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My introversion also played a part. When I was nervous, I tended to ramble on like an eejit. But most of the time, I was always too much in my head, using a scowl instead of words to get my point across.
All right, most times I came across as a grumpy arsehole. It was my armor. The only protection I had.
When people took in my size, and my numerous tattoos, they were immediately taken aback. Even though I was twenty-eight and had been dealing with these reactions for over a decade, I still wasn’t used to it.
My twin, Korry, on the other hand, didn’t share my unease.
But he was an extrovert and made friends easily. He and I were night and day, and you can figure who was who. It had been that way since we were kids, growing up in the heart of Dublin.
The kicker was when I told people I used to be a professional fighter. They either had some weird fascination with it or they back-peddled away from me faster than an Olympic sprinter.
And my guarded nature only grew over time. Even more so when I was fighting. The competitive world I’d lived in for two years made me harder, angrier, and I wasn’t a fan. It made me feel even more isolated and alone.
The toll on my body wasn’t good either.
For the longest time, I had a handful of family and friends that I trusted, who trusted me.
Until recently.
I’d been a bodyguard for the past year and a half, and it was turning out to be a welcome change. A lot of security staff I worked with had backgrounds in fighting, martial arts, and the military, so we had a lot in common. A few had since become mates.
My clients were great too. Mostly actors, billionaires, and barristers, mind, but I felt welcome in their circle. I was seen as an asset, not an outlier.
And I was finally getting comfortable in my skin. Sort of.
Being back on boardNow, Voyagershould have been the best kind of holiday gig. I got double my usual pay, the work was mostly self-contained and low stress, and I got to do it all in the Caribbean instead of freezing my arse off back home. And the superyacht had a crew that was as kind as my kin.
Including Charlie.
Especially Charlie.
That’s why it stung when I reached my hand out to help him out of the water and he handed me his bag instead. Like usual, I took the gesture personally.
“When did you get in?” Charlie asked as he stepped onto the deck and shook himself off, water flying everywhere.
I reached for a rolled-up towel on one of the loungers and passed it over to him.
He ran the towel over his wet curls and then down his neck. His white linen shirt and shorts were now plastered to his body and for a moment, my eyes caught on his sculpted chest. Unlike me, Charlie had no tattoos or chest hair.
Just golden skin and tight muscles.
I glanced up and caught his smile. The wide one that showcased both dimples. No one could resist that grin.
Not even grumpy arsed me.
I’m pretty sure that’s why he never had trouble making friends. The sight of it made my tension ease.
Charlie was the first member of the crew to greet me when I stepped aboard this ship months ago. And he was the one person I’d clicked with right away. He wasn’t fazed by my cranky manner, my size, or my raging appetite (if I don’t eat every two hours, best get out of my way).
We’d struck up an immediate friendship.
One that felt more intense than any other in my life.
I found myself anticipating every text or call between us. I’d never been so excited to hear from anyone and wondered why my relationship with Charlie was different.
But then, these past few weeks, he went silent. He told me he was busy with work and other stuff, but I knew that wasn’t the reason for his change of heart. And being the anxious introvert I was, I ruminated for ages on what I’d done wrong.
This week, and for the first time since I’d been a bodyguard, I considered not taking a job because I was unsure about my reception. My boss, Alex, was surprised when I hesitated to say yes to this gig. He knew the reason why I needed the money. I let him think I was mulling it over for family reasons, but the truth was, I wasn’t sure how Charlie would react to seeing me in person again.
