MY CRUISE-FATED LOVE

Eloise stood at the edge of the bustling cruise ship deck. Her back leaning against the cool railing as the ocean’s breeze whipped deep through her hair. The sensational feeling got her eyes closed, allowing the fresh salt air to fill her lungs to the brim. Her lips were wearing a faint smile. This trip was something she had been dreaming about for years. She had always imagined what it would be like to spend the New Year lavishly on a ship cruise through the Caribbean. After several months of planning, working extra hours, scraping her savings together, she finally got to start the year in her desired paradise. Just this morning, she had convinced herself that everything was going to be perfect. She could feel it deep in her bones. The trip would even bring her and Ethan closer, she thought. There had been some turbulence in their relationship for a few months, and it felt like they had been drifting apart, but he had surprised her by booking the cabin next to hers, promising a new start. “I should prepare” her glance fell on her watch as she smiled sheepishly. She was eager to kick things off. He was supposed to meet her for lunch at noon. Well, noon had come faster than she had expected, but he was nowhere to be seen. That was not a problem. She wasn’t done with her preparations either. With that thought, she dashed into her room and was done in twenty minutes. Now it was noon. With a frown, she took her phone out of her bag and scrolled for his number. She was about to dial it when a faint, familiar laugh drifted over the noise of the crowd. She froze. Her ears turned in like an antenna. All of her nerves were on the edge. Could it be what she was thinking? Quickly, she stepped away from the railings, weaving through the sun-kissed couples and families. Her heart thudded with every step she took as she approached the source of the laughter. She got to a corner and took a step round it. There she met the shock of her life. Her breath caught in her throat as she sighted Ethan in the corner of the open-air bar. He wasn’t alone. A woman was beside him. Her manicured hand was resting casually on his thigh and he didn’t bother to remove it. She threw her head back in laughter, showing her long, dark hair that cascaded like waves over her bare shoulders. Eloise’s vision blurred at the edges as Ethan reached out and tucked the stray strand of hair behind the strange woman’s ear. His gaze was soft and intimate. “What in the world….?” Her stomach dropped. They looked like a couple. So relaxed and familiar as they basked in each other’s presence. Eloise’s mind spun as she tried to process the betrayal in front of her. With a shaky step back, her heel caught on the wooden deck. This caused her to stumble, her hand gripped a nearby bar stool to keep herself steady and the shattering noise caught Ethan’s attention. “Eloise?” His eyes met hers, and they widened with shock, touched up with a flicker of guilt. “Ethan….” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was deafening in the silence of her mind. Immediately, he rushed up and didn’t forget to run a hand through his hair. In all of this, he didn’t lose his practiced calmness as he approached her. “Eloise.. I didn’t think you’d be here.” The words tumbled out of his mouth like he was just stating the most benign of facts. They were not remorseful and emotionless. She blinked as her mouth opened and closed with a thousand emotions churning inside her. Anger, betrayal, humiliation and the greatest one, all ache of disappointment. The more the reality of his deception settled in, these emotions clogged her chest like a huge iron ball. This time, the woman he was with had come closer and stood by his side. He cleared his throat and cast a glance at her as she watched Eloise with a faint smirk. The situation was entertaining for her, and she enjoyed every bit of it. “I was going to talk to you about this. I didn’t mean for you to find out like that.” His voice shattered her heart as she tried standing to her feet after successfully preventing herself from falling totally to the ground. “Oh! So there was a better way for me to find out you were cheating?” This time, her voice rose and drew the attention of nearby guests. The smirk on the other woman’s face faded as she came in contact with Eloise’s fierce glare. He shifted uncomfortably and put a hand out as if he wanted to calm her. “Eloise, please. Let’s keep our voices down. We don’t need to make a scene, do we?” “No need to make a scene?” she repeated. A surge of anger she hadn’t known she was capable of took over her that moment. “Ethan! I trusted you! I thought we were here to work things out? Was I the only one thinking that? Oh wait! I don’t need to ask that, it’s evident now that it was just my thought. My own f*****g thought!” He opened his mouth to respond, but she wasn’t ready to listen. She couldn’t stand to hear whatever excuse he was about to offer. Immediately, she spun on her heel and took her leave. She kept ignoring his calls, fled down the deck, her face hot with