9. Elodie
CHAPTER NINE
elodie
Finally waking up, I peek my eyes open to be sure what happened last night was real. I find myself facing the curtains to his balcony that let in soft light, and confirm I’m not in my own room. Lying there for a moment, I let myself wake up.
Turning over, I go to say good morning but I find I’m in bed alone.
Sitting up, I look around the room before calling out his name a couple times.
What the hell…Did he leave me here alone?
Before letting the pit in my stomach form, I get up and check around the suite to see if maybe he left me a note to explain why he’s not here.
After checking all the surfaces of the room, I realize that I am completely alone with no explanation.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Pissed beyond belief, I find a pair of his boxers to slip on, then grab my room key, shoes, and phone.
Absolutely not, after the sex we had…He woke me up a couple times for repeat performances to ghost me?
I fume all the way back to my suite. Pushing the door open, I find Jade sitting there drinking coffee in her pajamas. Her smile drops once she reads my expression.
“Was it that bad? You stayed the night, so I figured the dick was decent. Tell me everything!” Concern laces her voice.
“Honestly, Jay, the dick was so good. But the motherfucker left before I woke up. No note. No kiss-my-ass. Nothing.” I let it all out, my voice raising with anger.
“What? No! Absolutely not. Fuck him. We aren’t gonna let him ruin the rest of our time. Let's get ready to snorkel. It’s what you were most excited for! Go shower the fuck boy off yourself and we’ll go have a goodtime on our own.” She smiles and opens her arms for a hug.
Closing the space between us, I give her a huge embrace and tears spring to the corner of my eyes.
Letting go, I wipe my eyes and head to my room, not wanting her to see how bothered I am by what happened. “I’ll be ready in twenty, you better be too! No makeup for water days! Don’t even think about it!”
I hear her giggle behind me as I close my door. Tears threaten to spill over and I fight it as I go through the motions of showering and getting ready.
It’s a cruise. Flings are supposed to happen. Right?
It was probably never even that serious for him.
You know what? Fuck him.
I am worth more. That was great sex, but now it’s over and I get to go see fish.
Fish over men anyday.
I nod my head, rebuilding my resolve and smile.
Once I’m out of my room, we grab some sunscreen and towels before heading down to the beach to find the meet-up for the excursion.
When we get there, we check in and are advised that if we don’t have reef safe sunscreen to grab some of theirs.
Who knew there was such a thing?
The guy drones on and on about how the boat leaves in about thirty minutes and it’s a twenty to thirty minute boat ride out to the reef. Then he gives us the safety brief of staying with the guide and with our group.
Once he finishes, he hands us waivers to sign and tells us to hang around while everyone filters in.
Moving out of the way for the next people, a hand reaches for my arm.
“Hey! You left so early this morning, what the hell?” Blaise looks down at me with a mix of audacity and confusion I’m not sure why he feels entitled to.
Men.
Before I can pepper him with questions in return, Jade gets to him first.
Removing his hand from my arm, she fires back, “Well, were you there when she woke up?”
Well...she’s right, at least.
He’s silent for a moment, and she continues the charge forward. “Nope. Didn’t think so. Thanks for the sex buddy, but she’s good now, so run along.”
Not thinking his reply is worth hearing, she takes me by the hand, leading me away from him and to the other side of the table.
I don’t even look back, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
He doesn’t get to leave and play the victim.
Absolutely not.
Jade looks me dead in the eyes before shooting him a glare. “Is it okay that I did what I did? Just checking.”
I nod. “Yeah, you weren’t wrong. I was the one left alone.”
Feeling his eyes on me, I keep my back to him while we apply sun screen and wait for the boat to get ready to load.
A few minutes later, they begin letting us on board and our excitement rises again, refusing to let Blaise ruin our day.
“Do you think we’ll see any turtles? I want to see one so bad! I’ve heard they are fricking massive!” Jade says, the excitement making her progressively louder.
