Holiday Chaos Meets Romance Aboard the Elysian Serenade

Harbor Lights – A Holiday Gift to You

It’s the season of cheer, cozy vibes, and all things merry and bright—so I thought I’d sprinkle a little extra holiday magic your way! As we gear up for the launch of Emerald Tide and Sapphire Seas this coming spring, I wanted to share something festive to tide you over (pun absolutely intended). Consider Harbor Lights my holiday gift to you—a short story wrapped with love, laughter, and just the right amount of Christmas chaos. After all, what’s the holiday season without a little extra sparkle (and maybe a sprinkle of glitter on everything)?

In Harbor Lights, we return to the dazzling Elysian Serenade for a Christmas Eve filled with cookie-decorating antics, carol-oke shenanigans, and a Jolly Holiday Ship Race that’s equal parts competitive and hilarious. Harper, Aidan, and their friends remind us that the best gifts aren’t wrapped—they’re the people standing by our side through all the festive fun (and mishaps). With this story, I hope to share a little warmth, a few laughs, and plenty of holiday spirit to brighten your day.

So, grab some hot cocoa, snuggle up with your coziest blanket, and step aboard the Elysian Serenade for a holiday adventure that’s sure to make your spirits bright. Merry Christmas, and happy reading!

The Elysian Serenade shimmered in her holiday best, a sparkling spectacle of festive attire. Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the grand atrium, adorned with garlands of evergreen and cascading fairy lights, evoking the magic of the holidays. At its center stood a towering Christmas tree stretching nearly three decks high. Its branches shimmered with silver, gold, and ruby red ornaments, while tiny crystal icicles scattered rainbows across the polished marble floors. At its peak, a gleaming golden star seemed to illuminate the smiles of every guest below.

Carolers filled the air with gentle sounds, harmonies enveloping guests like a cozy scarf. The salty ocean air carried the faint, sweet fragrance of cinnamon and cloves through the promenade doors. The scene was a tapestry of joy: couples strolling arm-in-arm, families capturing memories by the tree, and the melodic chime of champagne glasses from the Bubbly Bar adding to the festive spirit.

Aidan leaned against one of the marble pillars near the grand staircase, tugging at the knot of his tie for what felt like the tenth time. Harper had encouraged him to wear a striking emerald green tie with his crisp black blazer, saying it would make his eyes stand out. He loosened it a fraction, his expression bordering on mildly exasperated as he scanned the bustling atrium.

“Don’t even think about it,” Harper said, appearing beside him with a sharp but playful glare. She smoothed the strap of her sleek red dress, her hair pinned up with soft tendrils framing her face. Her lips, adorned with a festive scarlet she insisted he loved, curled into a knowing smirk. “If you loosen that tie again, I’m tying it into a bow. And you’ll be wearing it all night.”

He grinned, leaning closer. “If I choke to death, does that mean I’m off the hook for the race?”

“No,” she said sweetly, reaching up to straighten the tie again. “It means I’m finding a new partner.”

“You’re stuck with me,” he teased, his voice low. “No one else would put up with you.”

Harper laughed, lightly swatting his arm. “You love putting up with me. Admit it.”

Aidan softened, his smirk giving way to a small, genuine smile. “Yeah. I do.”

Harper tilted her head, her teasing expression melting into something warm before quickly recovering. “Well, you look fantastic. Stop fidgeting.” She straightened the lapel of his blazer, then leaned closer. “Besides, this isn’t a business dinner. It’s a Christmas race.”

Aidan chuckled. “A race I’m pretty sure Brody’s already taking way too seriously.”

Brody commanded attention from the entire crowd when he entered the atrium as if the mere mention of his name summoned him. It was plain to see why. His bright red pants were a bold and clashing compliment to his candy cane-striped blazer. A lopsided peppermint bow tie and snowflake-embellished loafers added the final touch to Brody’s outlandish look.

Aidan blinked, letting out a low whistle. “What the hell are you wearing?”

Brody grinned, throwing his arms wide as if he’d just unveiled the Sistine Chapel. “This, my friend, is the look of a champion. You’re welcome.”

“It’s the look of someone who got dressed in the dark during a holiday clearance sale,” Aidan deadpanned, shaking his head. “There’s festive, and then there’s that.”

Before Brody could respond, Paige sidled up beside him, slipping her arm through his with an easy familiarity. Her knee-length silver dress sparkled under the lights, the perfect mix of fun and elegance. Her beachy blonde waves, now streaked with festive green highlights, caught the glow of the chandeliers as she shot Aidan a mock-stern look.

