Cruise of Secrets

4.

Chapter 4: The Heart of the Game

“Hey,” a voice calls from behind me. I turn to see Prescott walking toward me, his usual cocky smile plastered on his face. “Thought I might find you here.”

I don’t know why, but his presence makes my stomach do a little flip. I try to hide it, though, and just shrug.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I say, pushing some loose strands of hair behind my ear. “Needed some fresh air.”

He stops in front of me, his eyes scanning my face, as if trying to figure out if there’s more to my story than what I’ve said. But he doesn’t ask, just gives me a small smile.

“Well, I’m glad I found you. I was getting a little bored on my own,” he says with a wink, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re always bored, aren’t you?” I tease, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Only when I’m not around interesting people,” he replies smoothly, his eyes glinting. “And you’re definitely interesting.”

I feel a blush creep up my neck, and I quickly look away, hoping he doesn’t notice. But of course, he does. He steps closer, just enough that I can feel the heat radiating off him.

“So,” he begins, his tone changing slightly, more serious now. “What’s the plan for today?”

I glance around the deck, searching for a distraction. “I don’t know. I was thinking of maybe checking out the lounge or going for a swim. Just something to keep busy, you know?”

“Good idea,” he says, and then without warning, he takes my hand. His touch is warm and surprisingly gentle, sending a jolt through me. “Let’s go together.”

I don’t even know why I don’t pull away. I should, right? This is still a fake relationship, after all. But as we walk together toward the lounge, hand in hand, I can’t bring myself to do it. It feels… comfortable. Natural, even.

And I hate that I’m starting to like it.

Later that afternoon, Prescott and I find ourselves lounging by the pool, drinks in hand, watching the sun begin to dip lower in the sky. The atmosphere is relaxed, people talking and laughing around us, the soft sound of music drifting from the speakers nearby.

But my mind is far from relaxed. I can’t stop thinking about Ethan. The way he’d stood there last night, all remorseful, begging for forgiveness.

“You’re quiet today,” Prescott says, breaking my thoughts. He’s sitting across from me, a slight frown on his face. “Something on your mind?”

I hesitate before answering, not sure if I should tell him the truth. But then again, maybe he’s the only one who’ll understand.

“I’m just… thinking,” I admit finally. “About Ethan. About everything that’s happened.”

He doesn’t respond right away, just watches me carefully, his expression unreadable. “You know you don’t have to explain yourself to me,” he says softly. “But if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”

I nod, grateful for his offer, but I’m not ready to get into the full details yet. Instead, I take a sip of my drink, trying to push the thoughts of Ethan to the back of my mind.

“Thanks,” I say quietly. “I just… I’m trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do now. This whole thing with him, it’s just… messed up.”

“Yeah, it is,” he agrees, his voice surprisingly serious. “But you don’t have to let it mess you up, Sydney. You’re stronger than that.”

His words hit me harder than I expect. He’s right. I am stronger than that. I just need to remember it.

For a moment, I meet his eyes, and there’s something in the way he’s looking at me—something soft, something that makes my heart beat a little faster. But I quickly look away, not sure what to make of it.

“I don’t know,” I mumble, my fingers nervously tapping the side of my glass. “Everything feels so… complicated right now. Like I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

“You’re Sydney,” he says simply. “You’re the same person you’ve always been. Don’t let anyone else change that.”

I let out a small sigh, looking out at the horizon. His words are comforting in a way, but they also make me feel exposed. Like he’s seeing something in me that I’m not ready to show anyone yet.

“Thanks,” I say softly, though I’m not sure if I’m thanking him for his words or just for being here, for being a constant in the chaos.

“I mean it,” he says, his voice low. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Sydney. Not now, not ever.”

I look back at him, my breath catching in my throat. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes that I’ve never seen before, and it makes something in my chest tighten.

Before I can respond, a loud voice interrupts us. “Hey, lovebirds, what’s going on over here?”

I turn to see Maya walking toward us, her grin wide and unapologetic. I immediately stiffen, my stomach turning. I hadn’t expected her to show up here, and I certainly hadn’t expected her to see me with Prescott.

But Prescott doesn’t seem fazed at all. In fact, he stands up, flashes her a polite smile, and extends a hand. “Maya, right? We met last night.”

She laughs, taking his hand. “Yeah, we did. You two look cozy over here. What’s the deal?”

I feel my face flush at her words, and I’m not sure if I’m more embarrassed by the fact that she caught us or by the way she’s acting like we’re a couple. I open my mouth to speak, but Prescott beats me to it.

“We’re just talking,” he says smoothly. “Nothing to see here.”

Maya raises an eyebrow. “Right. So, Sydney, I take it you’re still avoiding Ethan, huh?”

I freeze at the mention of his name, my stomach clenching again. I’m not ready to talk about this, not with her, and definitely not with Prescott watching.

“I’m not avoiding him,” I say quickly, forcing my voice to remain steady. “I just don’t think I need to keep chasing after someone who doesn’t respect me.”

Maya’s eyes flicker with something I can’t quite place, but she nods, as if accepting my answer. “Fair enough. I get it. I’m just here to make sure you’re not letting this mess with your head.”

Before I can respond, Prescott steps in, his tone playful. “Don’t worry, Maya. I’ve got it covered. Sydney’s in good hands.”

I glance at him, unsure of his meaning, but before I can ask, Maya grins and winks at us both.

“Well, alright then. I’ll let you two get back to it. Have fun,” she says, her tone dripping with something I can’t quite place.

As she walks away, I turn to Prescott, my mind spinning.

“What did she mean by that?” I ask, feeling suddenly uneasy.

He smirks, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t worry about it. She’s just messing around.”