“He’s acting crazy.” Janine sipped her tea, then put the cup down with grace. She wasn’t in the best mood, and the tea wasn’t helping matters, either. She always hated the taste of tea. But the café wasn’t serving anything else at the moment. “He’s acting like we never meant anything to each other.”

        Annie, Janine’s closest friend, or confident as Janine preferred to call her, bit at the pastry on the plate in front of her. Loving the taste, she took another bite. There was a time when Janine needed to hear the truth, no matter how harsh it may be. Janine, Annie thought, was living in a fantasy world if she still thought that Lance would take her back.

        “Maybe he wants to forget,” Annie said. “You did cheat on the guy.”

        “It was a mistake. Surely he should have forgiven me by now.” Janine couldn’t understand Lance at all lately. She had been sure he would have jumped at the chance to get back with her. But the total opposite had happened. “It was a one night thing. It isn’t like I stayed with the guy or anything.”

        “But you still hurt him.” Annie was the logical one of the two of them. But that didn’t account for much.

        Janine grinned evilly. “Oh, I’ll get him back. That bitch will regret the day she laid eyes on Lance.”

******
       
        Later that night, Lance and Hannah were taking a walk on the boat deck. They had just left JC and Lisa at the lounge where the four of them had had dinner. JC and Lisa had announced their engagement. Hannah had never seen Lisa so happy.

        “I’m glad Johnny’s going to have a father,” Hannah said. She and Lance were walking hand in hand by one of the smokestacks. She could see Janine ahead of them, so she pulled Lance towards the other direction.

        “JC’s always wanted to be a father.” Lance could remember the way JC’s eyes had lit up just at the thought of raising Johnny. “Plus he’s really become attached to Johnny. I must say this trip has turned out a hell of a lot better than I thought.”

        Hannah had to agree. She had come on this ship just wanted to get the hell away from her old life. Not only had she been able to put her past to rest, but she had discovered her future. It was a good feeling.

        “I found you,” she said. “I’m glad I came onto this ship. To think I almost refused…”

        He covered her mouth with his own, her words being swallowed. Everything finally felt right. For once in his life, Lance felt like everything was going his way. He had this woman, his future wife, beside him, and a career waiting in New York. What more could he want?

        “Who would have thought that we’d find each other?” he murmured. “I sure didn’t. I had completely given up on love.” He hugged her close to his chest. “Until I laid eyes on you that first night onboard.”

        No need to bring up the fact that he pitied her at first, she thought. That was all in the past now. And so was everything else. They were going to start fresh and new.

        For a moment, Hannah reflected on her old life. The tough years were nothing but a faded memory now, as this new future in front of her took over most of her thoughts. She felt trusting now, something she was so sure she never would be again. She had put her trust in a complete stranger, and he hadn’t let her down. She had given her whole heart, and had gotten the same thing in return.

        Hannah rested her head on his shoulder and in the back of her mind, could see a picture of their house and their family. They would have a big family. “You’re amazing,” she whispered. “Do you know that?”

        “I’m not that amazing.” Lance tightened his hold on her, feeling protective at the moment. He brushed his lips over her forehead and smelled the fresh clean air. It was getting dark now. “You just make me feel amazing,” he said.

        “I love you.” She closed her eyes for a second, and just held onto him.

        “I love you too,” he whispered.

        Not even a second later and the only sound that could be heard was a big thud. The loud sound caused Hannah to lift her head. She saw a big patch of ice fall onto the deck.

        “What the hell?” she said.

        “Shit,” Lance muttered quietly. He had a really bad feeling. When he saw the patch of ice, something in his insides turned. This wasn’t good at all.

        People around them started freaking out. Everyone was running around, looking for members of the ship’s crew to find out what happened. No one seemed to be calm at all.

        A few minutes later, Hannah shuddered when she learned that the ship was sinking. They were going to die. She was going to lose the life she’d been waiting forever for.

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