Chapter 1

Caleb sighed with satisfaction as he sat down with his second helping from the buffet. He had been looking forward to this cruise for a year, and now, spring break 2020, he was finally here. As a busy new faculty member at Pinewood College, he hardly had time to relax, so he was determined to get his fair share of eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Polishing off the remainder of his heaping plate of mac and cheese, Caleb rubbed his usually-flat belly, which was slightly bloated from his voracious eating on the first two days of the cruise.

Content with the delicious meal, Caleb cleared his plate and meandered over to a screen displaying the available activities of the evening. One caught his eye in particular: Solo Cruisers Mixer- 10PM-2AM, Swim-Up Bar, Lido Deck. While generally fitting the stereotype of a shy, introverted scientist, Caleb was determined to have fun on this trip, and so he went back to his cabin to shower and prepare for the event.

Strolling out into the close night air of the Caribbean, Caleb was relieved to see there were plenty of other guests already mingling in the pool. He awkwardly stripped down to his swim trunks and gently waded into the water, eyeing the crowd that had gathered. Not feeling up to meeting anyone just yet, he bobbed over to an empty corner of the swim-up bar and ordered his drink of choice, a classic Daquiri. He sat and nursed his drink, observing the other guests who had come. The age was skewed younger, probably due to the late hours of the event, and many people already had congregated into groups that reminded Caleb unpleasantly of high school cliques. He had just gotten his second drink when he heard a voice behind him.

“Hey dude, what’s that you’re drinking?”

Caleb turned around and was slightly shocked at the man who stood before him. This tan, muscular, hunky stranger was talking to him! After his mind went blank for a few seconds, he managed to choke out an appropriate response.

“It’s a Daquiri, it has um, rum and lime juice. Kind of like a boozy limeade.”

He winced internally at his stilted response, but forgot this embarrassment when the hunky man gave him a genuine, goofy smile. He sat down next to Caleb and called for the bartender, asking him for “One of those!” The man turned towards Caleb and said,

“By the way, my name’s Cole. This is my first cruise alone, and you looked friendly, so I figured I’d introduce myself.”

“Hey, uh, my name’s Caleb. Yeah I haven’t really done this before either…”

Caleb laughed awkwardly as Cole’s drink arrived. While slightly anxious at first, Caleb warmed up to the man as they continued to talk and drink together. They talked about themselves, their jobs. Cole was, fitting his stunning physique, a personal trainer who worked with celebrities. The more they drank, the more fun they had, and by around 1 they were both relatively drunk, showing little inhibition in opening up to one another and celebrating their newfound friendship. As Cole told Caleb about the lackluster girl he had just broken up with, Caleb found himself gazing at the boy’s glistening, muscled chest and arms, not to mention his soft looking lips. He pulled his eyes away so as not to come off creepy, but when he looked back the men locked eyes, Cole pausing in his speech. Looking away again, he fiddled with his glass, listening to the rest of the “crazy ex-girlfriend” story. Cole followed this up with,

“So what about you, man? Got a girlfriend back home?”

The question seemed to echo the intimate moment that had just occurred in a way that caused Caleb’s heart to race. Don’t be stupid, he reasoned, Cole’s obviously straight.

“Uh no. Well, actually I’m gay. But I don’t have a boyfriend either.”

“Oh! That makes sense. Sorry for assuming or anything-“

“That makes sense?” Caleb responded in a slight mocking tone, “what’s that supposed to mean?”

Clearly caught off guard, Cole stuttered as his face turned red.

“Oh, just that, I mean you’re just a nice guy and-“

Caleb couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and Cole followed suit once he realized Caleb was only fucking with him. They finished their drinks, continuing their lively conversation, and were about to part ways when Cole said, slurring slightly,

“Wait! Let me get your number. I need a buddy to do this cruise shit with.”

Caleb smiled, feeling warmed by the friendly gesture, and obliged the request. The boys stumbled their separate ways, and upon returning to his cabin Caleb flopped into bed, quickly falling asleep.