Ty held her tray of drinks close as she skirted along the edge of the room, carefully weaving in between bodies. Most were moving in time to the heavy beat of the music pulsing in the air, but some were swaying to their own intoxicated rhythm.

Her gaze moved about the club, her eyes accustom to the dark setting and the flashing lights. She could see the Hamilton party at their VIP table, spread out along the plush couches. They seemed to be easing into the night with a few drinks before they took to the dance floor.

Hudson was back in a morose, disinterested mood. He was seated among a group of guys, but his attention seemed to be anywhere but their conversation.

Ty's course was set in their direction when she caught sight of a small huddle near the DJ stand. She might have missed them altogether if it wasn't for Anders's white blonde hair that almost turned neon under the lights.

The rest of the group was indistinguishable from her distance, but she had a feeling Johnny was at the center. Sure enough, as she got closer she could see Johnny's tall form in the middle. He was holding a piece of paper out for everyone to see.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Everyone looked towards her quickly with guilty looks until they realized who was talking.

"Ty, what's the name of the tall blonde in the pink dress?" Johnny asked, his attention already back on the paper in his hand.

"You brought drinks!" Nico said, reaching for the tray.

Ty moved the drinks out of Nico's way but grinned. Nico was talking to her again. "You won something."

He smiled smugly. "Johnny came up on deck during his lunch break and I made twenty dollars."

She shook her head. Johnny loved the game, but the game didn't love him back. They both looked at Johnny as he spoke passionately to some of their co-workers. "What kind of bets has he concocted for tonight?"

"Just the basics. Number of drinks per person, who gets on the dance floor and who doesn't. Who ends up with whom at the end of the night," Nico explained.

As he spoke, he tried to be sneaky and reach about Ty's back to grab a drink, but he wasn't smooth enough. She gave him a threatening look as she moved the tray out of his reach.

"What?" he asked innocently. "I just want one."

"No," she said.

"Ty, do you have that name for me?" Johnny asked. Ty didn't know what name he was asking about and after a moment he grew impatient and moved on. "We'll call her the lady in pink. Who has drink count for her?"

"Oh, drinks!" Anders said, appearing next to Nico. He reached for a glass but Ty held up a hand.

"These are for the Hamilton party. I need to deliver them." As she turned, Nico and Anders rushed to block her path.

"Just give us two drinks. They won't miss them," Anders reasoned.

"Two missing is nothing compared to a large amount of drinks they will be consuming tonight," Nico added.

"No," Ty said firmly. Nico's eyes got big and his expression went soft as he pulled out the puppy-dog pout. Ty began to shake her head. She had given into way too many things because of that look. "No," she repeated firmer and headed for the VIP table.

Hudson was the only member of the Hamilton party to notice. When she handed him his glass, he looked at her like her mere presence was a mercy and his eyes lingered on her as she kept moving around the group.

As Ty moved about, she couldn't help but notice a small group of ladies whose attention seemed to be darting to Hudson every five seconds. Hudson for his part seemed completely oblivious about it.

In the group, Ty recognized Bianca and a blonde as the two who had shown a lot of interest in Hudson the first night. After she finished serving the second round of drinks, she couldn't stop her curiosity and moved closer to find out what they were scheming about.

"How are we doing ladies?" she asked. "What's the plan for tonight? A little dancing?"

She smiled mischievously like she knew they were up to no good and they responded with grins of their own.

"We'll definitely be dancing," Bianca said. "The question is with whom?"

"Luckily you have so many great options to choose from," Ty said. She swept her hand in the direction of a group of the guys Hudson was sitting with.

"We're really only looking at one," one of the girls said quietly with a small chuckle.

"Boyfriend?" Ty asked, knowing full well that wasn't who they were talking about.

They all laughed. "I wish," another girl said. "If only he would lighten up a little."

"Maybe with a few more drinks," one of them suggested. Their plotting eyes turned back to Hudson.

After a moment, Bianca turned to Ty. "How many drinks has Hudson had?"

"So it's Hudson Hamilton you have your eyes on," Ty said.

She did as the rest of the girls were doing and looked at Hudson.

