A Night Of Intoxication

“Xavier, you’re quite the dancer when you’re drunk,” Tina said with a hint of surprise in her voice, her breath warm against his ear.

Xavier chuckled, the alcohol buzzing through his veins. “I didn’t know I could dance either… Honestly, I don’t even remember the last time I did.”

The music thumped around them as Xavier moved closer to Tina, syncing his movements with hers. He’d lost track of how many vodka shots he’d had by now. Everything was a blur of lights, laughter, and bodies swaying to the beat. Tina’s friends were dancing nearby, but his focus was entirely on her.

“You’re so handsome,” Tina said, her hand sliding over his muscular chest.

Xavier heard the compliment and locked eyes with her. In the next instant, she grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward her. Before he could react, her lips were on his—fierce and intoxicating. For a moment, he froze, and then the alcohol took over.

He kissed her back, harder, his hands slipping around her waist as the world around them faded away. He was losing himself in the moment, ignoring everything else, swept up in the heat of it all. The music seemed to pulse even louder, merging with the pounding of his heart. Every sensation felt amplified—the softness of her lips, the heat of her body pressed against his, the wild energy of the night.

Just as the moment was about to intensify, a sudden vibration against his leg made Xavier pause. He pulled out his phone, which was ringing.

“Leave it,” Tina said, her voice irritated, her eyes locked on him.

Xavier was tempted to ignore the call and pick up where they left off. But when he glanced at the caller ID, it felt like a splash of cold water.

“Logan?” he muttered, blinking and trying to clear his head. He stepped back from Tina and pressed the phone to his ear.

“Xavier!” Logan’s voice was full of energy. “How’s it going, man? Hope I didn’t wake you.”

Leaving a frustrated, yelling Tina behind, Xavier stepped out onto the deck. The cool night air hit him, bringing a bit of clarity to his foggy mind. He leaned against the railing, feeling the salt-tinged breeze wash over him.

“Logan…” Xavier said in a heavy tone, struggling to stay focused.

“What’s up, buddy?” Logan asked again, his tone upbeat.

“I just wanted to check if the cruise is doing you any good. I can sense you’re happy.”

Xavier stared out at the dark expanse of the ocean. The fresh air sobered him a little, and Logan’s words echoed in his mind. The waves crashed rhythmically against the hull of the ship, a soothing contrast to the chaos of the party he’d left behind.

“Yeah,” Xavier said, his voice steadier now. “I… I’m feeling better.” He left the railing and headed toward his room, the exhaustion of the night catching up to him. His steps were sluggish as he trudged down the hallway.

“Good! I told you this trip would be good for you. Have fun and forget everything else for the remaining six days of your trip,” Logan said.

“Yeah… I am enjoying it. Can you believe I was partying and drinking with a bunch of girls? I don’t even remember the last time I partied with friends,” Xavier said, exhaling deeply.

“Then I must’ve interrupted you. Go back to the party and try to find a girl for the night… man, you need it,” Logan said, trying to persuade Xavier to enjoy himself more.

“Nah… I’m done with partying. I’m going to sleep,” Xavier said, exhaling deeply. He reached his room, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

“Go back to the party and live in the moment,” Logan insisted.

Xavier lay down on his bed and said, “No… I’m sleeping.” With that, he closed his eyes and hung up the call. The bed felt unusually comforting, a welcome contrast to the frenetic energy of the night. He tried to get up and change his clothes, but the alcohol’s effects soon took over. His phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a dull thud. The room spun slightly as he fumbled to retrieve it, but his tiredness was overwhelming.

He flopped back onto the bed, his mind still racing but his body too heavy to move. The sense of relief from disconnecting from the chaos of the party was palpable, even as the residue of the night’s events lingered. With a final, weary sigh, Xavier closed his eyes, letting the darkness of sleep pull him under.