3. Elodie
CHAPTER THREE
elodie
Jade has a shit-eating grin plastered on her face that makes me feel like I’m a child caught red-handed doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing, and my face flames in embarrassment.
“If you’ll just excuse me, some people actually have to use the restroom,” she says while walking between us. Once she’s inside and the door is closed, the silence between us is deafening.
My hands flail uselessly, but my mouth stays traitorously shut.
He waits silently, leaning against the opposing wall as if we weren’t caught making out like teenagers by my friend.
My eyes trail his body, noticing just how much he liked kissing me, and I fight to tear my eyes away before he catches me.
“So...uh. That was...nice?” Is what finally comes out, and internally, I cringe, knowing that definitely won’t go over well.
He arches a brow, irritation written all over his face like an open book. “Nice?” He squints at me as if he’s trying to understand something that he never will. “I fuck your mouth with my tongue, and it’s nice? That’s a new one. I think ‘thank you’ might be a better phrase to use.”
His arrogance causes my anger to flare once again, and if this is a fling I go for, I’ll fight for the upper hand just like I do with everyone else in my life.
I don’t want to fight; I want to enjoy this. I want this trip to feel easy and hot. While that was definitely hot, I can’t do it. I won’t.
Steeling myself against the words I’m sure will lash out of him in response to this, I let loose. “No, thank you.” I pause, giving him a moment to digest what I’ve said before continuing. His expression morphs to shock but I press on before I lose my nerve, praying Jade comes out at the right time.
“I understand that you’re what most girls like.
I even understand your allure. You’re hot, dominating, and all consuming, but I don’t need that in my life.
I deal with too many people constantly telling me what to do, and I don’t want or need that.
I just want something easy. I don’t want to be a storm; I don’t want to wreck anybody.
I just want things to be light and fun. So, thank you, but no thanks. ”
There’s a pregnant pause as he lifts himself from the wall to close the distance between us, his expression now unreadable. Just as he reaches out to me, the bathroom door opens and Jade pops out like the angel she is.
“Good timing, we were just saying our goodbyes,” I tell her, taking her hand and walking off before either one of them can ask any questions. She stays silent as we make our way back out into the night air, waiting for me to talk.
However, I say nothing as we walk hand in hand over to the bar where I order us both new margaritas.
As we wait on the new drinks, she finally speaks. “Damn, bitch. I am so proud of you!
I was nosey, as you know I can be, and I heard your bad-bitch speech!”
She's practically bouncing with excitement, wrapping me in a hug. Letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I wrap my arms around her too. The bartender drops our drinks off on the counter in front of us and she lets me go.
“I can’t do it, Jade. After Dad died, my mom has been suffocating me. I can’t save her and not lose myself. I don’t need anyone else who thinks I owe them something, when I don’t.”
Picking up her drink, she nods in agreement with my statement.
“You’re right, babe. You deserve for this to be fun. And that looked intense. He was trying to consume you, it was more than just a kiss from what it looked like on the outside.” She sips her drink and passes me mine.
“Girl! You’re right. It was so intense...” Trailing off, I ignore the ghost of his lips against mine by taking a sip of my drink. “But what happened to what’s his name? Nolan?”
She laughs. “Knox? Oh, yeah, that one has major mommy issues. Might tap that later though, I got his number.”
I just blink at her and sip my drink because sometimes this girl is just too crazy for me.
“You have issues too, babe, if that’s your thought process. Just saying.” I shrug my shoulders to make it seem less judgy and more like a fact.
Jade feigns offended, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. “ Moi ? Issues? No! Couldn’t be me.”
We both burst into laughter, bumping shoulders affectionately.
The night continues on as we people-watch and have a few more margaritas, laughing at the Chads out in full force, stripping shirts off and twirling them above their heads.
Just after midnight, we find our way back to the dance floor. Rolling our hips and giggling, we sway to the beat as the bass thrums through our bodies.
Hands find my waist and I lean back against the hard planes of a man’s chest. My eyes flit to Jade’s as if to ask if he’s attractive or not so I don’t have to turn around. She gives a subtle thumbs up after her eyes run up and down him.
I know my limits, and as long as he doesn’t push things, we can dance.
I close my eyes and grind my ass against him, rolling my hips under his hands. His fingers flex, biting into my skin a little harder. I relish the feeling that gives me and we keep dancing. My arms wind up behind me and around his neck.
Feeling his hot breath against the outer shell of my ear, my skin breaks out in goosebumps. “I’m Rhett. What’s your name, pretty girl?”
His words are crisp and clear, which tells me he’s not one of the Chads.
I’ll take my wins when I can.
I lean up into him, turning my head to talk back so he can hear me over the music blaring around us. “I’m Elodie, and in front of us is my friend, Jade.”
As if I summoned her, she locks eyes with me before nodding at Rhett. Looking us over, I can tell she’s making sure she doesn’t need to save me.
I mouth, all good .
Nodding at my statement, she yells over the music, “Going to the bar! I’ll be back!”
I flip around for us to keep dancing but also to talk more. The conversation flows freely and I find he’s a teacher as well.
“So, did your friends bully you into this too? Or is that just me?” He laughs at my statement. “Nobody bullied me into anything. I teach middle schoolers; I am a fortress. I couldn’t be bullied even if my friends tried. I chose to come to support my friend after a rough break up,” he says.