There was no mystery why they had their sights set on him. Even among a group of well-dressed, good-looking guys, he stood out. In a group of guys who were clearly eager to impress everyone around them, Hudson looked like he could care less about what anyone around him thought. It was that very nonchalant attitude that got him the female attention.

Ty shifted her attention back to the group around her and found the same eager and hungry looks in all their eyes. There was a powerful energy swirling around them and she was struck with an idea to direct it in a way that could benefit her. She gave a little cough to reel the attention back to herself.

"Hudson Hamilton," she said thoughtfully. "He doesn't seem like the dancing type. I bet no one can get him on the dance floor." She let her words sink in for a moment. "Anyways," she smiled brightly. "Can I get you, ladies, anything to drink?"

Ty watched as her words seemed to cause a chain reaction of looks among the group.

"We're fine for right now," Bianca said, "but how about you make sure Hudson gets another drink."

"Sure thing," Ty said. She could hear the plotting begin as she walked away and headed straight for Johnny. She pushed her way into their small huddle until she was face to face with him. "I want in on tonight's round."

"The betting has been closed. Come back tomorrow," he told her automatically, barely acknowledging her presence.

"I have insider info about Hudson." He brushed her aside until she added, "and Bianca."

At the name Bianca, his focus zeroed in on her. "What about Bianca?" he asked.

His eyes darted to the piece of paper in his hand where Ty was sure he had already centered several of the bets around her for the night.

She pulled him out of the group and pointed at the VIP section. "You see that small group of girls at the end of the sofa."

"The one with the lady in pink?"

There was a blonde in the group in a hot pink dress. "Correct. They're trying to find a way to get Hudson onto the dance floor."

"Which one's Hudson?" Johnny asked.

Ty redirected his gaze to the group of guys on the opposite sofa. "The one in the navy jacket who looks miserable."

And Hudson truly did look miserable as he studied the bottom of his glass before dragging his lazy gaze around the club. His eyes seemed to land on Ty and Johnny but Ty knew from the VIP section, the rest of the club was just a haze of flashing lights.

"Why should I care?" Johnny asked.

"Look at him. The last thing that guy wants to do is dance," Ty said. Johnny gave Hudson a second look. "And you have a group of girls betting on who can get him on the dance floor."

Johnny began to slowly nod his head. Ty could see the wheels in his brain turning and then the spark light in his eyes. The bets were on.

She grinned. "I have to grab more drinks, but put me down for $50 against the girls. I don't think Hudson will be dancing tonight."

Johnny pulled a pen from behind his ear and marked his paper. "You're on. Don't underestimate the influence of alcohol and a good dress." He began to scribble furiously on the paper as he walked blindly back to the group.

Ty fetched the next round of drinks and returned to the VIP section to find Hudson was gone. Half of the group was up and moving, with Kate and Grant in the lead. Kate danced to the beat as she pulled Grant onto the dance floor.

Ty searched the parade of people passing her for Hudson, but he wasn't there. She rechecked the VIP area in case she had missed him but he wasn't there either. For a moment, she was worried she had made the wrong bet when he appeared at her side.

"Are one of these for me?" he asked, eyeing her tray of drinks.

"What's your poison? We have one with vodka, or vodka, or this one with vodka."

"Anything with vodka?"

She grinned. "You came to the right place."

"Thanks," he said, leaning in as he accepted the glass from her.

"Look at you up and mingling. Were you taking a whirl on the dance floor?"

She chuckled at the flat look he gave her. "No. I went to the bathroom. All the gloating and ego was making me nauseous."

"That Russ really is the worst!"

He laughed. "You have no idea."

She liked his laugh and the way it erased the serious line between his eyes and the set of his lips. "So, nausea? That's never fun. I would advise avoiding the dance floor. All that movement." She made a sick face.

His eyes went up in interest as he smiled. "Oh, is that what you advise?" his tone teasing.

"I mean, I'm no doctor, but..." She shrugged.

"I really appreciate your concern for my well-being," he mocked.

She dipped her head in gratitude. "We are all about customer service here on the Bali Cruise Line." Her mind jumped to the group of other customers who were sure to be observing every little thing that passed between Hudson and herself and she took a step back. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"An exit strategy and a motorboat?" he joked.

