Fae-ted To The Alpha

Chapter 2- The Cruise

Daisy’s Pov

“Oh my God, this is awesome,” I sing-song, adjusting my blue shades over my nose bridge, feeling the salt air in my hair, that I left mostly loose because I wanted to feel the cool hair blowing through the thickness of it. The warmth of the Santa Barbara sun on my skin as I rubbed a bit of sunscreen on, and the hum of the ship’s engines beneath my feet. It was the kind of feeling that made everything else fade away- a perfect afternoon in the Pacific.

My parents would love this cruise. Jordan, my boyfriend, had gotten this as a nice surprise for us and I figured it would be a nice time to invite him over for Thanksgiving, two weeks away, which wasn’t something we celebrated much but Jordan did and my parents wanted to make him and his family feel welcomed by us since we had been dating for quite some time. Hmm, maybe I could book them this as a Christmas gift. No parents Daisy, I chide myself. I was officially on vacation, and this cruise was the cherry on top of the last few weeks that had changed my life.

Just a few short months ago, I was interning at SpaceX in Hawthorne, California while attending university. Now, I was a full-fledged software developer, and the invitation to this cruise felt like the kind of reward you only dreamed about- luxurious, exclusive, and a celebration of everything I had worked so hard for. Not that I didn't come from a wealthy home but this was on another level of wealth.

The ship was massive, a floating city of stainless steel and glass, gleaming under the California sun. It housed hundreds of other guests, all gathered to enjoy the warm waters and the adventure of a week-long journey across the coast. And, as a bonus, I was lucky enough to be here with Jordan. He’d been my boyfriend for the past two glorious years, and though there were moments I had doubts, today was supposed to be about celebrating us.

Standing on the edge of the deck, I looked over at him now, his dark hair tousled by the wind, which gave him an almost boyish look. A huge difference from how he always had it styled, slicked backward, and never a strand out of place. He was handsome- too handsome, honestly. With his perfectly chiseled jawline, his athletic build, and that easy smile, it was hard not to get swept up in the way he carried himself. Sometimes, though, I wondered if his charm was just a front because he had that air of snobbishness about him. Even before he told me he was rich, I knew it.

Crossing the deck toward him, and slipping my sunglasses off my face, I called, placing the tube of my lotion in my dress pocket. “Hey, you," a teasing lilt in my voice.

Jordan turned, that easy smile lighting up his face. Or one that was made to seem so with practice. “Hey, gorgeous. You enjoying the cruise?”

Smiling, I stepped closer to him. “Yeah, it’s beautiful. How about you?” I had been with Pat, my best friend since the first semester of college, enjoying the scenery of the vast ocean as we left Santa Babara behind and nothing more as the waves crashed against the side of the crowded boat. She left to ‘check the scenery’ at the massive pool and by scenery, she meant men.

“Couldn’t ask for a better vacation,” he said, his hand slipping around my waist, pulling me against him and causing my heart to flutter. It was easy to get lost in his warmth, in his scent- like sandalwood and something musky, something uniquely him.

We stood there for a moment, just taking in the view of the shimmering water stretching as far as the eye could see, the distant horizon blurred with the orange haze of the setting sun. It felt like we were on top of the world. Yeah, I had seen it minutes before with Patricia but it was different when it was him, even if it was the same.

Patricia says only a romantic talk the way I did. A poet of sorts.

“I’m so proud of you,” he said softly, his voice just above a whisper. “You’ve come so far, Daisy. You deserve this.”

A bit embarrassed by his praise, I chuckled softly. “Thanks, I’m still wrapping my head around it all. I mean, I’m working for the company that’s literally going to take us to Mars.”

He laughed, kissing the top of my head. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? SpaceX is the future. You’re part of that future now.”

I nodded, my chest swelling with pride. It was everything I had dreamed of, and Jordan was right, I was living my dream. But there was a nagging feeling deep down, something I couldn’t shake. Maybe it was the way he’d been acting the past few weeks- distant, distracted. Or maybe it was just me overthinking, as usual.

That’s why this cruise was so special for us to make up for the times we missed spending together, according to Jordan.

