Hell can mean different things for different people. And Brooke Davis had found hers.
Everyone was so sickeningly happy and in love. Brooke thought as she got onto the boat, and put her bags in her luxurious room. Once settled in Brooke took a stroll around the deck to take in the breathtaking sights.
As she looks around her, everyone seems to be in couples and everywhere she looked, lovebirds spending time together. Brooke groaned miserably, realizing that she'll be spending two weeks on a romantic cruise alone.
"Fuck my life." Brooke murmured as she read over the brochure again and wanted to slap herself for not noticing that this cruise liner was indeed a romantic getaway instead of just a getaway.
'Onboard Romance: What could be more romantic than a night at "Movies Under the Stars," reclining on padded loungers while snuggled under wool tartan blankets on the pool deck? Or for quiet tete-a-tetes with your sweetie, try Adagio, a lovely and private top-deck lounge. During the day, we love The Sanctuary, a (mostly) shaded retreat, complete with waiter service, spa menu and massage services (a couples' massage is available).
Dinner for Two: Open-seating (as well as traditional) dining is available. But the most romantic option is the Ultimate Balcony Dining dinner experience. For an extra fee, cruisers are treated to a lobster dinner with Champagne and course-by-course service. (Or have a romantic breakfast in your cabin with the line's Balcony Breakfast option.) Only caveat: Your cabin must have a balcony. We also love the ships' specialty restaurants. Request a banquette at Crown Grill, a steak and seafood restaurant with an open grill; indulge in a multicourse meal at the Italian Sabatini's; or share dishes with your sweetie at Share by Curtis Stone or The Salty Dog Gastropub. For a more casual option, try Vines, a wine and sushi bar. If chocolate is your aphrodisiac of choice, be sure to try the onboard cocktails and desserts created by master chocolatier Norman Love.'
She leaned on the railing, feeling bamboozled. Sighing she looked to her left and noticed a hard bodied blonde with brooding good looks.
He was very attractive. And alone.
Noticing that she was looking, he walks up to her, and she instantly spots his bare ring finger. No tan line. So it seems that Mr. Gorgeous is single, too. Maybe this cruise won't be so bad after all.
"Hi…you seem a little lonely." he said with a stunning smile.
Brooke allowed her gaze to do a thorough once over over his six foot frame. She smiled once her eyes settled on his handsome face. "So do you."
"Where's your boyfriend?"
Brooke chuckled, "No boyfriend. I'm all alone. On a couples retreat."
"Thank God!" he said with a relieved chuckle. "I thought I was the only one without someone. I'm Lucas Scott." he said as he held out his hand.
Her small hand fitted in his, their eyes making contact with each other. Her head was slightly spinning at the touch of his hand and her heart sped up a bit but she played it cool, like he hadn't singlehandedly just upended her universe by a simple handshake.
Licking her chapped lips she removed her hand from his. Brooke looked at him with a small smirk. "Brooke Davis."
"Brooke Davis…" he tested out with a smile. "Nice to meet you."
Lucas had never seen someone as beautiful as the woman before him. She had the most unique raspy voice that both intrigued and surprised him.
"Ditto." she said with a dimpled smile. "So how did you get suckered into this suckfest?" she asked as they walked the deck.
Lucas chuckled, "Well my idiot brother and his well meaning wife Haley decided that I needed a break to get inspired."
Brooke kinked her eyebrows with curiosity, "Inspired?"
"I'm a romance novelist. They thought that being around all these couples will get the juices flowing for my next novel. Hell at this point I'm closer to writing a murder mystery than anything else." he said jokingly. "What about you? What brings you here to this suckfest?"
Brooke sighed. "I just got through with a terrible breakup with my ex and I thought that this was a regular cruise liner. So I booked it thinking that I would have a great time but all I see is—"
"A sea of happy couples?" he asked with understanding.
"Yeah exactly. Don't get me wrong I still believe in happily ever after but not when it's thrust in my face after a hard break up."
Lucas lead her to the sitting area and asked, "I don't mean to be nosy but what happened between you and the guy?"
Brooke paused then answered with a tight smile, "It's a long two weeks ahead Mr. Scott…right now I'm not ready to rehash all of that. Maybe someday."
