Chapter Sixteen
Jacob
Heading back into the nightclub, I couldn't shake off the sting of Anya's words, though I knew she was speaking from a place of concern. My eyes dart around the dimly lit room, scanning the crowd for any sign of Lana. Finally, I spot Ben and JC and make my way over to them, urgency evident in my voice.
"Hey," I call out to Ben, hoping he might have some information. Ben's initial excitement dims as he notices the worry etched on my face. "Whoa, what's going on?" he asks, concern coloring his tone.
"Have you seen Lana?" I inquire, my heart pounding with apprehension. Ben's eyebrows shoot up in realization. "Oh, Lana went back to their cabin to change. Some drunk guy accidentally spilled his drink on her," he explains.
My mind races with thoughts of Anya and her distress. "Anya's really beating herself up over this. She feels like she abandoned Lana on her birthday," I confess, feeling a pang of guilt for keeping Anya away so long.
Ben's eyes widen in realization. "Oh, damn, it's Lana's birthday? We should do something for her," he suggests, his excitement returning. "Let's grab a cake from the bakery before they close and surprise them with it." His idea sparks a sense of determination within me.
"Do you know their cabin number?" Ben inquires, and I wrack my brain to recall it. It’s something 23, I remember the 23. Is it 1023? No that doesn’t sound right . Ben waves his hand in my face pulling me out of my thoughts, “Do you know the room number” he repeats. "Umm yeah, I think it's 1123," I respond, the number solidifying in my mind as we set off towards the bakery, eager to help Anya make Lana’s birthday a memorable one.
We hurriedly grabbed the last small cake from the bakery and made our way towards the cabin. As we walked down the unfamiliar hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The doors looked different, and the artwork on the walls didn't match what I remembered. Before I could voice my concerns, Ben confidently knocked on the door labeled 1123.
To our surprise, a man who appeared to be in his 50s or 60s, dressed in a robe, opened the door and looked at us quizzically as he took in the cake. "Can I help you?" he asked, his expression a mix of confusion and mild annoyance. I quickly stepped forward, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, sir. It seems we got the wrong cabin number," I apologized, shooting a glance at Ben, who wore a similar expression of chagrin. "Did you forget the cabin number?" Ben inquired, his voice tinged with disbelief.
As I racked my brain trying to remember, Patricia emerged from her room down the hall, her expression a mixture of amusement and confusion. "Um, hey, boys," she greeted us, her eyes darting between us and the cake. "What are you all up to?" she asked, her tone teasing.
Ben wasted no time in throwing me under the bus. "Einstein over here forgot which cabin Lana and Anya are in," he quipped, earning a chuckle from Patricia. "Oh my god, the girls have to hear this," she exclaimed, gesturing for us to follow her. I exchanged a sheepish look with Ben as we followed Patricia, hoping Lana and Anya would see the humor in our little mishap.
Patricia led us to the 12th floor, and I couldn't help but blurt out, "Oh, it was 1223!" before realizing I had spoken aloud. Ben shot me a sidelong glance, and Patricia and JC chuckled at my slip-up. As we stepped out of the elevator, I halted Patricia, needing to confirm something. "Did you know it was Lana's birthday?" I asked, feeling a twinge of concern. She laughed in response. "Not until Anya came in all frantic, thinking Lana was mad at her about it," she revealed. I winced, fearing the worst. "Is Lana angry at Anya?" I cautiously inquired. Patricia shook her head, dismissing my worries. "Oh God no! Lana was the one who encouraged Anya to go. She knew exactly what would happen," she reassured me, nudging me playfully.
We arrived at 1223, and everyone except Patricia stood before the door, hesitant. Patricia glanced at us, puzzled, until Ben spoke up. "Nope, I'm not making that mistake again” he says shaking his head “not until we're absolutely sure this is their cabin," he declared firmly. Patricia chuckled and shook her head in amusement, then took charge and knocked on the door. Lana opened it, and as soon as we recognized her, we all exclaimed "Surprise!" in unison.
