“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Lisa and Johnny were going up to take a walk on the poop deck and Lisa wanted Hannah to come with them.

        “I’m sure,” Hannah said. “I’ve got to catch up on some things anyway.” She held up her journal. “I might come out a little later for some air, though.”

        “Dinner’s in a few hours. You know JC invited me and you to join them again tonight,” Lisa told her. “I said we’d go.”

        “I don’t think it would be a good idea if I went.”

        “Why not?” Lisa placed Johnny in his stroller, then tucked a blanket around his body so he wouldn’t get cold.

        “It just wouldn’t be a good idea, okay? But you go and have fun.”

        “Lance’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up,” Lisa told her. And when Hannah hung her head, Lisa pressed on. “He cares about you. Can’t you see that?”

        “We had a big fight,” Hannah said. “Besides, we both agreed that it’s best we stay away from each other until this ship docks. Then we’ll be rid of each other for good.”

        “That’s not what you want, though. I can see it in your eyes.”

        Lisa knew she was pressing again, but she didn’t want to see Hannah give up on something that could really change her life. And she had seen Lance just a few minutes ago down on C deck when JC was walking her back to her state room. He didn’t look like he was happy with the decision to keep away from Hannah, she had observed. And Hannah looked just as bad as he did.

        “It doesn’t matter what I want,” Hannah said. “I thought I knew him. I thought it was a good person. But he messes around with people’s minds. He completely fooled me.”

        “Just come down for dinner, please?” Lisa stuck out her bottom lip. “I don’t want to go there alone. Please?” she pleaded.

        She didn’t want to disappoint Lisa. The two women had become so close and she didn't want to want to have to eat alone anyway.

        “Okay,” she said, hesitantly. “But I’m not talking to him.”
       
******
        “God, I missed you!” Janine set her bags down on the tile floor and looked Lance over, who was standing in front of her, trying his best to fake a smile. “Look at you. You look amazing.”

        “Thanks.” Lance looked her over and came to the conclusion that she got more beautiful every time he saw her. But he wouldn’t tell her that. Or anyone else for that matter.

        “I can understand why you’re so quiet. You’re not sure why I’m here, are you?” Janine caressed his cheek with her finger. “I’ve been so foolish,” she sighed.

        Lance choked. “Why?”

        “Let’s take my bags down to my room then we can talk, okay?” Janine didn’t let him answer. She tucked a blonde hair behind her ear and started walking down the long hallway towards her state room. She stuck the key in the door and trotted inside with ease.

        Lance watched her whole body move as he stepped in right behind her. “We’re down on A deck,” he told her, not completely sure why he let her in on that little bit of information. It would only cause more problems.

        Janine shook her head. “It’s hard to believe that you guys managed to get that contract. Not that I didn’t believe you could do it, but those other guys.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re better off without them.”

        He grabbed her wrists. “They’re my friends.” He let them go and started to pace the room. “Let’s just get to the point, Janine.” He looked over at her and with grace, asked, “what do you want from me?”

        “I’m going to New York to get married,” she told Lance. His eyebrows raised, and so did Janine’s voice. “But it’s a mistake. I want to go to New York with you.”

        “Excuse me?” Lance was not only surprised by her response, but a little dumbfounded. Did she think he was that stupid? That he was just going to fall for that excuse when he knew damn well that she no longer loved him. He was pretty sure she never loved him at all.

        “I want to go to New York to be with you,” she repeated. “Did you not hear me the first time?”

        “Oh, I heard you.” He held out his hand to keep her from saying anything else. “But I don’t believe it. I don’t believe that you would suggest such a thing to me.”

        Janine walked up to him and with strong arms, wrapped them around his waist. “Why not? Haven’t you missed me?” Her fingers went under his shirt, causing Lance to pull away. “Don’t you still love me?”

        “No,” he said quickly. He felt good, knowing that for once he had control of his feelings for her. He despised her more than he ever thought he could despise anyone.

        “Oh, come on.” Janine tugged on his hand. “No one ever loved you like I do.” She whispered those last words into his ear, sending a chill down his spine.

        But Lance wouldn’t give in. No, he wouldn’t. Not anymore. Lance pushed her away, and gathering his strength he walked to the door.

        “There is no chance for us. Not ever again.”