Lucas nodded his head. "Fair enough."
The two chatted for hours and it was honestly one of the best conversations that she had in a long time. She knew that he had tried to bring up her breakup again but overall he was nice, smart and funny.
Lucas thoughtfully walked her to her room and they noticed that there were a few eyes on them. Lucas kissed her forehead and bid her goodnight. By the time she went to bed she had thoughts of Lucas swarming in her head which was a welcomed first.
Her cellphone rang and she side eyes it, debating whether or not to answer it. She answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey bitch how's the trip so far?"
Brooke gnawed on her lip and debated whether or not to tell her longtime friend about Lucas. But she ended up revealing it anyway after telling her about the couples only theme of the ship.
"You like him." She stated with a smirk.
Brooke waved off her statement. "I just met the guy! Besides what in the world gave you that idea?"
"Besides the fact that you practically purred his name—"
"What—no I did not—"
"Yes you did." she said readily, liking that her best friend was taking an interest in someone. "I'm glad that you've taken an interest in someone. I was starting to worry about you."
Brooke arched a thin brow at her friend of ten years—not that she could see it anyway, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It's supposed to mean that you haven't even glanced at a man since Felix—"
"Please don't—" She said as her whole demeanor changed at the mere mention of his name. "I'd prefer to leave him where he is. In my past."
Felix had been Brooke's high school sweetheart and longtime boyfriend of eight years. Felix had been charismatic, good looking and witty. She had been crazy about him, so much so that she had moved away from her friends and family to follow him and his dreams to Washington so that he could be all that he could be—a high profile District Attorney once accepted into his dream college of Washington State University.
While Felix went to WSU in Pullman to study law, Brooke had declined many offers across the country to attend University of Washington in Seattle to study fashion design and business. The four hour drive had put a strain on their relationship but Brooke was determined to keep their romance alive. As shy as Brooke was she would remind herself that Felix was the man of her dreams, and that she would do all she could to keep him.
They would Skype each other after their studies were done or if they were stuck on their assignments and would take the edge off. At those times she would strip down to her underwear while he watched with hungry eyes and they would play the adult version of Truth or Dare.
After graduation they were finally able to move out of Washington and live together in New York where he was picked up as an intern at one of the biggest law firm in the country. While Felix was climbing the ladder of success Brooke went on to intern at Kismet a small start in the mail room. Within months Felix had went from intern to attorney taking on cases that intrigued him while Brooke climbed her own ladder of success going from mail girl to designing for the line.
One day Brooke came back to their apartment to find clothes littering the living room floor towards the hallway. She followed the trail until she came just outside the bedroom they shared. Her hand halted above the doorknob as she heard heavy panting and quiet moans just outside. Brooke's heart began its slow descent into heartbreak. Too distraught she turned and walked away, her dreams of being with him forever dashed.
Brooke left her promise ring on the counter and hadn't been back since.
"Well it's true. You haven't showed one bit of interest in anyone else." Rachel said with a smirk, successfully breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Rachel—I just met the man a few hours ago! Who knows if anything will happen between us—" She said slowly enough for her to comprehend.
"Brooke as your best friend you should know that I know when you're lying to me. And sweetheart you are lying to me."
She waved it off. "I don't—"
"You do—"
"Ugh!" She said in frustration, wanting to through her hands up. "I can not deal with you today Rachel! I'm supposed to enjoy my time away from everything and here you are bringing up my ex to me and suggesting that I like a total stranger."
Rachel chuckled. "Brooke…there's nothing wrong being attracted to someone in fact I really think you should go for Chase—"
"I work with him!"
"So?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Ever heard of sexual harassment?"
"Psst there's no such thing." She mock whispered.
Brooke snorted then said, "You obviously hadn't read through the terms and conditions when you were hired."
"No I did not. Besides there is no one remotely attractive to me at the workplace. So no risk of me falling prey to that rule. And haven't you ever heard rules were made to be broken?"
"Okay I gotta go talk to you tomorrow slut!" Brooke said with a tender smile.
"Bye slutwhore." with that the two hung up.