"Oh my gosh, you boys really do know how to make a girl feel special!" Lana exclaimed, her eyes shining with delight. Anya poked her head out from behind Lana, her smile widening at the sight of us. "Hey, what took you so long? I said 20 minutes," she teased, waving for us all to come in. Patricia couldn't contain herself and blurted out that we were at 1123. I raise my hands in surrender, "Okay, see what had happened was..." I began, and the whole room burst into laughter.
As the room buzzes with conversations, my gaze keeps drifting back to Anya. Her infectious laughter and the way her eyes light up when she smiles draw me in. It's like her joy is contagious, spreading to everyone around her. With only two more nights left on this cruise, I find myself wanting to spend every moment with her, yet I also want to respect her time with Lana.
My thoughts are interrupted by JC's playful slap on my shoulder, breaking me out of my reverie. I glance out onto the balcony where Anya, Lana, and Sam are enjoying the view. God, she really is so beautiful I think to myself before returning to converse with JC and Ben.
I’m engrossed in conversation when suddenly, Anya appears beside me, flashing me a wide smile as she settles onto my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Hey there, handsome! Buy me a drink?" she quips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I chuckle at her boldness. "Sure thing, gorgeous. Let's go get you another drink," I reply, ready to indulge her request. But before we can move, Lana taps me on the shoulder, her laughter bubbling up.
"You know, there are drinks in the fridge. No need to actually buy her one," Lana teases, her grin infectious as she settles onto Sam's lap.
I give a grateful nod and guide Anya toward the fridge stocked with beer and various types of liquor. Her arm loops through mine, and she leans into me, planting a soft kiss on my cheek.
"You're kind of amazing, you know that?" she murmurs, her words warm and affectionate.
I chuckle softly, feeling a rush of fondness for her. "Well, we've already established that," I tease gently, "but I'm curious—what makes you think so?"
Her gaze meets mine, and for a moment, there's a depth in her eyes that takes my breath away. "It's the way you make me feel," she begins, her tone soft yet earnest. "You've been nothing but understanding and supportive, even when I've been a mess. You've shown me kindness and patience, and it's made me realize how lucky I am to have met you, even if it's just for this short time."
Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a surge of emotion welling up inside me. "Anya," I start, my voice barely above a whisper, "you have no idea –
"Dude! They have a karaoke bar downstairs!" JC interrupts, his enthusiastic proclamation reverberates through the room, punctuated by the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation. Lana's eyes light up with excitement as she seizes Anya's hand, her grin infectious. Anya, in turn, shoots me a mischievous glance before she's whisked away by Lana's eager pull.
I chuckle at the sudden energy that fills the room, the prospect of karaoke sparking everyone's enthusiasm. With a playful roll of my eyes, I let myself be pulled along by the momentum, following the group as we make our way downstairs, our laughter echoing through the corridors.
As we descend, the distant strains of music grow louder, mingling with the chatter of fellow cruisers. The anticipation builds with each step, fueled by the promise of lively performances and shared moments.
Arriving at the karaoke bar, we find ourselves greeted by the lively atmosphere, illuminated by the glow of neon lights and pulsing with the beat of the music. Anya's hand remains firmly clasped in mine, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the excitement of the crowd.
With drinks in hand and smiles on our faces, we dive headfirst into the festivities, ready to unleash our inner rockstars.
Lana, Patricia, and Anya huddle together, their heads bent over the book filled with a myriad of songs, their fingers tracing over the titles as they weigh their options. Meanwhile, JC, Sam, Ben, and I gather around another book, scanning through its pages in search of the perfect tune to belt out.
JC's eyes light up as he points emphatically at a particular song listed in the book. "This one!" he exclaims, his enthusiasm contagious as the rest of us exchange glances, a mixture of curiosity and amusement dancing in our eyes. With a collective shrug and a chorus of "Why not?" echoing through the group, we all nod in agreement, eager to embrace the spontaneity of the moment.
