Drifting Into You

1. Chapter 1

The ship sways gently against the waves as I look out over the port where stragglers rush to the ship before the doors close.

One man runs ahead of his wife as she struggles to keep up, her luggage slipping from her grasp.

I could only hope that this was a one-off experience for the woman and not a common recurrence of being left behind to fend for herself because I unfortunately knew the feeling all too well.

When I agreed to come to my brother and future sister-in-law’s bachelor/bachelorette party, I imagined a quick trip to Vegas or the Bahamas—hell, even New York.

I could handle that; a few days away from the cozy nest of my home with plenty of time to recharge in between before the wedding in Greece.

What she got instead was an invitation to a week long Mediterranean Cruise that starts in Barcelona and ends in Santorini.

The perfect alignment for their perfect wedding.

I’m a homebody, so to spend every day for a week doing frivolous activities with my brother and his fiancée’s friends and family felt almost torturous, especially when all of my friends are back home.

And there was no way Ma or Dad would allow me to miss it, especially given it was all expenses paid.

I knew we were rich, but not so rich that our parents are practically throwing money like confetti at this wedding.

“Always the best for our son.” My father’s words echo as I wonder if they would go this far for me.

Stretch every limit, spare no expense for my happiness.

I know the answer is yes, but at times that’s not how it feels.

With Elijah and me being five years apart, every achievement I made behind my brother felt second best. From the outside, we got all the same luxuries and privileges, but deep down, all I want is the same happy and chaotic energy my parents display for Elijah.

Now that he’s getting married, the only thing I can do to get it is have a child, but who am I kidding?

I haven’t been in a relationship in years. Maybe I can aim higher somehow.

At least the cruise they chose was an adults only cruise line.

I don’t think I could deal with having my brother pressuring me to do excursions and tripping over kids whose parents are too busy getting drunk at the bar to notice the trouble they get into.

I know Elijah will only insist because our parents would ask how it went and all the fun things we did together, because if there’s one thing they hate more than wasting money, it’s wasting money.

Besides, I’m only a bridesmaid because our parents didn’t want me to feel left out, yet I feel more isolated than before.

Six out of the ten people in our group have made their way up to the Lido Deck. Elijah’s fiancée’s, Melody, wants to ensure everyone made it on board, and what better way to do that than a celebratory margarita out of the cheap parrot shaped cups the cruise is selling?

“Isn’t this ship so beautiful?” One of Melody’s closest friends, Carmin, says as she leans back against the railing.

Although I don’t know her very well, she’s the only bridesmaid who seems to want to get to know me when we aren’t being forced together by wedding plans.

And, despite how different we are, I wouldn’t mind if a genuine friendship came out of all this.

I could really use that right about now.

Looking around at the deck, a pool sits behind a large dance floor just below where the DJ stands, swaying from side to side to the beat of some song I don’t recognize. For one of their older ships, everything is pristine.

“I could get used to it.”

“Could?” Carmin says with disgust. “You will. After all the stress with you and work, you should be grabbing at the chance to relax and have fun.”

Slouching down on the railing, I rest my chin on my hands. “I know. Work has been hell these past few weeks. I keep wondering if they’re just gearing me up for nothing.”

Carmin tugs at my dress. “No, no talk of work. This is a big, week long party and we’re going to live like it.”

Easier said than done, I think to myself.

I don’t know if I’m experiencing burnout or if my job is toying with my feelings.

I’ve been working my ass off for the last year to get the promotion that my organization has been dangling like a carrot right in front of my face.

Being Program Director would give me the boost I need to know that my hard work is paying off at the community center where I initially started as a volunteer for a school project.

Since then, I’ve worked my way up to Program Manager, which feels more like being a personal secretary.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t trade my job for anything.

Seeing the bright smiles of community members, young and old, excited to learn or rediscover passions, has filled me with so much joy that I sometimes don’t mind that nobody else seemed to notice me outside of that bubble.

I just hope I have enough recognition there to be considered for the position.

“Come on, everyone’s almost here.” Carmin drags me up and hands me a parrot cup.

As we make our way over to the pool, I stiffen and begin straightening out wrinkles in the white dress I threw on last minute before rushing out of the hotel room to make it on time for boarding.

I knew Justin would be on cruise since he’s a groomsman, but what I didn’t anticipate was the reaction my body would have to seeing him after so many years.

It has to have been at least 6 years since I’ve seen him, and he’s just as fine as I remember.

From his dark blonde hair and hazel eyes to his lean and toned muscles that make up his frame, I want all of him.

And it doesn’t help my case that my eyes keep wandering to his tight ass in those shorts.

Carmin follows my gaze and jabs her elbow softly into my side. “Don’t tell me you have a crush?”

Sheepishly, I feel my skin grow hotter despite the beating of the sun. “It’s embarrassing, I know.”

“Girl, what?” Carmin questions. “He’s hot. There’s nothing embarrassing about admitting it. You’re just shy about it.”

Something like that.

“Okay, don’t stress it,” Carmin reassures me. “You’re just as hot, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”

“But you don’t know him, or me.”

Carmin waves me off. “I don’t need to know him to know I’m right, and if you opened up to me a little more, I wouldn’t have to pry information from your brother and Melody.”

“Oh, god.” Who knows what they’ve been saying. I love Melody, but my brother? He would not be the person I’d choose to write my obituary, to say the least.

“Sorry,” Carmin says, pursing her lips. “But I meant what I said. You’re beautiful and smart, and funny when you think no one will catch it. Be… a butterfly.” Carmin waves her hand in the space in front of me, looking off into the distance like she sees the vision clear as day.

I shake my head. “I’m more like a moth.”

“Moths still have wings.”

Carmin waltzes over to where everyone else stands and beckons for me to follow. With every step, my heart beats a millisecond faster. I take in a deep breath as I push up my glasses and my hands smooth over my round stomach and hips.

Slowly, I make my way over to the group, mumbling to myself. “Hey—” I clear my throat. “Justin! Wow, it’s so nice to see—no. Okay, don’t be silly. He’s just a guy. A really cute one that I’ve liked forever. Don’t panic. Chill…”

Just as I raise my head, Justin turns my away, his smile widening. His eyes trace their way down my curvy frame, and I pretend I didn’t almost trip over myself in the process.

I knew I should have stuck to flats.

“Gina?”

“Justin,” I breathe.

“Elijah said you’d be here, but this is a nice surprise,” Justin says as he pulls me into a hug. “You look amazing.”

“Well, I was 20 the last time we saw each other.”

He chuckles, but something darker lingers in his eyes. “That’s true. Still, it’s good to see you.”

“You too.” I play with the straw of my cup as our eyes stay locked on each other.

I don’t know what’s come over me, but I’m not going to be the one to back down first. I’m 26, a grown woman, and I want him to know it.

His gaze only rips from me when Melody calls for everyone’s attention to draw them in closer.

“Is everyone here?” she asks, passing out the last of the parrot cups.

Elijah takes a head count and looks around. “I think we’re still missing…”

“Tee!” someone shouts from across the deck.

All hope of having a relaxing week comes to a halt as Pandora’s Box comes bouncing over.

“Leo!” Elijah exclaims, pushing through the crowd of people to reach him.

Had I known this would be such a reunion, I would have prepared better—drastically better.

“This is so exciting.” Carmin buzzes next to me. “It’s so nice to meet the rest of Elijah’s friends. This is going to be such a fun week.” ??Leo’s eyes fall on me, and I quickly avert my gaze. “You’re telling me.”