5. Chapter 5 Zoe
Chapter 5: Zoe
I woke to the sound of waves lapping against the ship and sunlight streaming through the cabin window. For a moment, I basked in the warm glow of a good night's sleep. Then the memories of last night came flooding back, and I sat bolt upright.
Caleb. The alcove. Everything.
A laugh bubbled up in my chest. Had that really happened? It felt like a dream, too good to be true. I flopped back onto the bed, grinning like an idiot. Who would have thought that boarding this cruise would lead to, well, being boarded in an entirely different way?
A knock at the door startled me.
"Zo? You up?" Jake's voice called through the door.
I groaned, pulling the pillow over my face. Right. My brother. The one complication in this whole wonderful mess.
"Just a sec!" I called, scrambling out of bed. I threw on a robe and ran a hand through my tangled hair before opening the door.
Jake stood there, already dressed in swim trunks and a tank top. "Morning, sleepyhead. Thought you might want to join us for breakfast before the snorkeling excursion."
Us. My stomach did a flip. "Us?"
"Yeah, me and Caleb. He's waiting by the buffet. Said something about making sure they don't run out of croissants for you."
I felt a rush of warmth at Caleb's thoughtfulness, quickly followed by a wave of guilt. Here was my brother, oblivious to the fact that his best friend and his sister had been best friends with benefits just hours ago.
"Uh, sure," I managed. "Just give me ten minutes to get ready?"
Jake nodded. "Cool. Meet you there."
As soon as the door closed, I leaned against it, taking a deep breath. Okay, Zoe. You can do this. It's just breakfast. With your brother. And the guy you've been in love with for years. Who licked your hoo-ha last night. While on vacation. No pressure.
I threw on a swimsuit and cover-up, a quick brush through my hair and a swipe of tinted lip balm later, I was as ready as I'd ever be.
The breakfast buffet was busy with people of all shapes and sizes in their swimwear, ready for the day. I spotted Jake and Caleb at a table near the windows, both nursing cups of coffee. As I approached, Caleb looked up, and the slow smile that spread across his face made my knees weak.
"Morning, shortcake," he said, his voice low and warm.
I felt a blush creeping up my neck. "Morning."
Jake, bless his oblivious heart, didn't seem to notice the charged atmosphere. "I got you some coffee," he said, pushing a mug towards me. "Caleb insisted on waiting for you before hitting the buffet."
"Such a gentleman," I said.
As we made our way through the buffet line, I was acutely aware of Caleb's presence behind me. Every accidental brush of his arm against mine sent sparks shooting through me. When he reached around me to grab a plate, his chest pressed against my back for a brief moment, and I nearly dropped my fork.
"You okay there, Zo?" Jake asked, noticing my fumble.
I nodded, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. "Yep! Just, uh, excited for snorkeling."
Back at the table, I found myself seated across from Caleb. As Jake launched into a detailed description of the marine life we might see, Caleb caught my eye. Slowly, deliberately, he bit into a piece of pineapple, his tongue darting out to catch a drop of juice on his lower lip.
I choked on my coffee.
"Jeez, Zo, you're a mess this morning," Jake laughed, thumping me on the back. "Late night?"
Caleb's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Yeah, Zo. Did you have trouble sleeping?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. Two could play at this game. "Oh, I slept like a baby," I said sweetly. "Must have been all that fresh air on the lower deck last night."
It was Caleb's turn to cough, nearly inhaling a piece of pineapple.
Jake looked between us, confusion evident on his face. "Am I missing something here?"
"Nope!" Caleb and I said in unison, perhaps a bit too quickly.
Jake's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but before he could question us further, an announcement came over the ship's speakers.
"Attention passengers. The snorkeling excursion will be departing in 30 minutes. Please make your way to the main deck."
As we made our way to the deck, Caleb fell into step beside me. "Did you really sleep well?" he murmured, his hand brushing against mine.
I suppressed a shiver. "Very. You?"
His grin was wicked. "Had some pretty interesting dreams."
Before I could respond, we reached the gathering point for the excursion. Our guide, a perky blonde named Stacey, was handing out equipment and going over safety procedures.
"Alright, folks!" she chirped. "We'll be pairing up for buddy checks. Safety first!"
Jake immediately grabbed a set of gear. "Dibs on the hot redhead," he said, nodding towards a girl a few feet away.
I rolled my eyes. Typical Jake. But his departure left me alone with Caleb, a fact that didn't escape either of our notice.
"Guess that leaves us," Caleb said, his voice low.
I swallowed hard. "Guess so."
We grabbed our gear and found a spot to suit up. As I struggled with the zipper of my wetsuit, trying to tug it over my generous breasts, Caleb stepped behind me.
"Need a hand?" he asked, his breath warm on my neck.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. His fingers brushed against my skin as he slowly zipped me up, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
"There," he murmured. "All sealed up."
I turned to face him, suddenly very aware of how close we were standing. "Thanks. Want me to do yours?"
Caleb's eyes darkened. "Please."
As I reached for his zipper, my fingers trembling slightly, Jake's voice cut through the moment. "Hey, slowpokes! We're boarding!"
We jumped apart as we joined Jake and his new redheaded friend on the boat. The boat ride to the snorkeling site was mercifully short. As we prepared to enter the water, Stacey went over the buddy system one last time.
"Remember, always keep an eye on your partner," she said. "And most importantly, have fun!"
Caleb caught my eye, a glint in his. "You heard the lady, shortcake. Keep your eyes on me."
We slipped into the water, the coolness a welcome relief from the tropical heat. The underwater world was breathtaking. Colorful fish darted between vibrant coral formations, and shafts of sunlight danced through the clear blue water. But as amazing as the scenery was, I found my gaze continually drawn to Caleb.
At one point, he gestured excitedly towards a sea turtle gliding by. As I swam closer to get a better look, his hand found the small of my back, steadying me. Even through the wetsuit, his touch sent a jolt through me. We explored the reef for what felt like hours, communicating through gestures and shared looks of wonder. It was intimate in a way I hadn't expected, sharing this beautiful, silent world together.
As we surfaced for a break, Caleb pulled off his mask, grinning widely. "This is incredible," he said, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes. He swam closer, his legs brushing against mine under the water. "You know," he said, his voice low, "I'm starting to think this cruise was the best idea you've ever had."
I laughed. "Oh really? And why's that?"
His gaze softened, before checking to see if Jake was still underwater with his buddy. "Because it finally gave me the courage to do this."
Before I could react, he closed the distance between us, capturing my lips in a salty, sun-warmed kiss. I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck as we treaded water together.
When we broke apart, both a little breathless, I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Well, now I’m hot again."
I could see Jake surface and look over at us. I pretended to dunk Caleb and swam away before Jake could see what we had really been doing. By the time we climbed back onto the boat, I was exhausted but exhilarated. As we shed our wetsuits, Caleb leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. "Meet me on the lower deck after dinner."
I nodded. As the boat sped back towards the ship, I closed my eyes, letting the sun warm my face and the salt air fill my lungs. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly, completely happy.