Page 8 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
Laura, who had been watching from a nearby chair, let out a squeal of delight. “Oh my god, Easton! You look incredible!”
I turned to face her, a shy smile tugging at my lips. “Really?”
She bounded over, her eyes sparkling with approval. “Really! You're absolutely adorkable. The men on that cruise aren’t going to know what hit them.”
I felt a blush creep up my neck, warming my cheeks. “Adorkable?”
“It's the perfect blend of adorable and dorky,” she explained, grinning. “It's so... you.”
As we left the salon, I caught my reflection in a store window. For the first time in years, I felt a surge of confidence. Maybe I could do this. Maybe I could truly create my own destiny.
“So,” Laura nudged me playfully, “excited for the cruise now?”
I took a deep breath, surprised by the anticipation bubbling up inside me. “You know what? I think I am.”
The morning sunfiltered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my living room. I paced back and forth, my hands fidgeting with the hem of my new navy-blue sweater. My suitcase stood by the door, packed and ready for our tropical holiday adventure.
“Breathe, Easton,” I muttered to myself, trying to calm my racing heart. “It's just Weston. Your best friend. Who you've known forever. Who you're secretly in love with. No big deal.”
I glanced at the clock for the hundredth time. 7:58 AM. He'd be here any minute.
As if on cue, a sharp knock echoed through the apartment. I froze, my stomach doing somersaults. This was it. Taking a deep breath, I smoothed down my hair and adjusted my glasses before reaching for the doorknob.
The door swung open, and there he was. Weston, with his messy blond hair and sea-blue eyes, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. But as his gaze landed on me, something shifted. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open in surprise.
“East?” he breathed, blinking rapidly as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.
I felt my cheeks warm under his scrutiny. “Hey, West,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes roamed over my new haircut, my glasses, the fitted sweater that actually showed off my lean build. “You... you look...”
My heart pounded in my chest. “Different?” I supplied, suddenly unsure if this makeover had been a good idea.
A slow smile spread across Weston’s face, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Amazing,” he finished, his voice filled with warmth. “You look amazing, East.”
He offered to help me with my bags and I couldn't help but chuckle as Weston—usually so graceful and athletic—stumbled over his own feet while reaching for my suitcase. His hand missed the handle completely, nearly toppling the whole thing over.
“Whoa there, West,” I teased, steadying both him and the suitcase. “Try not to fall down the stairs with these. I’d hate to spend Christmas with you in the hospital.”
His cheeks flushed a deep red, a rare sight that had me tilting my head in concern. “I, uh... Sorry,” he mumbled, finally managing to grab the suitcase. “Just caught me off guard, that's all.”
As we made our way down to his car, I stole a quick glance at him and found him staring back at me. He quickly averted his eyes, making it impossible to tell what he’d been thinking. My mind raced with possibilities. Did he hate my new haircut? Think I looked foolish in these new clothes?
“So,” Weston cleared his throat as we drove towards the airport, “what brought on this change? Not that you needed it, of course.”
I fiddled with the hem of my sweater, considering how to answer. “I guess I wanted to try something new,” I said softly. “You know, new adventures and all that.”
He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, it suits you. Really suits you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You look good.”
The city streets gave way to the highway, and I found myself staring out the window, a small smile playing on mylips. The excitement of the cruise was bubbling up inside me, overshadowing any lingering doubts I may have had.
Whatever happened on this cruise, I realized, I'd be facing it with my best friend by my side. And really, what could be better than that?
CHAPTER FOUR