humiliation. She didn’t stop until she reached the far end of the ship. An empty bar was near the isolated area where the only sound was the distant murmur of waves against the hull. Pulling a stool out for herself, she sat down with her body slumping in exhaustion. The weight of the betrayal crashed over her like a tidal wave. “Had a rough day?” The strange voice was low, smooth, and tinged with an accent she couldn’t quite place. Her neck turned, and she looked up for a moment. Her sadness and anger evaporated that instant, they were replaced by a wave of surprise. The man in front of her was striking. His appearance was enough to wash away all her negative emotions. His dark hair was curled around his ears and his eyes held both warmth and coldness. The way he was gazing at her felt like he knew too much about her. There was something about his eyes that she couldn’t explain. Wiping a tear from her cheek before it could betray her further, she muttered, “Something like that.” A smile spread across his face as if he knew. It was as if he could see straight through her façade. She was trying her best to hold her emotions together, but she wasn’t sure how long that would last. “You look like you could use a drink.” He didn’t wait for her to respond before he signaled the bartender who rushed to take his order. Within minutes, he was busy pouring a glass of something amber and rich. “Thanks, but I don’t really….” Her voice trailed off as he slid the drink towards her with a slight, reassuring nod. The kindness in his expression disarmed her, and before she could realize it, she found herself taking a sip. The alcohol greeted her warmly and settled her frayed nerves. It hit the right spot and dulled the sharp edge of her pain. Liam is the name” he said, and extended his hand. The firmness of his grip as she took it got her surprised, but she only played along with a soft smile. “Eloise.” “Nice to meet you, Eloise.” He finally let go of her hand and leaned back to study her with a curious intensity. “Judging by the look on your face, I’d guess that you just got your heart broken” he was blunt. She managed a hollow laugh. He had caught her off-guard and there was no reason to lie about it. “Is it that obvious?” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been there myself.” That moment, a shadow passed over his eyes. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared. A hint of shared pain was in his tone and that made her feel less alone. “He…. He’s here with someone else,” her voice was barely a whisper. She choked. “And I feel like such an i***t for not seeing it sooner.” His jaw tightened as his eyes darkened. “Sounds like he’s a fool. However, you don’t strike me as the type to wallow.” His response was simple. Her eyebrows were raised, a glimmer of defiance sparking in her chest as her neck tilted a bit. “What’s that supposed to mean?” His gaze was steady even with the change in her expression. It was unflinching. “It means you are stronger than this. And maybe it’s time you showed him what he’s losing.” Her heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. The notion he had just raised sent a thrill through her. It was something she hadn’t felt in ages. It was at that moment she knew that she had stayed too long in her shell. “What are you saying?” His smile was accompanied by a glint in his eyes. “I’m saying that, if you want, I could help you make him jealous. Show him exactly what he threw away.” Her mind began to race at that moment. The idea was wild and impulsive. It had been so long had she ever considered something that risky. Her life had been so busy that she didn’t have time for such games. However, the thought of seeing Ethan squirm and regretting his choices, filled her with a strange, exhilarating sense of power. “What’s in it for you?” she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice. He shrugged. His expression was unreadable. “Let’s just say I’m here for my own reasons. Enough to benefit from a little distraction” She hesitated. The rational part of her mind kept screaming the warning signal, but her anger and pain were taking the best part of her. She didn’t want to be predictable anymore or play it safe. For once, she wanted to step into the unknown. “All right,” she said. Her voice firmed as she confirmed once again, “Let’s do it.” His smile widened, his eyes glinting with approval. “Perfect. Then let’s start by making an entrance they won’t forget.” He held out his arm, and with a shaky breath, she took it. The thrilling as he led her across the deck made her heart pump loudly into her ears. He led her toward the bar where she knew Ethan would still be and, this time, she was ready. As they neared the bar, her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and nerves twisting in her stomach. That moment, he leaned in and whispered something only she could her. She caught a glimpse of a familiar face watching them from the shadow, and it made her blood run cold. “Let’s not do this,” she whispered, removed her hand and left for her suite.