Don't Forget Me

Chapter Eleven.

I don't even know why I'm here.

We never actually said we'd meet again. No plan, no time, no "see you tomorrow." Just a vibe. One of those unspoken things where it felt obvious we would. Still, as I sit on this lounger with the ocean stretching out in front of me and the sun slowly moving across the sky, I'm starting to think I might've made it up in my head.

It's been two hours. Two. I finished my book—every last page—before he ever showed. And now I'm just sitting here, staring at nothing, with that annoying mix of hope and irritation crawling under my skin.

But then I hear his voice.

"Hey."

I look up, and there he is. Hoodie on, hands stuffed into his pockets, looking like he's just rolled out of bed. But his eyes are clearer than earlier. And even though something still feels a little off, he's... lighter. A little less weighed down.

"You showed up," I say.

He shrugs. "Didn't say I wouldn't."

"You also didn't say you would."

He walks closer, stopping just in front of me. "Guess I figured you'd be here."

I roll my eyes, but I can't stop the small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "You always this confident?"

"Only when I'm right."

I close my book and set it down on the table beside me. "Where've you been?"

Colt's eyes flick away for a second, like he's deciding how much to say. "Come with me," he says instead.

"Where?"

He grins, just a little. "You'll see."

"Every time you say that, I end up wet or breaking some rule."

He raises an eyebrow. "And yet, you still follow me."

I sigh, dramatic as ever, and get up. "Let's get this over with, then."

He leads me through a few quieter hallways of the ship, holding my hand like he's done it a hundred times before. I don't ask questions. Something tells me this means more to him than he's letting on.

Eventually, we reach a small door marked "Staff Only." Colt opens it like he's done it before and gestures for me to go through first.

What's waiting on the other side makes me stop.

There's a little corner of the upper deck completely roped off, hidden from the main walkways. A picnic blanket is laid out on the ground with snacks, drinks, and a lantern already lit, casting a soft glow. The ocean view is insane—wide open, sun dropping lower by the second.

"You did this?" I ask.

Colt shrugs again, but his smile is different this time. Proud. "I had help."

I turn to him. "From who?"

"Some of the crew. Took a bit of convincing, though."

"What'd you say to convince them?"

He runs a hand through his hair, a little sheepish. "Told them I was going to propose."

I blink. "You what?"

"They weren't taking me seriously! I panicked!"

I laugh. Loud. "You're unbelievable."

"They believed it," he says with a grin. "One of them almost cried. Another gave me a high-five."

I shake my head, still laughing. "So what happens when I don't have a ring?"

"Don't worry. I told them I'm waiting for the right moment."

I roll my eyes as I sit down on the blanket. "You're lucky this is cute."

He sits down beside me, close enough that our knees touch. "I know."

For a while, we don't talk. We just sit there, sipping whatever's in the glasses, watching the sky go orange and pink. It's quiet. Comfortable.

But I can't stop thinking about what happened earlier. The way he avoided talking about his parents. How he didn't even try to find them all day.

"You never really talk about them," I say finally.

Colt doesn't respond. He just stares out at the water, fingers tightening slightly around his glass.

"You're always with me," I add, softer now. "And I know you mentioned they were drinking last night, but... I don't know. You never even say their names."

Still nothing. His jaw tightens, but he doesn't look at me.

I sigh and pull back a little. "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked. You don't have to tell me anything. That was probably stepping over a line."

He's quiet for a few more seconds. Then, finally, he speaks.

"No, it's okay," he says. "I just don't talk about it much."

I glance at him again, surprised. He's looking at the ocean, but his voice is steady. Sad, but steady.

"My parents don't get along. This cruise was supposed to fix things—some big dramatic save-the-marriage vacation. But they've been like this for years. My dad drinks too much. Always has. That's the root of it all. My mom can't stand it, but he won't stop. So they fight. Constantly."

I stay quiet, letting him talk.

"The only reason I came on this cruise was to make sure they didn't kill each other. Last night, they got into it again. I tried to step in, and somehow it turned into them yelling at me instead. Over something dumb."

My chest tightens. "That's why you were off today?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah. I just didn't want to be around them. I didn't go looking for them this morning—I came out here instead. Spent the whole time setting this up. I just wanted to be with you."

I blink, trying not to let the emotion show too much on my face.

"You make everything quieter," he says. "Easier to breathe."

I take his hand gently. "I'm sorry I asked."

He shakes his head. "Don't be. I'd answer anything you ask me. As honestly as I can."

I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back.

"I like you," he says.

I smile. "Where'd all the reallys go?"

He looks at me, something soft in his eyes. "There's not enough reallys in the universe to explain how much I like you."

And just like that, I feel it hit me.

I love him.

Ten days. It's insane. I know that. But I also know how I feel, and I've never felt anything like this before. It's not some dramatic teenage fantasy. It's quiet, steady, deep. Real.

"I like you too," I whisper. "A lot."

He leans in, and I don't stop him.

The kiss is slow. Gentle. Like a promise.

And I already know I'm going to break my own rule and fall for him completely.

Because I already have.