“Hey, don’t knock it,” Paige said, defending him. “He’s been planning this outfit since before Halloween, and I’ve heard at least ten compliments just walking down here. One woman even asked if she could take a picture with him.”

Harper covered her mouth to hide a laugh, while Aidan groaned and looked up at the massive Christmas tree as if asking it for patience. “Of course they did.”

“Don’t hate me because I’m iconic,” Brody said with a dramatic flick of his peppermint bow tie. “You can’t buy this kind of charisma, Aidan. You either have it or you don’t.”

With a playful lilt, Aidan murmured, “You can’t buy taste, that’s for sure,” their shared history was evident in the familiarity of their bond.

Paige patted Brody’s candy cane-clad shoulder. “Ignore him. We know you’re the star of the show.”

“We’ll see how long that lasts once this race starts,” Harper said, smirking. “Paige and I are ready to wipe the floor with you two.”

“Oh, please,” Brody said, puffing out his chest. “We’re the dream team, Aidan and I. The Candy Cane Crusaders are here to dominate.”

“Dream team?” Aidan raised an eyebrow. “Brody, we were objectively terrible as a team during trivia on the last cruise. Remember that? We guessed the Great Wall of China was in India.”

“That was an honest mistake,” Brody said, waving it off. “And this is totally different. It’s Christmas! I thrive under holiday conditions.” He turned to Paige and Harper with mock seriousness. “You two might as well throw in the towel now.”

Harper crossed her arms, her smile turning competitive. “You’re going down. Paige and I, the Jingle Belle Warriors, we never lose. Especially not to two guys who thought Mount Everest was in Africa.”

Aidan smirked. “And don’t forget the time Brody argued that the moon landing happened in the ‘70s.’”

“It felt like it could’ve been the ’70s,” Brody grumbled, but Paige and Harper were already laughing too hard to respond.

Before the banter could escalate further, the hum of conversation quieted as the cruise director stepped onto the small stage near the Christmas tree. Dressed as Mrs. Claus, her sequined red dress sparkled as she tapped her microphone to gather everyone’s attention. “Good evening, everyone! And Merry Christmas Eve!” Her voice carried with a warmth that made the crowd cheer. “Get ready for the Elysian Serenade’s first Jolly Holiday Ship Race! Are you all ready to spread some holiday cheer?”

A roar of enthusiasm erupted from the group. The director beamed. “Here’s how it works. You’ll compete in pairs, completing a series of challenges throughout the ship. Each challenge will test your creativity, coordination, and holiday spirit. The first team to complete all the challenges and cross the finish line will win a VIP champagne and dessert experience under the stars!”

Brody nudged Aidan. “VIP dessert, huh? Better start practicing your victory speech.”

Aidan rolled his eyes. “I’ll be practicing my patience instead.”

The director continued, “Now, let me introduce our competing teams!” She gestured dramatically to the side of the stage. “First up: Sleigh All Day!”

Cheers followed as she rattled off the remaining team names in rapid-fire: Reindeer Renegades, Holly Jolly Hustlers, Peppermint Powerhouses, and more. When the cruise director announced “Gold Tinsel,” Harper nudged Paige, directing her attention to a well-matched pair near the back: a woman with long, fiery red hair and a man with a muscular, military-like build.

“They look like they train for events like this,” Harper murmured.

Paige studied them, then grinned. “They might be fast, but I bet they don’t have our charm.”

Brody leaned in with mock seriousness. “Are you two scared already? Because if you want, Aidan and I can slow down to give you a fighting chance.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “Just try to keep your Christmas blazer intact when you trip over your own shoelaces.”

The director wrapped up her speech. “When I blow the whistle, you’ll receive your first clue. Each team will need to solve it to find their first challenge location. And remember, this is about fun and holiday spirit!”

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Mrs. Claus raised the whistle to her lips. Aidan adjusted his tie one last time, exchanging a glance with Harper.

“You ready for this?” Harper asked, her eyes gleaming with competitive energy.

Aidan smirked. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s hope Brody doesn’t start singing carols mid-race.”

The whistle blew, and the race was on.

A rush of feet and excited shouts erupted in the atrium as teams scattered to solve their first clue. Aidan and Brody sprinted through the opulent corridors, weaving between guests who barely glanced up from their cocktails. Harper and Paige weren’t far behind, their heels clicking on the polished floors as they raced toward the glowing neon sign for Hestia’s Hearth, the ship’s state-of-the-art culinary classroom.