“Hey, do you think we should spend the holidays with my parents this year or yours?” I said casually since we both knew each other’s parents but we had not spent any holidays together with them. “Maybe we can split it?” I added the last part to release some of the pressure behind it because Patricia and I agreed that men often would feel that way when it came to serious situations like that.

“You know what? I think I’m going to go grab a drink,” Jordan said, breaking me out of my Christmas plans for us. “You want anything?”

I blinked, surprised by his sudden change of subject. “Uh, yeah, I’ll have a glass of rosé.” He nodded and walked off toward the bar. I stood there for a moment, staring at the clay color casual shirt and shorts with classy shoes clad feet of his retreating figure, wondering if I was being paranoid.

The ship creaked as I leaned against the rail, watching as waves splashed against the hull. Everything was perfect, except that gnawing feeling in my gut that wouldn’t go away.

To distract myself, I replied to my parents' messages about a documentary they were watching with my older brother, Dale. Dale was my role model growing up, but he got into video game designing, and well, me into my job.

About an hour later, I found myself at one of the ship’s restaurants, a trendy outdoor café overlooking the ocean. I was sipping my drink, trying to focus on the ocean’s beauty, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Jordan and why he vanished.

The place was crowded, filled with loud music but not overly, and I felt myself starting to unwind, letting the stress of the past few weeks melt away. The soft clinking of glasses and laughter filled the air, blending with the rhythmic sound of the waves.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him. Jordan.

But he wasn’t alone.

Uncomfortable I shifted, looking away then I squinted, shading my eyes from the sun with my right hand, unsure if what I was seeing was real, but as I watched him leaning against the bar with a blonde woman, the way they were standing- too close, intimate, almost like they were in their own little world.

I felt my stomach churn. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away as the woman giggled, brushing her hand against his arm in a way that only people who were way too comfortable with each other did. Jordan’s hand was on her lower back, his fingers curling against her waist.

No, I must be reading things wrongly, I said to myself, even though I knew the truth was slapping me in the face.

Then the blood began to drain from my face... my veins. I felt like someone had punched me in the chest. My heart beat a little faster, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I was frozen, watching them interact like they were the only two people in the world. And then... he leaned in and kissed her cheek and she giggled. But not just any giggle, but the one you did when you were giddy with happiness. A lovers sound.

But no, I denied what my eyes were seeing still.

And then- he kissed her on her mouth.

My stomach dropped. I couldn’t believe it. My mind scrambled to make sense of what I was seeing, blinking two miles a minute. I felt the heat rising in my face, my hands shaking as I slowly set my glass down on the table. He was kissing her like he’d kissed me a thousand times before. The girl’s hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.

His hands, one was hidden from me- no doubt on her cheek, and the hand which was in my view was grabbing the side of her thigh, his fingers raking against her bare flesh, her dress similar to mine. Mid-thigh, sundress. While mine was white, hers was blue with a floral pattern.

I stood up too quickly, knocking over my chair. The sound was sharp in the still air, drawing the attention of a few people around us. Including Jordan, whose head snapped around at the sound, and his eyes locked onto mine, wide, and panicked.

“Daisy…” I could not hear him over the rush of blood in my ears, but I read his lips. And I could only stare at him as he turned, his expression one of guilt while the girl he had been kissing stumbled back, almost falling, as he released her in his shock. As if he had held a hot pot. “Baby- I promise you-”

The sting of betrayal, raw and painful, slowly surfaces and then burns. The sight of him with her- whoever she was- so casual, so easy, while on vacation with me, was like a slap to my face. And here, I was thinking maybe he was nervous because he wanted to ask me to marry him. After all, Pat said she had seen him in a jewelry shop. He had not bought any jewelry that I knew of and had it been his parents' birthday or anything similar he would have said so to me. It had not been our anniversary nor any occasion on my part as well... so I let my mind run wild a bit.

Without saying anything, I turned on my heel and walked away, the sound of his voice calling after me barely reaching my ears.

How foolish of me. He had been cheating on me, not planning a proposal.