6. Chapter 6 Zoe
Chapter 6: Zoe
T he rest of the afternoon passed in a haze of anticipation. Jake, still oblivious to the tension between Caleb and me, suggested we hit the pool deck. I agreed, partly to avoid suspicion and partly because the thought of seeing Caleb shirtless again was too tempting to pass up.
As we settled into lounge chairs, I couldn't help but steal glances at Caleb. Water droplets glistened on his tanned skin, highlighting the muscles of his chest and abs. The tattoos I'd only glimpsed before were now on full display - an intricate sleeve on his right arm and something peeking out just above the waistband of his swim trunks. Caleb cocked an eyebrow at me as he caught me staring.
I felt heat rush to my cheeks that had nothing to do with the sun.
"If you’re done eye-fucking Caleb," Jake's voice cut in, making me jump, "I'm going grab some drinks. The usual, Zo?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice. As Jake walked away, Caleb walked over and we exchanged wide-eyed looks.
"You don't think he knows, do you?" I whispered.
Caleb shook his head. "Nah, he's just joking around. You know how he is."
Still, the close call left me feeling jittery. We needed to figure out how to handle this situation, and soon. The rest of the afternoon passed without incident, though the sexual tension between Caleb and me was evident. By the time we headed back to our cabins to get ready for dinner, I was a bundle of nerves.
Standing in front of my closet, I agonized over what to wear. I finally settled on a flowy sundress that was casual enough for the ship's dress code but still made me feel pretty. As I applied a touch of makeup, I was running through potential scenarios on how to tell Jake that I had fallen in love with his best friend. A knock at the door startled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I opened it to find Jake, looking uncharacteristically serious.
"Hey, can we talk for a sec?" he asked.
"Uh, sure," I managed, stepping aside to let him in.
Jake paced the small cabin, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Zo, I know I'm not always the most observant guy, but I'm not blind."
Oh god. This was it. He knew.
"I've seen the way you and Caleb have been acting around each other," he said as he stood still and looked at me.
I braced myself for the explosion, the accusations of betrayal. But instead, Jake's face broke into a wide grin.
"And I just want to say, it's about damn time!"
I blinked, stunned. "What?"
Jake laughed, pulling me into a bear hug. "Come on, sis. You've been pining after Caleb for years. And he's been just as bad, even if he thinks he's been subtle about it. I was wondering how long it would take you two to finally get your acts together."
Relief and disbelief washed over me in equal measure. "You're okay with this?"
He released me, his expression softening. "Zo, all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. And I've never seen you light up around anyone the way you do with Caleb. Plus, he's my best friend. I know he's a good guy who'll treat you right."
Tears pricked at my eyes. "We were so worried about how you'd react."
He ruffled my hair affectionately. "Give me some credit, squirt. I'm not completely clueless." His grin turned mischievous. "Though I do have to ask - exactly how long has this been going on?"
I felt a blush creeping up my neck. "Uh, well officially? Since last night."
Jake's eyebrows shot up. "Last night? Wait, is that why Caleb took so long to get you to come to dinner?"
I nodded, biting my lip.
He let out a low whistle. "Damn, good work, sis. I'm impressed."
I swatted at him, laughing despite my embarrassment. "Shut up."
Jake held up his hands in surrender, still grinning. "Hey, no judgment here. Just maybe keep the PDA to a minimum around me, yeah? There are some things a brother doesn't need to see."
I rolled my eyes. "Says the guy who once made out with my roommate."
"That was different!" he protested. "I was young and stupid."
"It was last year, Jake."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. Anyway, I'll let you finish getting ready for dinner.” He held up a hand. “Just remember - I'm happy for you, but if Caleb hurts you, best friend or not, I'll throw him overboard."
I hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Jake. You're the best brother a girl could ask for."
As he left, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. One major hurdle down, one to go.
Dinner was a surprisingly relaxed affair. With Jake in on the secret, the tension that had been simmering all day was now gone, and Caleb felt comfortable enough to hold my hand as we all chatted about the day. As we finished our desserts, Jake stretched exaggeratedly. "Well, kids, it's been fun, but I think I'm going hit the casino again. Try not to do anything I wouldn't do."
Caleb snorted. "That doesn't leave much off the table, buddy."
Jake winked. As he sauntered off, Caleb turned to me, his expression softening. "So lower deck again?"
I nodded, suddenly nervous again. "Lead the way."
We made our way to a quiet spot near the railing, the sound of the waves a soothing backdrop. The sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. It was breathtakingly romantic, and for a moment, I let myself believe in the magic of it all.
Caleb leaned against the railing, his eyes on the horizon. "So," he said softly. "I guess we have some things to figure out."
I nodded, moving to stand beside him. "Yeah, I guess we do."
He turned to face me, his expression serious. "Zo, I need you to know something. This. Us. It's not just a vacation fling for me. I meant what I said before. I've had feelings for you for a long time."
He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I've always seen you, Zo. I guess I was scared of messing things up with Jake.”
I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed. "So what now?"
Caleb's thumb traced my cheekbone. "Now I'd really like to kiss you, if that's okay."
Instead of answering, I stood on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his. The kiss was soft, tender, full of promise. When we broke apart, Caleb rested his forehead against mine.
"I want to do this right," he murmured. "Take you on real dates, hold your hand in public, all of it. What do you say? Want to be my girlfriend, shortcake?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Are we in high school?"
He grinned, unabashed. "Humor me. I never got to ask you out back then. Let me have this moment."
I pretended to consider it. "Well, I don't know. My dance card is pretty full. But I suppose I could pencil you in."
Caleb's eyes danced with amusement. "How generous of you."
"I'm nothing if not charitable," I teased.
He pulled me close, his arms wrapping around my waist. "You know, we still have five days left on this cruise. Any ideas on how we should spend them?"
I hummed thoughtfully. "Well, there's always shuffleboard."
Caleb threw his head back, laughing. "Shuffleboard, huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"
I smacked his chest playfully. "Get your mind out of the gutter, mister."
His expression turned serious. "In all honesty, Zo, I just want to spend time with you. However, you will have me.”
"I like the sound of that," I said, “But I’ve waited long enough Caleb. I need you.”
As Caleb's lips found mine once more, I knew without a doubt that this was just the beginning for us.