        “See you at dinner, darling,” she said, after the door slammed shut behind him. Janine grinned and pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m never letting you go again.”

******
        The minute Hannah stepped into the dining room, she sensed something bad was going to happen. And when she saw a young woman with dark blonde hair and blue eyes sitting beside Lance, she knew her suspicions was right.

        She shouldn’t have come. This was a big, big mistake. Why did it hurt so much seeing Lance with another woman? She had known from the start that this was bound to happen. But she hadn’t expected for her to be witnessing it.

        Hannah put on a cheerful smile and greeted Joey with a quick hug.

        “Glad you could make it,” he said. “We’re sorry if we made you uncomfortable this morning.”

        “You didn’t. Not at all.” Hannah was watching Lance out of the corner of her eye. He looked uncomfortable with that other woman around. His face was tense and he had his hands folded on his lap, and his lips were quivering.

        Lance stared at Hannah in disbelief. He hadn’t believed it when Justin had told him that she was joining them for dinner. He was sure that Hannah never wanted to speak to him again. Maybe I was wrong, he thought. He sure hoped he was. He had missed her, and he hated admitting that.

        “I don’t believe we’ve met.” The woman beside Lance stood up and extended her hand. “I’m Janine.”

        Hannah smiled warmly and shook her hand. This woman looked familiar, but it didn’t dawn on her until she glanced at Lance.

        “You’re the woman from the lounge last night,” Hannah realized. She looked back at Lance. That’s why he had been so distracted. This was the mystery woman that had broken through his walls and then left him heart broken. It was all suddenly starting to make sense.

        “You’ve got to be mistaken,” Janine said. “I just arrived this afternoon.”

        But the look on Lance’s face told Hannah that this woman was lying. Something about this woman gave Hannah a funny feeling. Why would she lie about not being at the lounge last night? Did it have something to do with the fact that she had been having a heated argument with that man?

        Joey looked back and forth from Janine and Hannah. He hated Janine with a passion, and he was starting to really like Hannah. Not in a love way, but as a good friend. And Hannah was a lot better suited for Lance then Janine ever was. Joey had known from the moment he meant Janine two years ago that she was bad news. But he could never convince Lance of that. Until Lance walked into his house and found her in bed with one of his friends.

        Dinner went slowly for Hannah. She hated the feelings that she was starting to have for Lance. She was starting to realize that this was her fault. Why they weren’t friends anymore. If she hadn’t been so damn private and so keen on keeping him from getting close to her.

        She hated wanting him because she knew she could never have him.

        The lobster was great, and Hannah ate so much of it her stomach started to ache. She hadn’t eaten that much in years. And after dinner, she got into a silly conversation with Joey and Justin about traits of the human mind. She started to realize what wild imaginations the two guys had.

        Lance, on the other hand, hadn’t said one single word to her. It hurt Hannah a little, but she knew she only had herself to blame.

        Hannah got up from her seat just before the waiters were going to serve the dessert. “I should really be getting back,” she said.

        “Please stay.” That was the first time Lance had spoken directly to her all night. He had talked to Lisa, and the other four guys. He even had more to say to Janine than to her. Though all he pretty much said to Janine was to stop touching him.

        Hannah shared a secret smile with him. “I really got to get back. I have to go down to the purser’s to see if there’s any sign of the ring yet.”

        “Why don’t I come down with you?” Lance offered. He knew everyone at the table was staring at him. He had been the one saying he was going to stay away from Hannah, yet here he was clearly stating he wanted to be around her. “I hope they found the ring. If they haven’t, I could help you look around the boat deck for it.”

        Right now, Hannah would do anything just to have a few moments alone with him. “Sure, if you really want to.”

        Lance looked at Joey after he slipped on his jacket. “You’ll escort Janine back to her room?” The look Lance received wasn’t too promising, and Lance knew he was going to get his butt kicked for it later, but he didn’t care.

        “Yeah, yeah. Go on,” Joey replied. But he still wasn’t happy about having to even be around Janine. It was very evident that Joey didn’t like the woman one bit.

        Janine stood up. “But Lance---”

        Before she could finish, Lance and Hannah were already out of the dining room.

        “That was so not nice.” Janine pouted, but sat back down. Who was this woman? she wondered.

        She better not think she can have Lance. Cause she can’t. Only I can.

---