"I'll see what I can do," she said.

She returned to delivering drinks and only made it a few steps before Bianca waved her over. "Tell us, what did Hudson say?" she insisted. All the girls leaned in like they were co-conspirators.

"He asked for a drink," Ty said. She smiled blankly as the group waited eagerly for her to say more.

When she didn't, one of them spoke up. "Did you give him a drink?"

"I did. Would any of you like something else to drink?"

The disappointment was visible as all the girls leaned back and gave polite smiles. They shook their heads, and Ty's presence was quickly dismissed when they realized she had no information for them.

But their disappointment was short-lived. Ty was serving her last drink when there was a commotion behind her and she turned to see Hudson had joined Bianca's group.

Ty froze in surprise at the sight of Hudson standing in front of the group, leaning in to say something. All the girls leaned toward him like he had a magnetic pull. He said something as he motioned towards the dance floor and all the girls looked in that direction and laughed.

"What?" Ty hissed under her breath, as Hudson's funny comment turned into a conversation as he took a seat with the group. What was he doing?

Her gaze darted to Johnny, wondering if he had seen the new development. He was grinning ear to ear. She shook her head and moved over to the group.

"Hi, can I interest anyone in anything more? Appetizers?" No one noticed her.

All the girls were too focused on Hudson, and Hudson was focused on the story he was telling. So Ty hovered. She stayed close, listening to what they were talking about, ready to step in and stop any suggestion to dance.

She finally managed to butt into the conversation as Hudson took a breath between stories. "Are we still doing good? More drinks?" When she didn't get any responses, she changed tactics. "Have you seen the view from the deck at night? It's one of the best views the Bali offers. You don't want to miss it."

But she was not Hudson Hamilton, therefore she didn't receive an ounce of attention from the girls. "Maybe another time," Hudson said, barely looking at her. "A glass of water would be great though. Thanks."

He dismissed her before she could say anything more and asked one of the girls a question.

Ty hovered outside the group for a moment before she gave in and left for the bar to fetch Hudson his glass of water. She grumbled in frustration the whole way there. What was Hudson doing? Since the very moment she had met him, he had been complaining about this cruise and the company he was in.

She ordered his drink and began to form a game plan on other ways she could keep Hudson off the dance floor. Her years in customer service had taught her there was always another solution. By the time the bartender gave her the glass of water, she had three options and felt confident about two of them.

But her confidence disappeared when she turned back to the VIP section and saw Hudson and Bianca's group on the move.

Hudson was in the lead and they were all heading toward the dance floor. All she could do was watch as they joined the crowd, feeling her fifty dollars slip out of her grasp.

Her brain started racing through more plans. She could fake an emergency to get them off the dance floor. Iceberg ahead! Where there was a will, there was a way. But she knew there was only one way as long as Johnny hadn't noticed the group get on the dance floor.

Her gaze darted to the DJ stand and she found Johnny waiting for her to look at him. Meeting his gaze felt like her last ditch effort had collided with an iceberg and was rapidly taking on water. He was smiling victoriously. He gave her a cocky salute and her rallying effort took its last gulp of air as it sank beneath the water.

She set the glass of water down in defeat. Goodbye, fifty-dollars.

**********************************************************************

Bon voyage! (French)

Alright, Duckies, what the bubble bath is going on here! What is Hudson playing at?! 🗯💬💭🫣

Tell me, you have to know what's going on.Don't look at me! I don't know what's going on.

Let's face it, do I ever know what's going on? Not really, I'm like a SIM sometimes,  I walk into a room and completely forget why I'm there. Was it to kick it with my sister? Was it to have a random dance party? Was it to have a freak out? I mean, we may never know.

They all seem super likely, though the dance party is definitely my preference. And that's not because I can dance because I can't really dance. I can successfully look like an idiot who doesn't care what people think. It's my true talent.

You might think I'm a good writer, pssh! That is beans compared to the skill I have to not care about looking like an idiot. Don't be jealous, everyone has their strengths, this just happens to be mine.

A good writer and an idiot without a care, it almost seems unfair of the world. But it is my burden to bear.

Now that we don't really know what I'm going on about let's leave it at that. Vote, comment, follow but only if you feel like it!