The air in the culinary classroom was thick with the sweet scent of vanilla and butter, a comforting aroma that greeted Aidan and Brody as they entered. There were rows of plain cookies, ready to be decorated with icing, sprinkles, and sparkly stuff. Standing at the front of the room, a tall chef in a crisp white jacket beamed.

“Welcome to Deck the Cookies! Decorate five cookies based on the theme ‘A Very Merry Christmas.’ Creativity and presentation are key. Once we approve your cookies, you’ll receive your next clue and move on to the next challenge!”

“This is it, our big moment,” Brody declared dramatically, seizing a piping bag like a weapon.

Aidan sighed. “It’s decorating, Brody. Not battle.”

Across the room, Scarlet and Jameson worked silently, their precision drawing attention. Scarlet’s steady hand piped delicate designs, while Jameson carefully placed sprinkles in even rows. They were so in sync that even the judge paused to admire their progress.

Meanwhile, Harper and Paige scrambled at their station. Harper piped neat outlines when the bag slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor with a soft splat. “Oh no,” she muttered, grabbing a napkin but hesitating, realizing they were now down a crucial tool.

Before Harper could panic, Scarlet calmly placed her extra piping bag on their table. She didn’t say a word or even glance up and returned to her cookies as if nothing had happened.

Harper blinked, momentarily stunned. “Thanks,” she murmured.

Scarlet didn’t respond, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she focused on her next design.

Harper quickly handed the bag to Paige. “Okay, let’s get back to it.” Paige nodded, diving into the decorating with newfound determination.

Nearby, Jameson glanced over at the commotion, his expression softening. “My boys would love this cookie station,” he said to Scarlet, keeping his voice low. “They’d probably use half the icing just eating it off the spoon.”

Scarlet smiled faintly without looking up. “And you’d let them?”

Jameson chuckled. “Depends on how many cookies I’m allowed to sneak for myself.”

Oblivious to the quiet exchange, Brody squeezed a glob of red icing onto his first cookie, dramatically launching into his interpretation of a “Jacked Santa.” He used marshmallows for abs, pretzel rods for his arms, and, inexplicably, a cocktail umbrella adorned one shoulder.

Aidan stared at the mess forming on their tray. “It looks like Santa got mugged in a dark alley.”

“It’s Power Santa,” Brody said, pridefully holding up his creation. “Look at those biceps!”

“It looks like a crime scene,” Aidan muttered, returning to his work. With practiced precision, he piped delicate, symmetrical snowflakes in white icing.

“Boring,” Brody teased, sprinkling red sugar liberally over his creation. “You’ve gotta wow the judge, Aidan.”

“Oh, we’ll wow them,” Aidan replied, his voice dry. “But without terrifying them.”

Across the room, Harper and Paige worked with focused ease. Harper’s steady hand created crisp lines of red and green icing, while Paige added gold glitter and candy cane shards for flair.

“Clean and precise,” Harper said, inspecting her cookie.

“Dazzling and bold,” Paige countered, sprinkling glitter onto a sugar star. She grinned at Harper. “That’s the best part of this, isn’t it? Be yourself, even if it’s a little weird.”

Harper snorted. “Let’s just hope style outweighs chaos.”

Paige chuckled before glancing briefly toward the other teams in the room. Her expression softened. “I don’t know. It’s nice seeing everyone get so into this. We should do stuff like this more often.”

At the far end of the room, the Gold Tinsel team worked like a well-oiled machine. Scarlet’s sharp, precise piping complemented Jameson’s careful placement of accents. Their silent efficiency gave them an almost intimidating aura.

The room buzzed with activity as icing flew, sprinkles scattered, and bursts of laughter punctuated the air.

“Pass me the pretzels, Aidan,” Brody said. “Santa needs more muscle.”

“No.”

“You’re no fun.” Brody reached across the table anyway, grabbing a handful of pretzels.

The judge began circulating, clipboard in hand. She stopped first at Gold Tinsel’s table, studying their sleek, polished tray of cookies. With a satisfied nod, she handed them their next clue. Scarlet and Jameson packed up quickly and headed out the door, their footsteps swift and efficient.

The judge next approached Harper and Paige. Their tray featured a glittering Christmas tree, a golden bell, and an elegant candy cane.

“Beautiful work,” the judge said with a small smile. “Creative and festive. Well done.” She handed them their clue, and the two women exchanged triumphant looks.

“Told you we’d crush it,” Harper said as they hurried to gather their things.

“Come on, Harp,” Paige teased, adjusting her hair as they approached the exit. “Let’s not get cocky yet.”

