Page 33 of Journey to Love

Ben nods in agreement. "Yeah, going back home will be great because I miss my friends, but at the same time, I'm gonna miss you guys too."

I jokingly place my hand over my heart. "Aw, I love you too, man!" I tease, pretending to wipe away a tear.

Ben chuckles and playfully shoves me. "Oh, shut up," he says with a grin. "You know what I meant."

We share a laugh, and I feel grateful for the bond we've formed during this cruise. "Yeah, dude, we get it," I reply, nudging him back. "I've had a blast spending time with you guys too."

We all wait by the entrance of the club for the girls to arrive, the sound of laughter echoing down the corridor. My heart nearly stops when I see Anya walking toward us. She looks stunning in her red dress, the color complementing her tanned skin and accentuating every curve. She's absolutely gorgeous, and I can’t wait to talk to her.

As she draws near, her smile seems to brighten the entire hallway, and for a moment, everything else fades away except her. "Hey, you look handsome," she says, her eyes twinkling with sincerity. I feel a warmth spread through me at her compliment. "Thank you," I respond, unable to hide the admiration in my voice, "But you... you look drop dead gorgeous." Her smile widens at my words, and I can't help but feel a surge of pride knowing I've made her happy.

She links her arm with mine, her touch sending a shiver down my spine. "Shall we go in?" she asks, her gaze holding mine. My heart races at the closeness between us, and I nod eagerly, unable to contain my excitement. "Absolutely," I reply, leading her into the club with a sense of anticipation bubbling inside me.

“You really do look stunning tonight,” I whisper into her ear as we settle into a cozy booth. A blush rises to her cheeks as she responds with a grateful smile, “Thank you.” Her happiness is contagious, and I can't help but revel in the sight of her radiant expression. With her beside me, I feel like the luckiest man alive.

I wrap my arm around her, drawing her closer as we engage in conversation with our friends. Time seems to slip away as we laugh and dance, but amidst the lively atmosphere, I find a moment to steal her away for a private conversation.

"Hey, can we talk in private?" I murmur, leaning in close to her.

Anya's concern is evident in her expression as she nods, "Is everything okay?"

I reassure her with a gentle smile, "Oh yes, everything is good. I just wanted some alone time with you." Her tension eases at my words, and she smiles in relief, "Oh... okay, good. You had me worried there for a minute."

We stroll hand in hand through the ship's corridors, soaking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings until we stumble upon a secluded bench. I gesture for Anya to take a seat, following suit beside her.

"So, you excited about going home?" she asks, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm looking forward to being in my own room again, that's for sure. Sharing a room with my mom and stepdad has been weird," I admit with a chuckle.

Anya laughs in agreement, "Oh, I bet!"

I take Anya’s hand, and she smiles at me, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Anya, I really enjoyed spending time with you on this cruise. Meeting you was definitely the highlight of my vacation," I confess, sincerity lacing my words.

She playfully hits me on the arm, her cheeks flushing with color. "Oh my god, stop!" she protests, but I can tell my words have touched her.

"I'm not that special, there has to be something else that’s better," she adds with a hint of insecurity, her gaze dropping momentarily.

"No, you were, youare, the best thing about this vacation," I say softly, lifting her chin with my hand so she is looking at me.

"Really? I find that hard to believe," she responds, a flicker of doubt still lingering in her eyes.

"Truly," I reassure her, smiling warmly. "And I don’t want to leave this cruise without you being my girlfriend."

Anya

Say something!I internally scream to myself, feeling utterly tongue-tied. “Uhh...”Oh my God, you’re just staring at him! For the love of God woman! Use words, WORDS!My inner voice shouts, berating me for my inability to speak.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. “You… you want me to be your… your girlfriend?” I manage to stammer out, still finding it hard to form coherent sentences under the weight of his gaze.

He smiles warmly, his eyes twinkling with affection as he squeezes my hand. “Yes, Anya, will you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend?” he asks, his tone sincere and earnest.

Who is this guy? And why does he make me feel so conflicted? My inner voice can't seem to make sense of the situation, unsure if I should trust my heart or my head.

Despite the rush of emotions and doubts swirling inside me, one thing is certain: I want to say yes. But can I really trust someone I've only known for a few days? My inner self reminds me that it's only been five days.

I try to push away the thoughts and focus on Jacob, who stands before me with fear in his eyes. He's been so kind and caring towards me, but I can't ignore the fact that I'm still working on myself.

Do I really want a boyfriend right now? But then again, he didn't pressure me into anything physical like other guys have in the past. My inner voice interrupts again, reminding me of how important that is. "Not helping," I scold myself. Great, now I'm having an argument with myself. Am I going crazy?

---