I can’t help but to laugh a little. “Well, we definitely could see one! I want to see the little fish and starfish on the reef. The coral should be an array of colors too! I want to see how it all works.”
My brain goes a million miles an hour as I picture all of the different little fish around us.
“Okay, nerd, your teacher is showing. Why don’t we reel you back in a bit.” Jade nudges me playfully with her elbow.
A deep voice interjects before I can retort. “Oh, so we have a teacher aboard! How fun, tell me, what do you teach, Miss…?”
We both look up to see one of the charter workers standing right by us. He’s tall with dark curly hair and a bright smile.
He’s cute, that I can’t deny. I’m not blind.
“Elodie. My name’s Elodie. And it just so happens that I am a teacher, yes.
I can tell you about as much as Mr. Ray can from Nemo.
I teach Kindergarteners. You know, the fun little gremlins.
What’s your name?” I barely contain the laugh at the face he makes when he realizes the age group I work with.
It’s the same face everyone makes. It says wow, you’re crazy, without actually saying it.
“My name's Rafael, and I think if you’ll let me, I could teach you more than Mr. Ray can. I’ll be one of the guides today.”
Jade waggles her brows at me as if there’s a double meaning there but I roll my eyes.
She usually looks for something that isn’t always there.
God bless her and the special type of delulu she is.
Rafael walks off for a moment with the boat's captain to make sure everyone is on board and ready.
The captain’s voice begins to carry over the speakers as he addresses the boat.
“This is your captain speaking. Everyone is now boarded and checked in, so we will be departing from shore. If you need anything, please come to me, or my two helpers. Rafael and Emilio. Any one of us should be able to assist you. Please keep your hands, feet, and heads inside the boat while we move. We should get there shortly.”
The engines come to life with a roar before the boat is lurching forward and we’re moving away from the beach. Rafael walks back over to his spot across from us.
As if the three of us have been good friends for years, we all sit and laugh, chatting it up to the reef. Jade and I look up startled when the engines stop.
“Wait, we’re already here? That was so fast!” Jade comments slightly surprised.
I nod in agreement as Rafael stands.
“The reef isn’t far, and I think I've heard that good company can help pass the time quickly.” He winks, sending us both into a giggle fit as he walks away.
They prep the snorkel gear and pass it out to everyone while the captain explains both Rafael and Emilio will be in the water with us. He goes over safety and all things we need to know before we get into the water.
They slowly start helping people into the water one by one, and while we wait for our turn, my eyes clash with Blaise’s.
He looks so angry but I’m not sure why.
He did this.
He left me. Not the other way around.
Instead of having a staring contest, I decide to just ignore him and enjoy my time at the reef.
Jade and I get in the water and nothing else matters. We dive and explore different areas, occasionally following Rafael to unique spots.
By the time we climb back into the boat, we’re both water logged and exhausted.
The ride back is just as quick with the good company.
As soon as Jade's feet hit the sand, she gets serious. “Babe, it’s marg time.”
Her determination is evident as she stomps through the sand like her life depends on it. I can’t help but laugh as I follow her.
At least a marg sounds good right now.
She gets to the bar and rapidly fires an order to the bartender then slumps into a chair.
“You look exhausted…” My statement lingers as I think about the trails that are in the jungle along the shoreline Rafael told us about. “But the trails would be sooo fun. Great for photo ops.”
I know what she's going to say before she can say it once her nose scrunches.
“It’s okay that you don’t want to. We could meet back at the room later? I just want to explore for a little bit! I’ll be safe.”
Her questions to come are predictable and I pray I’ve answered them all before she can ask.
“You know what, deal. Because I am done for right now. That took so much out of me. Just don’t take too long, okay?” She sips the drink in front of her and before she can change her mind, I slip away.
“Okay, meet you at the room later! Love you, byeee,” I sing-song, taking off toward the jungle-looking pathway ahead of us.