Page 29 of Journey to Love

"You know, there are drinks in the fridge. No need to actuallybuyher one," Lana teases, her grin infectious as she settles onto Sam's lap.

I give a grateful nod and guide Anya toward the fridge stocked with beer and various types of liquor. Her arm loops through mine, and she leans into me, planting a soft kiss on my cheek.

"You're kind of amazing, you know that?" she murmurs, her words warm and affectionate.

I chuckle softly, feeling a rush of fondness for her. "Well, we've already established that," I tease gently, "but I'm curious—what makes you think so?"

Her gaze meets mine, and for a moment, there's a depth in her eyes that takes my breath away. "It's the way you make me feel," she begins, her tone soft yet earnest. "You've been nothing but understanding and supportive, even when I've been a mess. You've shown me kindness and patience, and it's made me realize how lucky I am to have met you, even if it's just for this short time."

Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a surge of emotion welling up inside me. "Anya," I start, my voice barely above a whisper, "you have no idea –

"Dude! They have a karaoke bar downstairs!" JC interrupts, his enthusiastic proclamation reverberates through the room, punctuated by the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation. Lana's eyes light up with excitement as she seizes Anya's hand, her grin infectious. Anya, in turn, shoots me a mischievous glance before she's whisked away by Lana's eager pull.

I chuckle at the sudden energy that fills the room, the prospect of karaoke sparking everyone's enthusiasm. With a playful roll of my eyes, I let myself be pulled along by the momentum, following the group as we make our way downstairs, our laughter echoing through the corridors.

As we descend, the distant strains of music grow louder, mingling with the chatter of fellow cruisers. The anticipation builds with each step, fueled by the promise of lively performances and shared moments.

Arriving at the karaoke bar, we find ourselves greeted by the lively atmosphere, illuminated by the glow of neon lights and pulsing with the beat of the music. Anya's hand remains firmly clasped in mine, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the excitement of the crowd.

With drinks in hand and smiles on our faces, we dive headfirst into the festivities, ready to unleash our inner rockstars.

Lana, Patricia, and Anya huddle together, their heads bent over the book filled with a myriad of songs, their fingers tracing over the titles as they weigh their options. Meanwhile, JC, Sam, Ben, and I gather around another book, scanning through its pages in search of the perfect tune to belt out.

JC's eyes light up as he points emphatically at a particular song listed in the book. "This one!" he exclaims, his enthusiasm contagious as the rest of us exchange glances, a mixture of curiosity and amusement dancing in our eyes. With a collective shrug and a chorus of "Why not?" echoing through the group, we all nod in agreement, eager to embrace the spontaneity of the moment.

JC's excitement propels him out of our group as he rushes over to the DJ booth, eager to secure our song choice. Meanwhile, the girls deliberate and finally settle on their selection. Anya breaks away from the group and saunters over to where I'm standing, her smile infectious as she approaches.

"You picked out a song already?" she inquires, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Yup, you?" I reply, returning her smile. She nods eagerly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I can't wait to hear it," she teases, her playful tone eliciting a chuckle from me.

"I don't have a great voice, just so you know," I admit with a shrug, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious about singing in public. Anya waves off my concerns with a dismissive gesture. "Pssh, it's karaoke," she retorts, her confidence unwavering. "Hardly anyone has a singing voice while doing karaoke. It's all about having fun!" Her words ease my nerves, and I find myself smiling in agreement. With Anya by my side, I feel ready to embrace the lighthearted spirit of the evening.

Anya

As the effects of the alcohol start to take their toll, I find myself leaning against Jacob for support. There's a comforting solidity to his presence that grounds me amidst the swirling chaos of the karaoke bar. With a gentle touch, he guides me to a nearby chair, ensuring that I'm seated safely before he rejoins the rest of the guys on stage.

Before he leaves, Jacob leans in and plants a soft kiss on my lips, sending a flutter of warmth through me. It's a simple gesture, but it leaves me feeling giddy and lightheaded, my heart racing inexplicably. I try to make sense of my reaction as I watch him take his place among the others, but the alcohol clouds my thoughts, leaving me in a state of blissful confusion.Anya, you barely know him!My inner voice warns, but there's this undeniable feeling of security whenever he's around.It's only been three days!My inner voice persists. I shake my head, dismissing the doubts and choosing to stay in the moment. I'm here to enjoy myself, and I won't let my uncertainties spoil the fun.

