Ten

Cory

I'd ended up working first dinner service as a busboy and after it was done, I joined Johnny on the lido deck to serve drinks for tonight's party. There were so many parties this week, way more than we normally had. But everyone was so happy, and they'd all brought costumes and all sorts of themed clothing, so a festive feeling was in the air.

"Tonight's theme is Rio," Alexa had said before handing us our shirts that were more festive than the daytime uniforms. "Think of a carnival atmosphere."

"Like I know what that is," I said and slipped on the colorful shirt that showed off way more of my chest than my regular uniform.

"I do," Johnny said and busted out a little dance with a lot of hip motion and a little swag.

"Hey, now you'll have to teach me," I said. But he knew better. I had no rhythm at all and had proven it many times.

After the foam party, this party was a lot tamer. It started at midnight and would last for ninety minutes. There was a live band playing with a light show and dancers. It was crazy on the dancefloor and not much better navigating the crowd to take orders and deliver drinks. But we did it, and when the last song finished and the lights flashed out, I was ready to be done. "Are we still having a party after we're done?" I asked Johnny.

"Hell yes. I'm ready to blow off some steam. Plus, we don't start until late shift tomorrow."

"That's right. I forgot about us being at sea." Those of us who had more to do with the excursion yesterday would not be scheduled until later in the afternoon to give us a chance to rest for the evening's activities. Plus, since there had been two parties tonight, we were all more than ready to recover from all the craziness.

"So, you and the bartender Liam?" Johnny asked and waggled his eyebrows.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about?" I lied.

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't think I didn't see the way he looked at you, and you looked at him, and birds started singing in the distance." He clutched the hand he wasn't carrying an empty drink tray with to his chest and let out a deep sigh with a big grin. "It could be love."

"What?" I screeched, and instantly regretted it when a group of men turned to look at me. "What?" I asked again with less screeching this time.

"Hey he's cute," Johnny said.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure I want to start something with a crewmember." When I'd first started working here, I hadn't thought much of hooking up with a fellow employee, but before that happened, I'd witnessed how bad it could go and how disruptive it could be for everyone else. There was a couple who had been seeing each other for a few weeks, and when one of them was off ship for his time off everything changed, and it was ugly when they returned.

"Stop overthinking it, just have fun when you're not working," Johnny said. "Come on, let's gather up some glasses and get ready to go below."

For the next thirty minutes we gathered up glasses, and I found it hard to ignore all the party remains I normally cleared away, but tonight that wasn't my job. I walked over with the last tray of glasses just as Liam was wiping down the bar. "Hey, are you going to the crew party?" I asked, surprising myself, and by the look on his face, him too.

"Yeah, are you?" he asked.

"Oh, for sure, it sounds fun." I tried really hard to act cool, which I knew was a hopeless task, but Liam grinned at me like it didn't matter at all, he was just happy to know I'd be there.

"Is that the last of the glasses?" he asked, breaking me out of my stupor.

"Oh, yes." I passed the tray to him, and stayed while he unloaded it, until I realized I was standing there stupidly watching him unload a few glasses. "Okay, guess I'll see you in a little while." He tipped his chin at me and smiled. I turned to rush away and nearly ran right into the tray of glasses Johnny was returning.

"Whoa. That was close," he said, before sliding around me to set the tray on the bar. "See you later, Liam." He gripped my arm as he led me to the hallway that would lead to the crew quarters. "So, you and Liam?"

"I don't know, I mean he's cute. I'm trying to take your advice and have fun while I'm not working." He grinned at me before squeezing my shoulder.

"You just might make it as a cruiser after all. All work and no play is no way to live, my friend."

We both laughed at that and as we got closer to my door I slowed down. "I'm going to go shower and change before the party."

"Me too, I'll meet you there in about an hour," Johnny said and walked past my door without another word. He was so uncomplicated, and so easygoing. I once again wished I could match his energy. Nothing ever bothered him and no matter how hard the job was, he always did it with a smile and to the best of his ability.

"Plus, those abs," I mumbled to myself as I opened my door. The room was dark, so I turned on the light, having forgotten all about my new guest. He jerked awake and looked around the room in shock. "You're okay, you're on the NautiCaribbean ship. Remember?" I tried to be nice, I mean he really hadn't done more to me than be annoying and invade my privacy, but for some reason he really got under my skin.

He squinted his eyes and shielded them with his hand against the light. "Cory?" he croaked out, and I was shocked he even remembered my name.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just going to shower." After I gathered up what I'd need, I turned off the light and stepped into the bathroom. After slumping against the door for a moment, I turned on the shower and stripped down before climbing in. The shower was tiny, but that didn't matter right now. All I cared about was taking a shower and getting to the party.

The hot water felt great, and I realized how tired I was as my eyes slid shut, and I hadn't had one drink yet. My mind wandered, and surprisingly it went to the guy in the other room. He was hot. He was definitely hot. But he was also a hot mess, and I wasn't sure those lips, or those abs were worth all the drama. But he was definitely hot. I toweled off and was about to reach for my clothes when I realized I hadn't brought them with me. "Fuck." I'd brought my shaving kit but hadn't brought anything to wear.

Wrapping the towel around me I walked back into the room and was both relieved and shocked that the light was on, and Jackson was sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. I was about to ask if he was sick when he looked up, and when his eyes met mine, I knew I was fucked—or maybe he was.