Heaven.

FORTY-FIVE

Tomorrow morning we're off this boat. Back to regular beds, regular food, regular responsibilities... disgusting. Nobody said it out loud, but you could feel it, that quiet pressure to make the last full day count.

We took over a cluster of lounge chairs on the mid deck like we owned the place. Towels everywhere, empty cups, half-eaten snacks, somebody's flip-flops kicked under a chair. The ocean stretched out forever, sun bright but not unbearable, breeze just right. It was wild how comfortable I felt with them already. We literally just met days ago, but cruise friendships move fast like summer camp rules. 

Rico and Jay were arguing again, no shocker there. "I'm telling you I beat you. Score was 11–9," Rico insisted, leaning forward like this was court testimony. "YOU CAN'T COUNT," Jay shot back. "You gave yourself phantom points." Dee had her sunglasses on but you could tell she was wide awake for the mess. 

"Run it back then." Tia didn't even look up from her phone. "Loser buys ice cream." Hope they know we all getting some too, not just one of us. "Bet," they both said immediately.

Malik was sprawled in the chair next to mine, one arm hooked behind his head, looking entirely too relaxed for somebody who barely slept last night. 

"You ain't gon defend me?" Rico asked him. Malik didn't even open his eyes. "I wasn't watching. I was minding my business." He shrugged. "Fake," Jay muttered. I laughed, shaking my head. "Y'all been arguing about this for two days." Tia remind them. "Because I'm RIGHT," Rico snapped.

Malik turned his head toward me. "You staying quiet on purpose." We both started chuckling "Correct," I smiled. "I enjoy peace." I really do these boys stressful. Over a lil ass basketball game. "Cap," Dee said instantly. "Nobody on this boat enjoys peace."

Before I could respond, heels clicked against the deck behind us. And suddenly Dee went still. Tia slowly lowered her phone. Jay and Rico both looked past me at the same time. Oh. I turned. It was the girl from earlier in the week, the one I'd seen Malik talking to by the railing. Same glossy hair, same flirty energy, same very intentional walk.

She stopped directly in front of Malik. "Well there you are," she said, voice all soft and sing-songy. Malik sat up a little, surprised. "Oh, hey." Not awkward... but not enthusiastic either. She tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling down at him. "I've been looking for you." Nobody spoke. Not one person.

The group was suddenly quiet in that loud way, like everybody pretending not to listen while absolutely listening. "I can't believe tomorrow's the last day," she continued, shifting her weight. "I'm gonna miss you." There it was.

Dee's sunglasses tilted down just enough to expose her eyes. Jay's mouth twitched like he was fighting a grin. Rico looked at Malik like bro what you got going on. Tia straight up stopped pretending and watched openly. Malik rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah... cruise went by fast. Neutral. Safe. No extra sauce.

She laughed a little too hard. "Remember the night on the upper deck? That was fun." Rico coughed into his fist. Loudly.

Jay suddenly became very interested in the horizon. I blinked slowly, mentally eating popcorn. "Oh! I didn't even introduce myself," she said, finally acknowledging the rest of us. "I'm Kayla. Polite nods all around.

Dee gave a tight little smile. "Hi." She said but nobody offered their names back. Kayla turned back to Malik like we were background characters. "I just wanted to say bye... in case I don't see you tomorrow." She said trying to get more words out of him.

"Yeah, uh... it was cool meeting you," he said instead. COOL MEETING YOU??? Oh he would've had me fucked up if I was her. Jay bit his lip so hard his whole face changed color. Tia looked like she might pass out trying not to laugh. Dee leaned forward, elbows on knees, analyzing like a detective.

Kayla's smile flickered but just for a second because she recovered fast. "Well... maybe I'll see you tonight," she said lightly. "Maybe," he nodded. Not a promise. Not a plan. Just... maybe. Fuck that shit. She lingered one more second, clearly waiting for something else, then waved. "Bye guys." I gave a soft smile and then she walked off. It was just pure silence after that.

Then Rico leaned forward slowly. "Brother..." Jay lost it first, doubling over. "NAHHHHH." Tia buried her face in a towel, shoulders shaking. Dee pushed her sunglasses back up. "Oh that was messy." Malik frowned. "What?"

"You got situations," Rico said, shaking his head like a disappointed coach. "It ain't even like that." MMMMMCHTTTTT. "Sure," Jay wheezed. I just sat there smiling to myself. Not pressed. Not confused. If anything, mildly entertained. Malik glanced at me like he was checking for a reaction.

I raised an eyebrow. "What you looking at me for?" He opened his mouth... then closed it. "Nothing." Like you cool? "Exactly," I said, leaning back in my chair. Dee pointed between us. "Mhm." Tia popped up from the towel. "I'm just saying." I start snickering.

"Nobody asked you," Malik shot back. But he was smiling now. Slightly. Like he couldn't help it. And just like that, the tension dissolved back into noise, jokes, somebody arguing again about ice cream.

-

Later that evening, I slipped away to find my actual people. A completely different world from the chaos I'd just left.

Heather was near the quieter side of the deck with Jonathan, bags at their feet, snacks spread out like a mini picnic. Ava and Alexis were running in uneven circles, hyped off juice and zero responsibilities.

"SISSYYYYY," Ava shrieked the second she saw me. Both twins immediately charged. Alexis ran with pure confidence and zero coordination, which meant Jonathan had to shadow her like security detail. Ava made it to me first and latched onto my legs like a koala.

"You came back," Heather smiled. "Of course," I said, scooping Ava up while Alexis demanded equal treatment with grabby hands. "Hi babies." I said to them both. Now I'm holding two warm, wiggly girls and instantly regretting not doing arm day. Jonathan laughed. "Careful, they don't come with an off switch."

Alexis stole my sunglasses right off my face and tried to wear them upside down. Ava played with my necklace like it was treasure. I ended up taking a seat with them in the lounge chair. We sat together as the sky turned orange, ocean glowing, twins slowly winding down from chaos mode to sleepy cuddles. Ava's head dropped onto my shoulder. Alexis leaned against my arm pushing up the glasses.

Completely different energy from earlier. Quiet. Safe. Familiar. Heather nudged my knee. "Glad you got to have fun too." Although Heather is my twin, we live two separate lives for real. She made her cruise friends and was with them her whole trip and vice versa. "Yeah," I said softly. "Me too." Jonathan looked out at the water. "Last sunset out here." Nobody rushed to speak after that.

Just watched the sun sink lower, twins getting heavier in my arms, the ship humming under us. Tomorrow morning... back home. One last night at sea. W vacation.