As they stepped toward the doorway, Scarlet and Jameson brushed past them, their movements swift and precise. Scarlet shot them a tight-lipped smile. “Enjoy second place,” she said coolly before disappearing down the corridor with Jameson, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Paige froze, her mouth dropping open slightly. “Did she just trash-talk us?”

“Oh, it’s on,” Harper muttered, her smile sharpening into a competitive edge. She grabbed Paige’s arm, breaking into a sprint. “Let’s show them the Jingle Belle Warrior spirit.”

Paige laughed, jogging to keep up with Harper’s determined pace. “I didn’t know trash talk was your kryptonite.”

“It’s not,” Harper called over her shoulder. “I just really don’t enjoy losing to people who don’t even smile while decorating cookies.”

Finally, the judge made her way to Aidan and Brody’s table. She stared for a long moment at Power Santa, tilting her head as if trying to make sense of it. Then her gaze shifted to Aidan’s clean, symmetrical snowflakes.

“Interesting contrast,” she said with a slight twitch of her lips. “Creative and artistic. Well done.” She handed them their clue.

“See?” Brody crowed, clapping Aidan on the back. “Power Santa is a masterpiece.”

“I think the snowflakes saved us,” Aidan muttered, but a smile tugged at his lips as they grabbed their supplies and headed for the exit.

“Next stop … victory!” Brody announced as they disappeared down the corridor.

The judge lingered by Sleigh All Day’s table. One teammate, entirely engrossed in their phone, was filming a slow-motion video of sprinkles cascading over a cookie.

“You know you’re supposed to decorate the cookies, right?” the judge asked dryly.

“Oh, we are,” the phone-wielding teammate said, barely glancing up, “it’s for the ‘gram.”

Shaking her head, the judge moved on, leaving the rest of the teams scrambling to finish their creations. Meanwhile, the race continued, with Aidan, Brody, Harper, and Paige charging ahead, their laughter echoing through the ship’s festive halls.

The vibrant energy of the ship seemed to pulse louder as teams darted toward their second destination. Aidan and Brody were neck-and-neck with Harper and Paige, who’d taken a slightly longer route through the pool deck but had caught up with them in the corridor. Their shoes squeaked against the polished floors as they rounded the corner, catching sight of the glowing green-and-red entrance to El Corazón, the ship’s Puerto Rican-inspired bar.

Inside, the air was alive with the rhythm of festive Latin music, the conga beat throbbing through the speakers. Twinkling lights and garlands transformed the space into a festive wonderland. Murals depicting beaches and sunsets covered the walls, but the real highlight was a group of miniature Christmas trees, about three feet tall, lined up on tables.

A cheery staff member in a Santa hat waved the teams in, calling out instructions. “Welcome to Oh, Christmas Tree! Your team will decorate a miniature tree, with one teammate blindfolded and receiving instructions from the other. With only the ornaments on the table and your imagination, let the creativity flow! But no peeking! We will judge your tree on coordination, creativity, and overall festiveness. We’ll give you the next clue once we approve your tree!”

Aidan stopped short, glancing at the trees, then at Brody. “You’re blindfolded,” he said flatly.

“Me? Why me?” Brody protested, already tugging at the candy cane lapels of his blazer.

“Because I don’t trust you to give instructions,” Aidan said, grabbing the blindfold from the table.

“And you think I’m going to follow them?” Brody shot back with a grin but didn’t resist as Aidan tied the blindfold over his eyes.

Nearby, Harper and Paige quickly slipped into their roles. “I’ll give the directions,” Harper said decisively while Paige eagerly grabbed the blindfold.

“Blindfold me, coach,” Paige said, tying her hair back and holding still as Harper secured the fabric over her eyes. “Let’s crush this.”

Gold Tinsel was working with mechanical precision at the far end of the room. Scarlet’s calm voice guided Jameson’s large hands, her instructions sharp and efficient. “Left. No, your other left. Grab the silver star. Excellent, place it at the top. Now grab the red ornament.”

“They’re like robots,” Paige muttered under her breath, catching a snippet of Scarlet’s calm tone as Harper positioned her in front of their tree.

“We’ll beat them with style,” Harper replied confidently. “Alright, Paige, start with the tinsel. Move your hand to the left. No, my left. “Right there, get it.”

“Got it!” Paige said, her hands darting out to grab the long, shimmering strand.

Meanwhile, Aidan was already regretting his life choices. “Brody, pick up the ornaments! The ones directly in front of you.”

“I got this,” Brody said, confidently reaching out, his hand snagging a lime wedge from the shimmering glass bowl of cocktail garnishes on the bar.

