Page 9 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
WESTON
The taxi screeched to a halt,and I stepped out onto the sun-baked pavement, my heart racing with excitement. As I steadied myself, the sight before me took my breath away—a colossal cruise ship loomed against the clear blue Florida sky, promising a week of holiday adventure.
“Holy crap, West.” Easton breathed beside me, his eyes wide behind his black-framed glasses. “It's like a floating city.”
I grinned, drinking in his awe-struck expression. “Ready for our grand Christmas getaway?”
He nodded, a smile lighting up his face. “I can't believe we're actually doing this.”
As we joined the throng of eager passengers, I couldn't help but steal glances at my best friend. The bright sunlight caught in Easton's dark hair, highlighting the shorter sides and the longer strands on top that—even after hours spent in an airport and on a plane—seemed to fall just right. His hazel eyes sparkled with an excitement I rarely saw, and I felt a strange flutter in my chest.
Has East always been this... attractive?I shook my head, trying to clear the unexpected thought. “So, what's first on your vacation agenda? Let me guess—finding the ship's library?”
He rolled his eyes, but his lips quirked up. “You know me too well. But I was thinking we could explore the deck first, maybe catch the sunset later?”
“Look at you, being all adventurous,” I teased, playfully nudging his shoulder. “I'm rubbing off on you, Beckett.”
He ducked his head, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “Don't get used to it, Holt. I still plan on spending quality time with my books.”
As we finally stepped onto the ship, I felt a sudden pang of guilt. The excitement of our adventure had momentarily distracted me from the weight of my deception. I knew I had to come clean before we got too far into this charade.
“Hey, East,” I said, pulling him to a quieter spot on the deck. “There's something I need to tell you.”
His hazel eyes met mine, curiosity and a hint of concern etched across his face. “What is it?”
I took a deep breath. “Remember how I won these tickets in that contest? Well, I... I might have bent the truth a little when I entered.”
Easton's brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I may have entered as a… newlywed couple,” I confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush.
His eyebrows shot up, his mouth falling open in shock. “You did what?” I watched as his expression shifted from shock to disbelief, then to something that looked suspiciously like panic. He ran a hand through his hair, messing up the perfectly styled strands.
“West, are you serious? You told them we're married?” His voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes darting around as if afraid someone might overhear.
I nodded, feeling a mixture of guilt and nervous excitement. “I know it's crazy, but hear me out. It was the only way to guarantee we'd win. And you were so sad not to get to spend Christmas with your family, I… I just wanted to do something special for you.”
Easton's face softened slightly at my words, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. “I appreciate the thought, but we have to tell them the truth.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, a cheerful voice interrupted us. “Ah, here are our newlyweds! Welcome aboard, Mr. and Mr. Holt-Beckett!”
We turned to see a bubbly crew member with a clipboard, her smile as bright as her crisp white uniform. Easton's eyes widened in panic, but I quickly slipped an arm around his waist, pulling him close.
“That's us!” I said, flashing her my most charming smile. “We're so excited to be here.”
Easton stiffened beside me, but I gave him a gentle squeeze, silently willing him to play along. The crew member, oblivious to our tension, continued cheerfully.
“Wonderful! We have a special surprise waiting for you in your cabin. If you'll follow me, I'll show you the way.”
I felt Easton's hesitation as we followed her, his body still tense under my arm. I leaned in close, whispering in his ear, “Just go with it for now. We'll figure this out, I promise.”
He gave a barely perceptible nod, his breath warm against my neck as he hissed back, “You owe me big time for this, West.”
The crew member led us through winding corridors, chattering about the ship's amenities. I tried to pay attention, but I was acutely aware of the threatening glares my best friend was shooting my way.
Finally, we reached our cabin. The crew member threw open the door with a flourish. “Here we are! Your honeymoon suite!”
Easton's sharp intake of breath matched my own as we took in the sight before us. The room was bathed in soft, romantic lighting, with rose petals scattered across the plush carpet. A bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket, accompanied by a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. And there, dominating the center of the room, was a single king-sized bed adorned with silky sheets and heart-shaped pillows.