The guys take their place on stage, and as the music starts, Jacob shoots me a wink. I can feel my cheeks flush as I return his smile. Suddenly, the familiar piano notes of "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton fill the room, and Lana, Patricia, and I exchange excited glances. "Oh my god! Are they really about to sing that?" Lana exclaims. And indeed, the boys start bouncing back and forth in unison, belting out the lyrics. "Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass, and I'm homebound..." We can't help but burst into laughter as we pull out our phones to record the performance. "There's no way I'm missing this!" I exclaim, joining in the singing, along with Lana and Patricia. The whole crowd cheers as the guys finish the song, and their faces are lit up with joy and pride.

They all walk up to us, and JC's face is beaming above the rest. "Let me guess, you picked the song," Patricia says to JC, who nods excitedly. Jacob walks over, and I immediately run to hug him. "Oh my gosh, you guys were great! You really had the crowd going!" I exclaim. "I don't know if we can top that performance," I add. "Oh, you bet your sorry ass we can!" Lana challenges. We leave the guys and head for the stage, nerves radiating from me as I try to calm them down. Then, as the music of "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift starts, the crowd begins to go wild again. They start singing and dancing, and even the guys are getting into it. We finish the song, and the crowd once again erupts into cheers.

As we step off the stage, the guys are all shimmying their chests, belting out “Shake, shake, shake it off.” We can't help but burst into laughter. I turn to Lana, "Honestly, I'm glad I'm drunk because I wouldn't have done that sober." She nods enthusiastically, "Oh my god, me too!" Patricia shouts over the commotion, “Let’s go bar hopping for Lana’s birthday!” We all cheer like crazy, “I can’t join you because my parents will kill me, but you guys have fun, and happy birthday Lana,” Ben says, giving each of us a hug before heading back to his cabin. After bidding Ben farewell, JC chimes in, “Wait, how do we bar hop on a cruise?” We exchange confused glances, then burst into laughter as we head towards the nearest bar.

Chapter Seventeen

Anya

"Okay! OoOokayyy!" I exclaim, taking a deep breath and trying to steady my voice so I don't sound too drunk. "Birffday, birrrthdaayyy," I manage, clearing my throat and taking another breath. "Okay. Birth. Day. Girl," I repeat, saying each word slowly to avoid sounding as intoxicated as I know I am. Lana bursts into laughter with a high-pitched giggle, clearly even more intoxicated than I am, which is saying something. "I wanna go dance!" she drunkenly whines. Sam wraps his arm around her and announces that he's taking her back to the nightclub. Patricia and JC have disappeared somewhere, leaving just me and Jacob. Not that I mind, but I'm definitely not sober enough to handle anything, should something actually happen.

"You doing okay there, gorgeous?" Jacob asks, pulling me closer to him. I can't help but smile widely, though I'm not sure if it's the alcohol coursing through my veins or being this close to him that's setting my skin on fire. "Mmhmm, I am peachy keen, Jimmy Dean!" I blurt out, cringing internally at my drunken chatter.Oh my god, Anya, stop talking when you're drunk!I scold myself internally. Jacob chuckles at my drunken stupor, and we begin strolling around the main deck of the cruise.

"It's so pretty out here at night," I murmur, taking in the twinkling lights of the city skyline as the cruise ship glides through the dark waters. Jacob stands behind me, his arms enveloping me in a comforting embrace, the warmth of his body contrasting with the cool breeze blowing off the ocean.

"Yeah, it is," he replies softly, his breath warm against my skin. I feel a shiver run down my spine as his lips brush against the sensitive skin of my neck, sending tingles of excitement coursing through me. I tilt my head slightly, allowing him better access, savoring the sensation of his kisses.

Closing my eyes, I lose myself in the moment, relishing the closeness between us and the serene beauty of the night. The sound of the ocean waves lapping against the hull of the ship creates a soothing rhythm, lulling me into a state of peaceful contentment.

When Jacob turns me around to face him, a smile plays at the corners of my lips. Leaning up on my toes, I meet his gaze with a mixture of anticipation and desire, our lips coming together in a tender, lingering kiss. In that moment, with the stars overhead and the gentle sway of the ship beneath us, time seems to stand still, and all that exists is the connection between us.

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