“Brody, what are you doing?” Aidan hissed, watching in horror as Brody triumphantly hung the lime wedge on a branch.

“Adding tropical flair,” Brody chirped.

“It’s not a tiki tree!” Aidan groaned, snatching the lime wedge off the branch. “Focus!”

Behind them, Sleigh All Day had bounced back into contention, their coordination surprisingly smooth. One of them, a petite woman with an impressive amount of glitter in her hair, was guiding her partner with the precision of a drill sergeant. Their mini tree was shaping up to look like something from a designer catalog, its gold and red ornaments perfectly balanced.

Harper, meanwhile, was laser-focused. “Okay, Paige, hang the red ornament halfway up the tree. Lift it a little higher, perfect. Perfect!”

“Next?” Paige asked, her fingers poised.

“Grab the gold garland to your right,” Harper instructed, her voice calm but precise.

“Gold?! You know I can’t see colors, right, Harp?”

“Sorry, move your hand slightly to the right.”

“I feel it,” Paige said, her fingers brushing over the garland.

“Go slow, don’t chuck it, that’s perfect!” Harper said, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she stepped back to survey their progress.

At the Candy Cane Crusaders’ table, progress was less… coordinated. Brody, still blindfolded, had now hung two napkins, a stir stick, and what looked like a cocktail umbrella on their tree.

“Brody!” Aidan barked.

“What?” Brody replied innocently. “It’s festive.”

“It’s garbage! Take the napkin off the branch!”

“How do I know it’s a napkin if I’m blindfolded? Huh? Think about that, smart guy,” Brody quipped.

Aidan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I swear if we lose this challenge because of you …”

“Relax, it’s all part of the plan,” Brody said, hanging another cocktail umbrella on the tree.

“Your plan is to make it look like a drunk reindeer threw up on it?” Aidan muttered under his breath.

At the judging table, Gold Tinsel had just completed their tree, its neat rows of ornaments and elegant star topper earning a swift nod of approval from the staff member. Scarlet and Jameson grabbed their clue and dashed out the door, their pace unhurried but confident.

“Let’s go, we can catch them,” Harper whispered as she waved the judge over.

The staff member inspected their tree, taking in the shimmering garland, perfectly spaced ornaments, and glittering star. “Excellent work, ladies! Very festive,” she said, handing them their clue.

Harper grinned, clapping Paige on the shoulder as they grabbed the clue and bolted for the exit. “Great job, Paige!”

“Couldn’t have done it without you,” Paige said, still adjusting to the sudden flood of light after removing her blindfold.

Back at the Crusaders’ table, Aidan was desperately trying to salvage their disaster of a tree. “Take the ornament. No, not the lime! The ornament!”

Brody stubbornly maintained that “The lime wedge adds character.”

The judge arrived, raising an eyebrow at the chaotic scene. “Interesting approach…”

“Please tell me we don’t have to start over,” Aidan pleaded.

The staff member pursed her lips and then smiled. “It’s… unconventional, but it’s festive. You pass.”

“See?” Brody celebrated as he ripped off his blindfold, grinning as they grabbed their clue. “Told you the lime was a good idea.”

“We’re in fourth place,” Aidan grumbled as they rushed out of the bar.

“Fourth place with style,” Brody corrected, giving Aidan a triumphant pat on the back.

Aidan rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile as they dashed down the corridor, the race still far from over.

The Captain’s Haven buzzed with energy, its stage glittering under twinkling lights. A holiday karaoke challenge awaited: teams had to perform a carol and get the crowd to sing along to receive their next clue.

Harper and Paige started strong, their duet of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree polished and crowd-pleasing. Harper clapped to the beat while Paige twirled, her silver dress catching the stage lights. By the second chorus, half the room was singing along.

As the crowd joined in, Harper leaned toward Paige, her voice low enough to be drowned out by the music. “Okay, I’ll admit it. We make a pretty good team.”

Paige grinned, her eyes sparkling. “We’ve always made a good team, Harp. We just needed an excuse to show off.”

Harper bumped her shoulder with a laugh. “Alright, let’s finish this and give the boys something to chase.”

Gold Tinsel followed with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of O Holy Night, Scarlet’s voice captivating the audience while Jameson rallied the crowd with quiet charisma. They left with their clue moments later, still in second.

Then came Aidan and Brody.

“This performance is going to be epic!” Brody declared, striking a dramatic pose, his candy cane blazer glittering wildly under the stage lights.

Aidan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is already a disaster.”

