His for the Holidays

CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY Sitting up, it feels as though the world is spinning, my head pounding in time with my heart. Disoriented, I blink at the bright cabin lights, realizing I’m in bed, and panic claws up my chest as I scramble upright, the sheets tangling around my legs. "Oh no," Whispering in a raspy voice, I wonder what the hell happened, how I fell asleep, and I grab my phone from the nightstand with frenzied fingers. The screen lights up and I realize my worst nightmare: it's five minutes before midnight, and I missed the Christmas Eve party. I don't even bother to put on my sandals as I fumble out of bed, a wave of anxiety sweeping over me. The cool floor sends shivers up my spine, but I can’t afford to care. However, a new wave of pain forces me to as it pulses through my head, stopping me cold. “Dammit!” Wincing, I return to my suitcase, fumbling for a bottle of painkillers. Scurrying for the half-empty water bottle I left on the little table, I pop a couple into my mouth. I cough as I swallow, spilling some of the water on myself as the ship wobbles beneath me. Praying the medication kicks in fast, I drop the empty bottle and head for the door, a twinge of guilt piercing my heart as I emerge into the hallway, picturing my man all alone, surrounded by strangers. How did I even pass out? I ask myself as I run to the top deck, the soft hum of the ship filling the empty corridor. I barely drank tonight. Maybe a glass of champagne, if that, and I shouldn't have gotten that drunk. The question nags at me, leaving me with an odd, unsettling feeling. But I push it aside, telling myself that I have wanted to take this trip since forever and that perhaps it was the excitement of being here at last. The Christmas Eve party was the one event Wade was looking forward to, and now I missed it. My stomach twists at the thought, and my urgency grows as I climb the stairs, almost slipping due to the unsteady ship. There’s a bit of wind, and I pray it won’t turn into a storm or something, and ruin everything. The upper deck comes into view, lit up with strands of sparkling lights, and I can hear faint music from the Christmas party, laughter mingling with the sea breeze. Breathing hard, I sprint towards the party, the festive lights blurring as I stumble inside. I am greeted by holiday cheer, laughter, and music, but I hardly notice any of it as my eyes dart around frantically, searching for Wade. Where is he? “Excuse me!” I push through the crowd. “Sorry!” But he is nowhere to be found, and the room is enormous and crowded. Just then, the clock strikes midnight. “Great," I mumble to myself as cheers erupt, echoing around me before the crowd bursts into a chorus of “Merry Christmas!” I’m too late. I still have to find my man though, so after a moment of gathering myself, I push through the crowd once more. However, I come to an abrupt halt as applause erupts again, this time louder, prompting me to turn toward the source, curious as to what everyone is looking at. People point upward, eyes bright with excitement, and I follow their gaze to one of the towering Christmas trees on the upper level. But everything around me fades as I take in what I am seeing. My fiancé is on one knee with the woman's hand clasped in his, and my heart freezes. Time comes to a halt, and the world shifts beneath me as I stand there paralyzed, watching him pull a small velvet box from his pocket. The room goes dead silent, the air thick with anticipation, until the woman standing before my fiance breaks the silence with a bright, excited squeal. "Yes! Yes, Wade Dagson I will marry you!” and throws her arms around his neck. My vision blurs and a nauseating wave of disorientation washes over me as I look down at my engagement ring, the diamond that was supposed to mean forever, glittering like a cruel joke on my finger. What the hell is this? My mind refuses to make sense of it. Where am I? My body grows cold as my dream cruise, the perfect holiday I've dreamed of half my life crumbles in front of my eyes, and denial surges through me, tangled with confusion and disbelief. No! This can’t be real. I stumble backward, my legs weak, while the crowd erupts into cheers once more as Wade and his new fiancée, his second fiancée, kiss under a sprig of mistletoe, everyone celebrating around them. I start hyperventilating, suffocating as if someone has sucked all the air out of the room, and my hand moves on its own, pinching the sensitive skin on my arm so hard that I nearly yelp. Wake up! I plead, my thoughts racing, desperate for this to be some cruel nightmare or joke. But everything is too intense, too real: the crushing pressure on my chest, the sting of my nails digging into my skin, the cold floor beneath my bare feet. Someone calls out to me, their lips forming the words, “Miss, are you okay?” but I can’t hear them. The world has gone silent, and my ears are ringing as if submerged underwater. I have to get out of here. My body is on autopilot, my limbs clumsy as I scramble for the exit. I run blindly down the hall, tears blurring my vision, hot and endless, but I don’t stop nor slow down. I can’t, and my body feels disconnected. I reach my cabin and the door feels like a heavy barrier as I fling it open, collapsing before I even make it to the bed. My hands clutch my stomach as if attempting to hold the pieces of myself together as sobs rip through my chest. “How could this be happening?” the question runs on a loop in my head, relentless, each repetition a dagger twisting deeper. But then, amidst the grief, a small, defiant voice asks, "What are you doing?" My sobs still for a second, the question cutting through the haze. There has to be an explanation. This is too crazy, too impossible. Wiping my tear-streaked face, a shiver of desperate hope creeps in. Maybe it’s all some horrible misunderstanding. Wade and I have been to hell and back, and he would never do me like that. Pushing myself up, my legs are weak as I stumble toward the door. But I barely make it a few steps when the door swings open, slamming against the wall with a sharp thud. I stumble back, my heart leaping into my throat as I come face to face with the man who's possibly flipped my world upside down. His face is grim, almost resigned, as he stands in the doorway. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, time seems to stop before I scramble to find my voice. But he doesn't wait and cuts me off, his words extinguishing the fire that had returned to my eyes. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this.” His voice is flat, almost devoid of emotion, and the words pierce me like ice. ................................................................. ⚠️ Before you start with the story, please be aware of a few things: • Unlike my other books, this won't be very dark. But it is still a romantic suspense. It will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, so if you know your heart can't take it, be warned. .................................................................