“I forgot you said that. Sorry!” I chide myself internally for not remembering what grade he taught.
He smiles. “I am hurt, but I think a kiss would make it up to me.”
A little taken aback by his comment, my eyes widen a fraction. I try to school my face before he sees it, but he catches it. Panic flares to life in his eyes and he stutters a little.
Clearing his throat, he tries again. “I just meant, if that’s okay with you. Sorry...Consent is important to me, I promise.” He removes his hands from my body and stops dancing to hold his hands up in surrender as if to show he didn’t mean anything bad.
I giggle at the gesture and take his hands in mine to place them back on my body. “You’re fine! I didn’t think you meant anything terrible,” I reassure him.
Relief floods his face and he resumes dancing with me in silence before speaking again.
“C-Could I kiss you? Would that be okay...?” His nerves clearly getting to him.
Pausing before I respond, I think of the guy in the hallway and the kiss we shared still on my lips.
Two kisses in one night, two different strangers? Yeah, that doesn’t sound like a great life choice.
I touch my fingers to my lips before responding, “I’m sorry, but I’m not ready for that. You’re incredibly sweet and handsome, but I’ve had a drink or so too many tonight and don’t think that’s smart.” My words trail off quietly, but as his expression darkens, I know he heard it.
Removing his hands from my hips, he squares his shoulders as if he’s prepared to fight for this kiss to happen. The panic on my face must be apparent because as he opens his mouth to speak, Jade swoops in to save the day.
“HIII BABIIIEEEEESSS!” Her shrill scream comes out clear as a bell over the music as she wedges herself between us.
Exhaling the breath I was holding, she leans into me, acting like she’s too drunk to stand on her own which attracts attention from most people in the crowd around us. The sudden attention immediately causes Rhett to deflate substantially.
He scoffs, clearly annoyed at my friend's poor timing before curtly stating, “Well, I guess you ladies have a good night.”
He stomps off, causing Jade to let loose a laugh before yelling at him across the deck, “Bye, Chad!”
S mart ass bitch...this is why I love her.
As if she read my thoughts, she grins at me, righting herself immediately.
“You looked like you needed to be saved. I hope I was right, if not, I am so so sorry!”
I can’t even hide the smile on my face. “Yeah, babe. I needed to be saved. Thank you!”
She pulls her phone out, showing me that we are well into the early morning hours already. The time has flown by in a blur of tequila, attractive men, and sweat. In that moment, tiredness tries to creep in, and I yawn.
“Come on, Cinderella, let’s get you tucked in so you don’t turn into a pumpkin.
I could use the beauty sleep as well.” Before I get a word out, she tucks my hand into hers and begins to weave us in and out of the crowd, making our way back into the ship.
Just before we get to the door, a tall guy barrels into us, not paying attention, and spills his drink all over us and himself.
Looking up from the wet spot on his shirt, he goes to apologize and stops, realizing it’s me.
“Look at you, my pretty little Storm. Are you sure you aren’t trying to wreck me, because this seems like you’re on track for it,” he says smugly while gesturing to his soaked shirt.
“Hello again, Blaise . I didn’t realize you not watching where you walk was me being a storm, but since I am such a problem for you, I’ll be going now. Again ,” I jab, trying to prove that it’s me not him walking away from the pull.
Jade’s eyebrows raise hearing me give sass when that’s not my normal demeanor. Instead of saying anything, she keeps our fingers intertwined to make sure we stay together and waits to see what I want to do.
Thank God for best friends.
He grins like a fox in a henhouse before wrapping his hand around my wrist, jerking me close so he can lean down and whisper in my ear. “Don’t think this is the last you’re going to see of me, pretty little Storm. I don’t normally let go of the things I want. You owe me a conversation.”
It takes everything I have not to lean into him because the allure he gives off makes me want to drown in him. To know just once what it feels like to be owned in a way that I choose to be.
Steeling myself once more, I decide to hell with this. I’m going to enjoy this cruise on my own terms.
Kissing his cheek gently, I whisper back, “I owe you nothing. Once you learn that, we can talk. Good night.”
Jerking my wrist from his hand, I nod at Jade to take off again and we shoot inside to tuck in for the night. I look back before the door closes and find him staring at me with a look somewhere between lust and loathing.
This is going to be a long four days...
We finally make it back to our room, and once we’re inside, Jade wraps me in a hug.
“You can’t deny that you’re attracted to him, El.”
Sliding off my shoes, I snap back, “Nobody said he’s not hot, Jay. The man is a good kisser, chemistry is there, I know. But I want him to come to me on my terms. Not just because he feels like I owe him something. I want him to want me for me.”
She smiles sadly at me for a moment then responds, “I want that for you too, but I heard how you talk to him. It’s like you grew a backbone you don’t have with most of the people in your life.
It’s a light I wish you had more often. I think I just like getting to see you that way.
I love you and want you to be able to defend yourself like that with everyone. Not just some guy on this cruise.”
The words hurt in such a good way, knowing I have someone who loves and cares for me and thinks of my needs first, matters so much. Tears form in the corners of my eyes and I swipe them furiously, trying to erase their existence.
“Thank you.”
She nods. “It’s what best friends are for. Go get some rest! We have a big day of lying out, drinking, and eating divine food on the open seas before we get to Mexico!”
I smile as I walk into my room and get ready to settle in for the night.
Maybe she’s right. Getting under someone may be the perfect way to let off some steam.