Brody launched into All I Want for Christmas Is You with a painfully off-key falsetto that defied musical logic. Guests doubled over in laughter, clapping and cheering at the sheer absurdity. Aidan reluctantly joined in, shaking jingle bells with deadpan precision.

“Come on, Aidan, give the people what they want!” Brody yelled between verses, throwing an arm around him.

Muttering, “Fine,” Aidan rolled his eyes but leaned into the chaos anyway.

By the second chorus, something magical happened: the crowd erupted into song. Laughter melted into melody as off-key voices harmonized in the pure, chaotic joy of the moment. Off-key voices rose to meet Brody’s falsetto, laughter becoming a full-blown sing-along. A man in a Hawaiian shirt waved his arms like a conductor while a pair of kids in elf hats danced by the stage.

Brody fed off the energy, belting out the final notes with wild abandon as Aidan attempted a stiff moonwalk that made the crowd cheer even louder. A few guests stood and clapped, and one shouted, “Encore!”

The judge wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, holding up their clue. “Well, if this isn’t the definition of holiday spirit, I don’t know what is!”

Brody grabbed the clue triumphantly, holding it above his head like a trophy. “This makes us legendary!”

“You’re something, alright,” Aidan muttered, but he couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at his lips as they jogged out the door, the crowd still laughing and singing behind them.

As the festive chaos of Carol-oke settled and the teams scattered to regroup, Aidan lingered by the drink station, pouring himself a glass of water. His throat was scratchy from shouting during Brody’s off-key falsetto. Across the room, Harper leaned against a pillar, brushing a hand through her hair as she sipped from her glass. Her laughter from Paige’s earlier twirl still lingered in her smile.

Grabbing a second glass, Aidan crossed to her. “For the star of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” he said, handing it over.

“Pretty sure Paige gets that title,” Harper replied, though she took the glass with a smile.

“You’re being modest. You had the crowd clapping first,” Aidan teased, leaning casually against the pillar beside her.

She smirked, but her expression softened. “You know,” she said, glancing at him, “I think I needed this more than I realized. Lately, everything feels so big—work, life, everything. But this? Running around, laughing, not taking it all so seriously… it’s a reminder I didn’t know I needed.”

“Work keeping you too serious?” he asked gently.

She sighed. “Work, life, everything. It’s not a bad thing; it’s just that lately, it all feels so big. This race? It’s ridiculous and messy and doesn’t matter, and that’s kind of perfect.”

Aidan smiled, slipping an arm around her shoulder. “Messy and ridiculous is what we’re best at.”

Before Harper could reply, a familiar voice broke in. “Messy? Now, that’s the feedback I’ve been waiting for.”

Harper turned, breaking into a wide grin. “Maude?”

Maude, appearing entirely out of the blue, sat nearby, cradling a warm cup of tea. Her silver-streaked hair peeked out beneath a red-and-green scarf, her ocean-blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“You two were hard to miss,” Maude said warmly. “Aidan’s moonwalk, especially.”

“I’m never living that down, am I?” Aidan groaned, though his grin betrayed him.

Maude chuckled, standing to approach them. “Good to see you both. How’s the race treating you?”

“Chaotic,” Harper said with a laugh, “but fun. A good kind of chaos.”

“Good,” Maude said thoughtfully. “Christmas has a way of reminding us, doesn’t it? The greatest gifts aren’t wrapped; they stand beside you, weathering the same winds.”

Harper blinked, the words landing softly. She glanced at Aidan, who gave her a small, knowing smile, then turned back to Maude.

“Now,” Maude said, straightening her scarf. “I won’t keep you. Paige and Brody are probably halfway to the next challenge already.”

Harper grinned, shaking off her thoughts. “We’d better catch up before Paige gets too smug.”

Maude nodded, her smile knowing. “Good luck, you two.” With that, she slipped back into the crowd, disappearing as quickly as she’d appeared.

Harper shook her head, still processing Maude’s words, before Aidan nudged her gently. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Harper said, her grin sliding back into place. “But I need to catch up before Paige blames me for losing the race.”

Hand in hand, they raced back towards the others, their laughter echoing behind them.

The gift-wrapping station was a hive of activity, the air alive with the sounds of tearing paper, clicking scissors, and joyful laughter. Each team had five strangely shaped “gifts” in front of them, surrounded by a happy mess of wrapping paper, ribbons, and tape.

Harper and Paige worked like a well-oiled machine. Paige’s signature glittery bows and gold accents complemented Harper’s precise, practiced folds. “This is the last one,” Harper said, her voice steady despite the pressure.

