They leaned side by side against the ship''s railing, letting the cool ocean breeze tangle their hair. Carolyn raised her wine ss and tapped it gently against Allison''s. The clink rang out, sharp and clear in the night air.

    Carolyn took a long sip. Her cheeks were flushed-she''d had more than enough to drink tonight, and she was definitely tipsy.

    She patted Allison''s shoulder, her voice a little unsteady but sincere. "Allie, I''m really sorry about what happened earlier. Tessa''s the one who marked that card. She did it on purpose. I swear, I had no idea. It wasn''t my idea, and I never would''ve agreed to it."

    Allison sipped her wine, smiling. "Honestly? For a second, I did wonder about you. But when you called Tessa out in front of everyone, that cleared things up for me. I believe you."

    Carolyn let out a softugh. "I figured you would."

    The party was long over, the rest of the guests already tucked away in their rooms. Only the sounds of the waves and wind were left.

    Carolyn tucked a wild strand of hair behind her ear, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "To you and Joshua-may you twost forever." Her words were warm and real.

    "Thank you." Allison looked her in the eye. "But I have to ask-you were so

    determined to keep Joshua and me in separate rooms at first. What changed your mind tonight?"

    Carolyn''s smile faded, turning a little sad. She gave a half-shrug, almostughing at herself. "I finally saw the truth, I guess. And I decided to let go."

    She turned to face the open sea, letting the wind pull her hair back. Her voice floated back, soft and ragged.

    "I wanted to keep you apart because I was jealous. I didn''t want you two together. Back then, I still had feelings for Joshua."

    She paused, then went on. "After what happened with Trayson, I realized just how much Joshua cares about you. You probably don''t know this, but after Trayson was pulled out of the water, Joshua didn''t just let it go. He had Trayson taken to a room and... let''s just say, he made sure Trayson paid for what he did."

    Allison frowned, surprised. "I had no idea."

    "He got what he deserved," Carolyn said simply.

    She took another sip, then continued. "But what really made me give up was that game we yed this afternoon."

    She sounded distant, lost in thought.

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    "I''ve seen him y games like that before. He''s always had girls confessing to him. There was this

    one time at a birthday party?truth or dare. A girl told him she liked him.”

    "And?" Allison''s curiosity showed in her eyes.

    Carolyn gave a small, wryugh. "He just looked at her and said, ''Oh.'' That was it.

    He never talked to her again."

    Allison grinned. "Wow. That cold?"

    Carolyn nodded. "One time,

    someone dared a girl to kiss any guy she wanted. She picked him. He just gave her a look-like he''d kill her if she tried. She switched targets so fast."

    "Was it really that scary?"

    "Oh, yeah. I''m not exaggerating. But he''d never look at you like that." Carolyn''s voice grew soft, her expression turning wistful. “Do you knowwhat it felt like, watching him ask you for a kiss today, in front of everyone?"

    She let out a shakyugh. "It felt like a thousand arrows in my heart. I''m jealous, Allie. You have all of him."

    She paused, her voice breaking. "From that moment, I just knew I never had a chance. Maybe I never did. I just didn''t see it until now."

    ...

    When Allison walked back to her room, the lights were still on.