The anticipation was eating me alive as we stood near the exit ramp of the cruise ship, waiting to be allowed off. The ship’s PA system crackled with an announcement about refueling and maintenance, giving guests a few hours to explore the port. This was our window, our only chance to find the tickets the Moon Goddess had promised us. I was fidgeting with the sleeve of my jacket, the anxiety creeping up my spine like an itch I couldn’t scratch.
Ryder noticed and placed a reassuring hand on my back. “You good?” he asked, his voice low and soothing.
I nodded, though my stomach was in knots. “Yeah, just nervous. What if we can’t find the tickets?”
“We will,” Ryder assured me, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “We always figure it out.”
I wanted to believe him, but there wa