“Done!” Paige said, tying a perfect bow around the last package. The judge stepped over to inspect their work, and after a brief nod of approval, the women grinned at each other and bolted for the finish line.

Aidan watched them go, their laughter trailing behind like a burst of holiday cheer. His chest constricted, not out of envy, but from a sudden understanding. Harper’s smile was as sharp as her usual competitive edge, radiating a confident hunger. The way she glanced back at Paige, sharing some unspoken joke, made him pause.

Winning wasn’t her motivation for running. She was running because she was having fun. And wasn’t that the point of all this? Aidan glanced at Brody, who was humming off-key as he wrapped the reindeer in glittery tissue paper. Like the faint scent of peppermint, Maude’s words lingered in his mind: the greatest gifts aren’t wrapped. He thought of Harper’s teasing grin, Brody’s absurd falsetto, and Paige’s infectious laugh. The victory was insignificant; he had everything he could ever wish for right by his side.

Aidan glanced at the chaos on their table: a plush reindeer half-wrapped in wrinkled paper and Brody humming “Jingle Bells” as he tried to stick three ribbons to a misshapen box.

“We’re not catching up,” Aidan said, setting down the scissors.

Brody froze, a roll of tape dangling from his fingers. “What, you’re giving up?”

Aidan shook his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. “No. I just realized it doesn’t matter. Let’s wrap these however we want.”

Brody’s grin widened. “Finally! Permission to go rogue!” He grabbed the glittery tissue paper and began wrapping the reindeer with a flourish. “I call this masterpiece ‘Festive Chaos.’”

Aidan laughed, reaching for a scrap of ribbon and tying it in a crooked bow around one box. “It’s a bold choice.”

They worked together, abandoning any attempt at perfection. They wrapped each package in the most absurd way imaginable; one was completely covered in tape, another had a “bow” fashioned from scissors, and the reindeer sported a hat made from scraps of wrapping paper. By the time they finished, their table looked like a disaster zone, but Aidan’s cheeks ached from laughing.

The judge approached and stared at their work, her lips twitching. “Creative,” she said sarcastically, giving them the last clue that led them back to the finish line.

“Creative!” Brody repeated proudly, holding up the glitter-covered reindeer like a trophy.

They found the other teams already in a celebratory mood as they reached the finish line. Harper and Paige chilled by the Christmas tree, their champagne glasses catching the twinkling lights. As Aidan and Brody drew nearer, Harper greeted them with a mischievous smile.

“Eighth place?” she said, raising an eyebrow.

Aidan shrugged, his expression relaxed, like it hadn’t been all night. “We made it, didn’t we?”

“And with style,” Brody added, holding up the glitter-coated reindeer. “You know, this is more fun than winning anyway. Who cares about champagne under the stars when you’ve got friends like us?”

“See?” Harper agreed with her friend. “Even Brody gets it. Christmas isn’t about being first. It’s about showing up for each other.”

Maude’s words drifted through his mind: The greatest gifts aren’t wrapped. They’re the ones beside you, weathering the same winds.

Aidan clinked his glass against Harper’s, his heart light. The race was over, but the shared moments would linger far longer than any trophy.

Paige and Harper exchanged amused glances before pulling their partners into another round of hugs. They lingered together, basking in the vibrant energy and laughter of the crowd. It didn’t matter that they hadn’t won the race. What mattered was that they’d shared the night together, wrapped in the glow of Christmas Eve.

“Come on,” Paige said, her hand sliding into Brody’s. “Let’s grab some more champagne and see if we can catch the stars coming out.”

Harper nodded, leaning into Aidan as they followed the others. “Sounds perfect.”

And with that, the foursome headed off into the ship’s festive night, hearts full and laughter lingering behind them.

The endless night sky provided a stunning backdrop for the top deck of the Elysian Serenade, which sparkled like a jewel. The soft breeze, carrying the scent of salt and pine from the ship’s festive decorations, danced with the gentle rhythm of waves lapping against the hull. With champagne flutes in hand, the four friends stood near the railing, their faces lit up by the warm light of the holiday decorations.

A festive cheer filled the downstairs of the ship, with carolers singing by the grand staircase and laughter bubbling up from the lounge. Yet, under the starry sky, the world seemed peaceful.

With her head tilted back, Paige looked up at the sky, dotted with stars. “I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve already. It feels like the entire night flew by.”

She glanced at the others, her voice softening. “You know… I needed this. The silliness, the running around, everything. I don’t think I realized how much I missed all of us just… doing something together.”

“That’s what happens when you spend it running around a cruise ship,” Harper said with a laugh, leaning against the railing. “Or, in your case, getting creatively lost at the gift-wrapping station.”

