Page 16 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
I scrambled for an excuse. “That… I could really use that dip in the pool. Care to join me?”
He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. I held my breath, my heart pounding loudly inside my chest. The hardest part of lying to your best friend was that they always knew when you were hiding something.
“Sure. I’ll come with you,” he finally said.
I breathed out a sigh of relief when he decided not to push, but I knew I wouldn’t always be that lucky. I needed to get my shit together and figure out what in the hell was the matter with me. And soon!
After a delicious seafood dinner, we decided to take a walk, exploring even more of the ship. Eventually, we found ourselves back on deck, under a clear and starry sky.
The deck was alive with twinkling lights and upbeat music. A cheerful voice boomed over the speakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, grab your partners! It's time for our couples' dance competition!”
Without thinking, I turned to Easton with a mischievous grin. “What do you say, East? Wanna show these lovebirds how it's done?”
To my surprise, his cheeks flushed pink. “You do remember I have two left feet, right?”
I shrugged. “I’m willing to take my chances.”
He smiled shyly. “Okay then. Why not?”
As we made our way to the dance floor, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This wasn't the guy who'd hide behind a book at parties. He was coming out of his shell, and it was... well, it was kind of amazing.
The music started, a lively salsa beat pulsing through the air. I took Easton's hand, pulling him close. “Just follow my lead,” I whispered, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in my chest.
As we began to move, I was acutely aware of every point of contact between us. My hand on his waist, his on my shoulder, our palms pressed together. The heat of his body seemed to radiate through me, igniting something I couldn't quite name.
“You're not half bad,” I teased, spinning him out and then back into my arms.
He laughed, a sound that always made me smile. “All those times you made me play Just Dance are finally paying off.”
Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world around us faded away. I'd never noticed how the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes caught the light, or how his lashes cast delicate shadows on his cheeks when he blinked.
As we swayed and twirled, I couldn't shake the feeling of how... right this felt. Easton fit perfectly in my arms, like he was meant to be there. His scent, a mix of body wash and that fancy cologne I'd gotten him last Christmas, filled my senses.
“West?” His voice broke through my reverie. “You okay? You look... intense.”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, I'm good. Just... concentrating.”
But the truth was, I wasn't okay. My heart was racing, and it wasn't from the dancing. What was happening to me? Was it just the holiday atmosphere, the romance of being on a cruise? Or was it something more?
I heard the swift intake of his breath as I suddenly pulled him in, needing the closeness of his body to help anchor me. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, and I closed my eyes, memorizing it’s cadence, the rhythm that was perfectly in sync with my own. As I held him close, guiding him through the steps, I couldn't help but wonder if I was falling for my best friend.
The music faded, and we came to a stop, our bodies still close, chests rising and falling in unison. His eyes were wide, a question swimming in their depths that I couldn't quite decipher. My hand lingered on his waist, and I found myself unable to look away from his slightly parted lips.
“That was...” Easton began, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” I agreed, not needing him to finish the thought. We stood there, frozen in the moment, as the world slowly came back into focus around us.
I cleared my throat, finally breaking the spell. “Want to head back to our chairs? I could use some water.”
He nodded, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. “Sure, that sounds good.”
We made our way to the upper deck, the cool night air a welcome relief after the heat of the dance floor. I settled into my lounge chair, stealing glances at my best friend. Above us, thesky was a canvas of twinkling stars, more visible here than I'd ever seen back home.
“It's beautiful,” Easton murmured, his gaze fixed on the heavens.
I turned to look at him, the starlight reflecting in his glasses. “Yeah, it really is.”
As we sat in comfortable silence, my mind raced through the events of the day. The jealousy I'd felt at the bar, the electricity of our dance, the warmth that spread through me every time Easton smiled. It was like seeing my best friend in a whole new light, and I wasn't sure what to do with these feelings.
