Cristiana made it back to the room late that night. She felt like she could barely walk. The morning would likely present a rough hangover.
Liam was already in bed when she entered the room, so she quietly brushed her teeth and joined him, laying on the very edge of the bed.
But she couldn't sleep. Instead, she stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours, thoughts racing through her mind.
Finally, she gave up. Moving to the couch, she turned on the T.V., lowering the volume down to three.
For ten minutes, she clicked through different channels. Nothing grabbed her interest.
She tossed the remote off to the side and the T.V. switched to a different channel that played a medicine ad. "Cancer is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world. From skin cancer to lung cancer, over ten million people died from this disease in just the last year. So, try Carcinaid now! With a doctor's approval, you can get a free trial of the medicine for the first three months!"
Cristiana turned the T.V. off and curled up on the couch. Tomorrow was the anniversary. She needed to sleep.
And she did, finally.
Her dreams were filled with vivid memories from her childhood, things she hadn't thought of in so long. Doing homework, playing with friends, and going to the zoo with her parents. It was like reliving her own life, but from a different point of view.
So, when she woke, her surroundings felt off. It took her a moment to remember that she was on a cruise ship. That she was an adult and not that young, free child from her dreams.
There was a light pattering noise coming from the bathroom. Liam was taking a shower.
Yawning, she sat up. She needed a shower too.
Opening the bathroom door, she stepped inside.
Liam slid the shower curtain open and peered at her. "Good morning. Happy anniversary."
Cristiana pulled off her shirt. "Happy anniversary, baby."
Liam raised his eyebrow, watching as she pulled down her pants. "Baby?"
Cristiana removed her bra and panties and stepped into the shower with him. She let the warm water wash over her bare skin before turning back to Liam. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body against his.
"What's going on?" Liam asked, surprised.
Cristiana ran her hands down the sides of his body. "We're not fighting today. I don't care how much we want to. This is our one happy day. Okay?"
He kissed her, pressing her body up against the shower wall. When he pulled away, he smiled. "Okay."
Breakfast was served at their usual table. Cristiana ordered freshly squeezed orange juice, a plate of fruit, and a stack of pancakes. Usually, she skipped breakfast since she worked so early in the morning, so it was refreshing to eat such a big meal so early. Liam seemed equally delighted with his eggs and bacon.
The day was going well. No matter what, she did not want to think about what had happened last night. No. That was tomorrow's problem.
Cristiana reached her hand across the table and intertwined her fingers with Liam's. "What do you want to do today?"
Liam considered for a moment. "Hmmm…I have no idea. I'm sure we can find something. Gerard," he said, waving over the waiter.
"Yes, Mr. Liam?" Gerard said politely.
"What activities are going on around the ship today?" Liam asked, glancing at Cristiana. "It's our anniversary."
"Oh, congratulations to you both," he said. "If you want, I could inform the Captain so he may give an announcement over the loudspeaker later tonight."
Cristiana and Liam exchanged looks.
"That would be great," Cristiana smiled.
"Perfect. As for things to do, it is a very nice day to be outside. We have pools, slides, mini-golf, a rock-climbing wall, and much more. If you would like to stay inside, we have trivia, movies, and of course a show that you mustn't miss with the singer Madison Heffner."
"Wow, so there's a lot," Cristiana said enthusiastically.
"We must keep you entertained somehow," Gerard smiled.
"Okay sounds good," Liam said. "Looks like we have a busy day ahead of us."
"Indeed. Enjoy," Gerard said, bowing.
"Uh, Milly?" Cristiana asked as the assistant waiter walked by their table.
She turned and smiled at them. "Yes, madam?"
"Could I get a daiquiri?"
"Y-yes. Of course."
Liam looked at Cristiana with surprise. "Already?" He checked his watch. "It's not even 10 AM."
Cristiana shrugged. "Might as well. They're free."
"True, I guess," Liam said.
Milly returned a moment later with the daiquiri. "Enjoy, madam."
Cristiana stood, grabbing her glass. She glanced at Liam. "You ready?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Let's get this anniversary started out with a bang. What do you say we hit the pools?"