we climbed back onto the boat, I was exhausted but exhilarated. As we shed our wetsuits, Caleb leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. "Meet me on the lower deck after dinner."

I nodded. As the boat sped back towards the ship, I closed my eyes, letting the sun warm my face and the salt air fill my lungs. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly, completely happy.

Chapter 6: Zoe

The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of anticipation. Jake, still oblivious to the tension between Caleb and me, suggested we hit the pool deck. I agreed, partly to avoid suspicion and partly because the thought of seeing Caleb shirtless again was too tempting to pass up.

As we settled into lounge chairs, I couldn't help but steal glances at Caleb. Water droplets glistened on his tanned skin, highlighting the muscles of his chest and abs. The tattoos I'd only glimpsed before were now on full display - an intricate sleeve on his right arm and something peeking out just above the waistband of his swim trunks. Caleb cocked an eyebrow at me as he caught me staring.

I felt heat rush to my cheeks that had nothing to do with the sun.

"If you’re done eye-fucking Caleb," Jake's voice cut in, making me jump, "I'm going grab some drinks. The usual, Zo?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. As Jake walked away, Caleb walked over and we exchanged wide-eyed looks.

"You don't think he knows, do you?" I whispered.

Caleb shook his head. "Nah, he's just joking around. You know how he is."

Still, the close call left me feeling jittery. We needed to figure out how to handle this situation, and soon. The rest of the afternoon passed without incident, though the sexual tension between Caleb and me was evident. By the time we headed back to our cabins to get ready for dinner, I was a bundle of nerves.

Standing in front of my closet, I agonized over what to wear. I finally settled on a flowy sundress that was casual enough for the ship's dress code but still made me feel pretty. As I applied a touch of makeup, I was running through potential scenarios on how to tell Jake that I had fallen in love with his best friend. A knock at the door startled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I opened it to find Jake, looking uncharacteristically serious.

"Hey, can we talk for a sec?" he asked.

"Uh, sure," I managed, stepping aside to let him in.

Jake paced the small cabin, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Zo, I know I'm not always the most observant guy, but I'm not blind."

Oh god. This was it. He knew.

"I've seen the way you and Caleb have been acting around each other," he said as he stood still and looked at me.

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