Jannah's POV
I stare– admire, glare, whatever you want to call it –while he loads his plate with seafood, my stomach churns a loud yet I can't bring myself to take a bite from the array of food lined in buffet trays. I'm still traumatized by Harry and this place feels ten times creepier.
"You should eat you know," he says offhandedly and I shrug.
"I'm not hungry." I hiss eyeing his plate longingly. I was lying if I said that stuff didn't look appetizing, even with the smell of seawater that fills the air, the aroma is still inviting, alluring even.
I bite my upper lip and look away.
"Something close," he chuckles. When I don't say anything, he adds "c'mon don't you think you remind me of a hungry dog when you're staring at food you know you want" he stuffs a piece of lobster in his mouth.
" I was glaring " I correct.
"Coming from someone who swore to shout if I followed her ,looks like you enjoy my company" a teasing smirk shapes his lips and I roll my eyes.
"I wouldn't want to embarrass you again , would I? " I scoff ,recalling the night I was drunk.
"Okay" he raises his hands up in mock surrender , brown eyes glistening in mischievous amusement "I didn't see that one coming."
"Whatever" truth be told, I feel awkward, yes I wanted to speak to him, yes I sort of like him but here I am short for words and fretting like a middle school student being asked out by a senior for prom.
Without another word, he gets up and moves close to me, the scent of his cologne; sandalwood and peppermint lingers around my nose and I breathe it in, it's not your traditional harsh masculine fragrance, this one is subtle in a loud way.
"You're cold. Put this on and don't be stubborn" he slips his jacket over my arms, pulling it forward till it fits snuggly.
His gesture catches me off guard . The warmth of his jacket seeps into my skin, and for a second, I forget to speak.
"Thanks," I mutter softly.
" So , how come you're here alone? How about Raquel?" The words leave my mouth before I can construct them into anything meaningful.
I shouldn't ask, he didn't ask for personal details and I was being a little bit intrusive but I can't stop myself. Something about him just makes me want him ...to know more about him like the back of my hand and weird as it may sound I'm open to it.
"Raquel?" Ethan squints , his eyes gradually widen as slow realization dawns on him,a playful smile on as he stares at me, slightly surprised before he chuckles, shaking his head as he does so.
"What's so funny?" I snort.
"You mean Lorraine?" He looks at me in confusion. Hmm, so Raquel was a Loraine after all.
"Well, I kin–" I stutter, then it dawns on me slowly – of how I'd made a fool of myself after all. In my defense, she acts like they're in love so you can't blame me. Well if she wasn't his girlfriend who was she ?
" Lorraine is childhood best friend, we've known each other since grade school". There, he's done it again, startling me with his answers that sound like he's in my head.
"How on earth are you doing that ?" I send him an accusing look.
"How on earth do you look like your thoughts are written on your forehead?" He shrugs like he's answered my question and I roll my eyes then uncross my legs.
"You didn't answer my question" I deadpan.
"You're easy to read." he smirks, I'm tempted to give him a sassy look but I don't. He's not worth it.
"Am I going to freeze out here?" I rub my knees " When's this yatch returning to deck?"
"Tomorrow"Ethan says teasingly and leans forward, his chin resting on his palm.
" Tomorrow?" I scoff, I move forward to the edge of my chair and sit straight "stop playing around. For real though, when's it heading back?"
"Tomorrow," he repeats, like it's the most obvious answer and I groan.
"I should have stayed back. Oh my God; where am I going to sleep? I should be watching love island, I should have tried out that restaurant Kaitlyn was rambling about. Why did I do something this crazy? I'm not the crazy one ....I stick to basics. What if this place is filled with more perverts like Harry?" I gasp aloud at the last sentence. I didn't really think of that. Fuck.
"Are there more people like him? Am I talking too much ?" I ask Ethan who looks like he's on the verge of laughing his ass off.
"No ..." His words are shaky and before I know it he's actually laughing....at me and I join in before I can stop myself. The laughter fades into low chuckles and I'm reminded of my dilemma.
"I'm such an impulsive brat" I smoothen my front hair with my palms, so tight that my big forehead juts forward.
"Okay?" Ethan adds.
"You think I'm one don't you ?" I blubber my lips and straighten my legs.
"Do you really want to hear the truth?"there's quiet amusement in his voice when he asks me .I close my eyes and rub my temples, a broad smile on my face. Somehow my heart isn't beating like it wants to flee from my chest.
"No please," I open my eyes and he's smiling at me, not a smirk, a genuine happy admire-ish kind of smile. Okay maybe I made up that last bit.
"You look pretty when you're not rolling your eyes" Ethan's comment makes me blush and I'm glad my hair has fallen over , covering the sides of my face.
"And when you're not glaring too "he adds. To prove a point ,I roll my eyes , he rolls his eyes too.
"Except you want to freeze out here , you don't have much of choice" he pauses.
"I'll accept anything at this point." I say truthfully.
"Good to hear, I'm one of the VIP guests meaning I have a room to myself." His brows are arched questioningly like he's waiting to hear my response, hands resting akimbo on his waist while he looks down on me.
"There's one bed," is my silly response as I try to make sense of the situation. It's a statement coming from a place of fearful excitement.
"One bed "he echoes.