Page 21 of Journey to Love

Rummaging through the room, I come up empty-handed. I stand in the middle of the room with my hands on my hips. My stomach grumbles,yeah, yeah I know.Then I remember the ship has some inclusive food options on the lido deck. I grab a piece of paper and a pen and leave a note for Lana letting her know where I am.

I make my way to the elevators, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. It's my first time out alone on the ship, and I'm not quite sure what to expect. But my stomach urges me to continue.

As I survey the dining room, my eyes dart from one tantalizing option to the next. Pizza, ice cream, tacos...wait, did someone just whisper "tacos" in my ear? My stomach certainly seems to think so, because it's doing the cha-cha in excitement. Ignoring the siren call of the ice cream and the pizza's cheesy allure, I follow my gut—quite literally—towards the source of that heavenly aroma. My nose knows best, and it's leading me straight to taco town. After all, who needs a compass when you have the scent of tacos to guide you?

I laugh at my inner monologue and grab the Mexican goodness that quite literally called to me. I sit and begin devouring my taco creation, fully embracing the flavor fiesta happening in my mouth. Just as I'm about to declare my love for tacos to the entire dining room, Piper, the only other woman besides Lana and me, of our newfound friend group, plops down across from me.

"Hey!" she greets, her smile infectious.

"Hey back atcha!" I reply, gesturing for her to join the taco party.

Piper apologizes for interrupting my taco time, but I wave off her concerns with a chip-filled hand. We dive into conversation, swapping stories about our day's adventures. Turns out, we practically crossed paths at the pool, but the universe decided to play hide-and-seek with our friendship.

"Isn't it wild how we missed each other?" I chuckle, shaking my head.

"That's it!” Piper jokingly slaps her hands on the table, “we need a secret handshake or something to find each other next time," her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Totally! I'll start practicing my secret handshake skills tonight," I joke, miming a mysterious handshake.

As we finish our meals and return our trays, Piper nudges me, "Are you hitting up the nightclub later?" she asks.

"Absolutely! Gotta see if Lana's up from her nap first, then it's party time," I confirm with a nod. We say goodbye and go our separate ways.

I head back to our cabin and find Lana sitting up in her bed, engrossed in a book. "Hey, I'm back," I announce as I enter.

"Hey, how was the food options up top on deck?" Lana asks, looking up.

"Oh my goodness, it was great! They have tacos here!" I exclaim.

"No way, shut up!" Lana responds, clearly excited.

"I saw Piper too!" I add eagerly.

"Really? That's awesome! Is she going tonight?" Lana inquires.

"Yeah, she is. We talked about it, and I filled her in on everything," I reply, recounting our conversation.

Excited and ready for the night ahead, Lana and I spend a few hours chatting and getting ready in our cabin. The anticipation of another night of fun with our new friends fills the air as we share stories and laughter.

As we finish our preparations, Lana gives me a mischievous grin. "Anya, you're going to turn heads in that outfit," she says, nodding approvingly at my ensemble. "And you, Lana, look absolutely stunning," I reply, admiring her elegant black dress that perfectly accentuates her figure.

With one final glance in the mirror, we head out of the cabin and make our way to the nightclub. The lively atmosphere of the ship envelops us as we walk through the corridors, the sounds of laughter and music growing louder with each step.

When we arrive at the club, we're greeted by the familiar sight of flashing lights and pulsing music. The energy is infectious, and we can't help but feel a surge of excitement as we step inside. Our friends are already there, gathered near the dance floor, and we quickly join them.

As we make our way toward our friends, Piper's familiar figure comes into view, her infectious grin signaling our arrival. I can't help but feel a flutter of excitement as she waves eagerly and pulls us into her embrace, her warmth instantly easing any lingering nerves. "Hey, long time no see," she teases. Lana and I exchange smiles before returning the greeting with a synchronized "Hey."

The group soon expands as Ben, JC, Sam, and Jacob join us, their laughter blending with the buzz of conversation around us. I engage in friendly banter with the first three, relishing in the familiarity of our interactions. But when my eyes meet Jacob's, everything else seems to fade into the background. His gaze is intense, unwavering, and it sends a shiver down my spine.

Suddenly, it feels like we're the only two people in the room. His eyes hold mine, drawing me in with a magnetic pull that's both thrilling and unnerving. It's like he sees right through me, igniting a flurry of emotions within me.

I push aside my swirling thoughts and muster a cool smile. "Hey, Jacob," I greet him, trying to maintain a casual demeanor. His wide smile in response sends a flutter through my chest. "Hey!" he replies enthusiastically, closing the distance between us. “Would it be alright if I give you a hug?”

His question catches me off guard.Is it okay if he hugs me?His consideration surprises me, and I find myself nodding in agreement before I even fully process the question. As his arms envelop me, I'm engulfed in a warmth that feels both comforting and disconcerting.

For a moment, I'm tempted to linger in his embrace, to lose myself in the safety of his arms. But a voice of caution whispers in the back of my mind, reminding me of past experiences and the need to guard my heart. So, with a polite smile, I gently extricate myself from his embrace, creating a comfortable distance between us once more.

We squeeze into a booth, Lana beside me, and Piper, JC, and Sam on the other side. Jacob settles next to me, with Ben beside him. Conversation flows freely, laughter filling the air as we catch up. Despite the mixed feelings swirling within, being surrounded by friends brings a sense of comfort and belonging.

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