Lux thought she knew exactly how this cruise would go: two weeks of awkward family dinners, no cell service, and way too much time to overthink the silence from the boy who stopped choosing her. She planned to keep her head down, her heart guarded...
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I wasn't ready to talk about it. Not yet. So when Colt didn't bring up what he'd said yesterday, I followed his lead. It was better this way-just spending the morning tangled up together in my room, like nothing outside of it existed. Every time I looked at him, I felt the tight twist of time running out. But I kept pushing it back, holding the moment like I could slow it down just by wanting it enough.
He kissed the top of my head lazily, his fingers brushing against my bare back under the blanket. "You know the boat's throwing a party tonight?"
"For the Fourth of July?" I tilted my head to glance at him. "Even though there's no fireworks?"
"No fireworks," he confirmed. "But plenty of sweaty people getting drunk and kids terrorizing each other. Could be fun."
I laughed, and he smiled like it was the sound he'd been waiting for. I could've said no-stayed here, in our little escape-but I knew I'd regret it if I didn't. I needed more memories with Colt. Things I could keep for myself after I left.
"Let's go," I said softly.
The rest of the day blurred in and out of comfortable silences and easy laughter. But it shattered the second Lacey barged in without knocking.
"Shit," I hissed, yanking the blanket up over us, even though we were both mostly clothed now. Colt barely had time to duck his head down behind my shoulder.
Lacey blinked once, then smirked. "Didn't mean to interrupt. You're lucky it's me and not Mom or Dad."
"Out," I said, not moving from my spot. I could feel Colt silently laughing behind me.
Lacey leaned against the doorframe. "Wow. You really weren't kidding about hiding him from me."
Colt let out a stifled laugh, and I elbowed him through the blanket. "What do you want, Lacey?"
"I was sent to tell you to start packing up your crap so you're not freaking out last minute." She glanced around. "You might want to get on that."
When she finally left-and without catching a glimpse of Colt-I let out a breath of relief. Colt sat up, running a hand through his hair.
"I should go too," he said. "Before I forget half my stuff and end up going home without shoes or something."
I didn't want him to go. Not yet. But I nodded anyway. "Yeah. Okay."
After he left, I forced myself to pack, but I barely made it through the first drawer before my mind started spiraling. Was I really going to let him go and not even try to stay in touch? Would it hurt more if we tried and it didn't work out, or if I just ended it clean?
I didn't have an answer.
That night, I met Colt on the top deck. The party was already chaos. People were drunk and sweaty, some were making out in public like they were in the final round of a kissing contest, and the piss pool and hot tub were overflowing with way too many people. Screaming kids with water guns were squirting each other-and random strangers-with piss pool water.