JC's excitement propels him out of our group as he rushes over to the DJ booth, eager to secure our song choice. Meanwhile, the girls deliberate and finally settle on their selection. Anya breaks away from the group and saunters over to where I'm standing, her smile infectious as she approaches.
"You picked out a song already?" she inquires, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Yup, you?" I reply, returning her smile. She nods eagerly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I can't wait to hear it," she teases, her playful tone eliciting a chuckle from me.
"I don't have a great voice, just so you know," I admit with a shrug, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious about singing in public. Anya waves off my concerns with a dismissive gesture. "Pssh, it's karaoke," she retorts, her confidence unwavering. "Hardly anyone has a singing voice while doing karaoke. It's all about having fun!" Her words ease my nerves, and I find myself smiling in agreement. With Anya by my side, I feel ready to embrace the lighthearted spirit of the evening.
Anya
As the effects of the alcohol start to take their toll, I find myself leaning against Jacob for support. There's a comforting solidity to his presence that grounds me amidst the swirling chaos of the karaoke bar. With a gentle touch, he guides me to a nearby chair, ensuring that I'm seated safely before he rejoins the rest of the guys on stage.
Before he leaves, Jacob leans in and plants a soft kiss on my lips, sending a flutter of warmth through me. It's a simple gesture, but it leaves me feeling giddy and lightheaded, my heart racing inexplicably. I try to make sense of my reaction as I watch him take his place among the others, but the alcohol clouds my thoughts, leaving me in a state of blissful confusion. Anya, you barely know him! My inner voice warns, but there's this undeniable feeling of security whenever he's around. It's only been three days! My inner voice persists. I shake my head, dismissing the doubts and choosing to stay in the moment. I'm here to enjoy myself, and I won't let my uncertainties spoil the fun.
The guys take their place on stage, and as the music starts, Jacob shoots me a wink. I can feel my cheeks flush as I return his smile. Suddenly, the familiar piano notes of "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton fill the room, and Lana, Patricia, and I exchange excited glances. "Oh my god! Are they really about to sing that?" Lana exclaims. And indeed, the boys start bouncing back and forth in unison, belting out the lyrics. "Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass, and I'm homebound..." We can't help but burst into laughter as we pull out our phones to record the performance. "There's no way I'm missing this!" I exclaim, joining in the singing, along with Lana and Patricia. The whole crowd cheers as the guys finish the song, and their faces are lit up with joy and pride.
They all walk up to us, and JC's face is beaming above the rest. "Let me guess, you picked the song," Patricia says to JC, who nods excitedly. Jacob walks over, and I immediately run to hug him. "Oh my gosh, you guys were great! You really had the crowd going!" I exclaim. "I don't know if we can top that performance," I add. "Oh, you bet your sorry ass we can!" Lana challenges. We leave the guys and head for the stage, nerves radiating from me as I try to calm them down. Then, as the music of "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift starts, the crowd begins to go wild again. They start singing and dancing, and even the guys are getting into it. We finish the song, and the crowd once again erupts into cheers.
As we step off the stage, the guys are all shimmying their chests, belting out “Shake, shake, shake it off.” We can't help but burst into laughter. I turn to Lana, "Honestly, I'm glad I'm drunk because I wouldn't have done that sober." She nods enthusiastically, "Oh my god, me too!" Patricia shouts over the commotion, “Let’s go bar hopping for Lana’s birthday!” We all cheer like crazy, “I can’t join you because my parents will kill me, but you guys have fun, and happy birthday Lana,” Ben says, giving each of us a hug before heading back to his cabin. After bidding Ben farewell, JC chimes in, “Wait, how do we bar hop on a cruise?” We exchange confused glances, then burst into laughter as we head towards the nearest bar.