‘Ellis, I feel the same.’
He continues staring at his feet. I want him to look at me.
‘I didn’t plan for this any more than you did,’ I say. ‘But I can’t stop thinking about you either. I—’
Under the black night sky, he takes my face in his hands and kisses me.
Chapter 50
My phone alarm goes off at 7 a.m. As I wake up in my own cabin, my first thought is why did I drink that last Electric Lemonade, and then my mind quickly turns to Ellis. I kissed Ellis. Wait until Naomi finds out.
Kissed the captain. More later.
He didn’t just kiss me, hekissedme. My entire body flushes with excitement. I’m giddy. Forget parasailing, I’ve never felt higher. I’m not sure I will ever recover.
We decided not to take things any further last night, despite my body screaming at me to reconsider. Too many drinks, too many feelings. I could tell Ellis needed time to think and maybe I did too. But that was six hours ago, and we’re leaving soon. I have to see him. I brush my furry teeth, throw on some clothes and eagerly arrive at his door twenty minutes later.
‘Hey, Sophie,’ he says flatly. I can spot a hangover when I see one. ‘I’m skipping breakfast this morning. My appetite is non-existent. You go ahead.’
‘I wasn’t even thinking about breakfast,’ I reply, which initially was true until I remembered they have pain au chocolat. ‘Can I come in?’
He has two cases laid out on the floor, another annoying reminder that we’re leaving in a couple of hours. I haven’t packed a thing. This is too important. He continues to empty his wardrobe while I sit on the bed.
‘So, I was thinking,’ I begin. ‘When we get back, to London, we should meet up.’
‘Yeah,’ he replies with zero enthusiasm. ‘That’d be nice. We can have coffee or lunch or something. Depends on where I’ll be.’
Coffee? Lunch? You told me you have feelings for me and had your tongue in my mouth. Where is the enthusiasm?
‘No, I meant, like a date. I’d really like to see you again. You know, see where this goes?’
The look on his face isn’t the one I’m hoping for. He sits beside me on the bed.
‘Sophie, I’m sorry, butthisisn’t going to go anywhere.’
‘But I thought. . . last night. . .’
‘I know.’ He rubs his forehead. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘What am I missing here?’ I ask. ‘I know we’d had a few drinks, but I didn’t just imagine last night. Why the change of heart? I don’t get it. Was it something I—’
‘It’s not you, believe me,’ he says, his face looking strained. ‘I meant everything I said. You’re amazing and funny and. . . fuck, I should have been honest from the start. It wasn’t fair to you.’
‘Honest about what?’ I start to feel a little unwell. ‘Jesus, Ellis, just spit it out.’
‘Sophie, I’m not divorced.’
My already fragile stomach continues to churn. ‘Not divorced?’
‘No, I’m—’
I shoot up, creating some distance between us. ‘Are you kidding me?’
‘If you’ll just let me explain, I—’
‘Explain what? That you’re a liar?’ I start to pace the floor. ‘That somewhere in London there are two kids and an oblivious wife waiting at home for you? Jesus, I’m an idiot.’
‘You’re not an idiot! It’s not like that.’