Brody held up his glass in mock defiance, the candy cane stripes of his blazer gleaming under the deck lights. “Ribbons are the often overlooked but essential element of holiday magic. Seventh place or not, those packages were works of art.”

“They were disasters,” Aidan shot back, though his smirk betrayed him. “You tied one so tight, the judge had to use scissors to open it.”

“That’s called security,” Brody quipped. “Nobody’s stealing my holiday joy.”

Paige shook her head, laughing as she rested a hand on Brody’s shoulder. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Harper leaned closer to Aidan, her shoulder brushing his. “And you,” she teased, “still have glitter on your face from Carol-oke. I told you not to stand so close to the sleigh bells.”

Aidan rolled his eyes but smiled, pulling her in a little closer. “Let’s be honest. You were hoping the glitter would distract the judges and give you an edge.”

“Maybe,” Harper admitted with a grin. “But you have to admit, it worked.”

“Only because Brody sang like a dying cat,” Aidan said, earning a loud protest from his partner.

“Dying cat?” Brody exclaimed, hand over his heart in mock hurt. “Please. Mariah Carey would have been jealous of my pipes.”

“Mariah Carey would’ve left the room,” Paige laughed.

The group dissolved into easy banter, their voices weaving together in the cool night air. Above them, the stars seemed impossibly close, their brilliance reflected in the dark waters below. It felt like all the deadlines and responsibilities were a million miles away. All that mattered was this: the laughter, the warmth, the quiet joy of being together.

A soft voice from a nearby couple carried over the breeze, and Harper turned her head just in time to see a flash of light streak across the sky. She gasped and pointed. “A shooting star!”

The others followed her gaze, watching as the streak of brilliance cut through the velvety expanse before fading into the horizon.

Brody was the first to speak, raising his glass toward the sky. “That wasn’t a shooting star. It was Santa making his rounds.”

Paige rolled her eyes affectionately but clinked her glass against his. “If it was, I’m sure he heard you singing earlier and took a detour.”

The laughter came easily, light and full, feeling as endless as the sea around them.

Aidan glanced at Harper, her face softly illuminated by the twinkling holiday lights. The glow reflected in her eyes, calm and bright like the stars above them. She wore the same relaxed, contented smile he’d seen during the gift-wrapping chaos, which warmed his chest.

Maude’s words floated through his mind like a quiet echo: The greatest gifts aren’t wrapped. They’re the ones standing beside you, weathering the same winds.

Harper caught him staring, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “What’s with the starry-eyed look? You look lost… or hypnotized by Brody’s jacket.”

Aidan let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “No, nothing like that… just thinking.”

Her eyebrows lifted in playful suspicion. “Twice in one night? Should I be concerned?”

He turned to face her fully, his smile softening as the humor slipped from his voice. “I was just thinking… this is a pretty great gift. All of it. Us here, together.”

The teasing faded from Harper’s expression, replaced by a quiet tenderness. She simply looked at him for a moment, her gaze warm and steady, the lights dancing in her eyes. “Well,” she murmured, her voice full of affection, “you’re my favorite gift.”

Then, before the moment could get too serious, she smirked, her voice slipping back into playful territory. “You’re also lucky you’re cute.”

Aidan laughed, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. “Oh, I know.”

Harper leaned into him, her head resting lightly against his shoulder as her gaze drifted toward the horizon. Her voice softened, just loud enough to carry over the gentle hum of the ocean. “I don’t say it enough, but… I really love this.”

Aidan glanced down at her, a curious smile tugging at his lips. “What’s that?”

She looked up at him, her expression warm, her voice quiet but confident. “This,” she said. “Us. All of it.”

The breeze stirred, carrying her words between them, light but steady. Aidan’s grip on her got a little firmer as they stood there, all silent and perfect, until Brody’s voice boomed out behind them.

“To seventh place!” Brody shouted, holding his glass high. “And to a Christmas Eve we’ll never forget!”

“Eighth place,” Paige corrected, laughing as their glasses clinked.

“And to good friends,” Harper added, lifting hers.

“To whatever comes next,” Aidan said, his voice steady, his eyes on the horizon.

They toasted under the stars, their glasses catching the light like tiny constellations. The vastness of the sea encompassed them, yet in this shared laughter and the wind whipping at their faces, they felt an intimate connection, as if the world had narrowed to just the four of them.

With Christmas morning approaching, the atmosphere on the Elysian Serenade throbbed with possibility, as vibrant and limitless as the stars above.