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However,the minute I approach her to talk or even ask how she’s faring, something always comes up. It has gone on forso long that I have stopped trying as much as I used to in the earlier weeks. Now, we just say a quick hello to each other whenever we happen to walk past each other or when I address her and the other students.
It’s notlike I didn’t know things would change as soon as the others arrived, I even prepared myself mentally, but it still doesn’t stop me from missing our time together. I miss our random conversations, us lying side by side watching the stars, us teasing each other, us dancing offbeat to the music in each other’s arms.
I even missthe way her lips felt pressed against mine, the increase in her breathing when I caressed her face and her eager moans when I deepened the kiss, pressing her body against mine. I miss her beyond what words can comprehend.
It’sno wonder that when one of the lead researchers taps me, pulling me out of my thoughts, I find that I’ve been staring right at Charlotte. She has her head thrown back, laughing so carefree where she is seated on the makeshift dining table among her colleagues having dinner.
I blink and return my attention to Ellen, who watches me with concern. “I’m sorry, can you repeat what you just said?”
She peers into my eyes.“Are you okay, Chris? You seem a bit off or is this place finally getting to you?” She grins and tucks a stray lock of her red hair behind her ear.
I almost rollmy eyes at her attempt at flirting. She has been at it since her first day here, but I have managed to ignore every move she makes. Ever since Charlotte, the thought of being with another woman hasn’t crossed my mind and even if it does, it isn’t as enticing nor does it interest me in any way or form. And if Ellen wasn’t one of the best researchers in the field of Aquatic Microbiology, she’d be on her way back home first thing in the morning.
“If it is…”she continues and boldly places a hand on my arm. “I’m sure I can find a way to make you feel better,” she winks, then giggles.
I raise a brow,marveled by how forward she is being right now. This has never happened before. I’m about to chastise her when I feel someone’s gaze on me. I turn my head and see Charlotte staring right at me.
My lips raisein a small smile, but her eyes fall on the hand on my arm and her stare turns into a scowl. She turns around and returns to chatting with the others.
Shit!Annoyed, I grab Ellen’s hand and toss it away. “We are here to do a job, Miss Stone. I’ll suggest you remember that and quit being embarrassing.”
I don’t haveto hear the loud gasp that Ellen releases to know that my words are harsh, but I really couldn’t care less.
All I care about isthe look on Charlotte’s face and her interpretation of what she saw. We may be nothing more than friends, but for some reason, I don’t want her thinking that there is something going on between Ellen and I. Ellen swallows audibly before me. “I apologize, sir, for my disorderliness. I never… I didn’t mean…” She stammers, struggling to form coherent words.
I runmy hand through my hair, sighing out of frustration. “It’s fine.” I wave her off, then nod towards the log book in her hand. “Continue with the briefing, please.”
I listento her drone on and on about supplies, maintenance, the equipment, and so many other things while my mind strays to Charlotte, on occasion. Eventually, Ellen stops talking and proceeds to apologize again, but I’m too busy looking for the woman I can’t stop thinking about instead.
She is no longer seatedwith the others and she isn’t anywhere around the science area either. I cut Ellen off in the middle of her apology and walk away, in search of Charlotte. I hate it when she isn’t anywhere in my sight for even a second. How am I going to make sure she is safe if she’s nowhere to be found?
There are toomany people around for me to see clearly and find her, so I approach one of the PhD students and ask for Charlotte’s whereabouts.
“I thinkshe went into the bunker room,” one of them, Lelah or Lisa, says and I say a quick thank you before heading to the bunker room.
I pushopen the door and instantly see red. The bunker room is divided into sections, one for each person. The section for the PhD students is at the very back. When I make my way in there, Charlotte is seated on her bunk, but there’s someone else on the bed with her.
Croppedbrown hair and hazel eyes, a little bit on the bulky side and almost as tall as me, I immediately recognize him as Lance Quinton, one of the PhD students. He whispers something to her, causing her to giggle, and jealousy rears its ugly head within me.
He nudgesher with his shoulder and I feel my hands turning into fists. When his hand slips into hers and her eyes take on a hint of discomfort, I can no longer stand there and take it. I clear my throat, announcing my presence and the two jump apart in shock.
Through gritted teeth,I say, “I would like to speak to Miss Wilson alone.”
“Of course, sir,”Lance responds and rises to his feet. “See you later, Charlie.” He smiles at her and she smiles back. “Excuse me.” He nods politely as he walks past me, but all I want to do is knock out all of his teeth with my fist.
When he’s goneand it’s just me and Charlotte, I exhale and dip my hands into my pockets. “Mr. Quinton, huh? You must have a lot of free time to be in here flirting with him.” I walk towards her.
Charlotte shrugs casually. “There isn’t much to do in here anyway and I can spend my break however I want, thank you very much. Besides, you are one to talk.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”I glare at her.
She glares right back.“Talking to me about flirting when you and Ellen can barely keep your hands off each other.”
“Her hand was on me,not the other way around, Charlotte.” I suck in a deep breath, closing then opening my eyes. “Are you jealous, is that what this is all about?” I point at the space beside her where Lance sat a few seconds ago.
“Jealous?”Charlotte exclaims with a scoff. “If there’s anyone acting jealous right now, it’s no one other than you.”
I clench my jaw,staring down at her. “Do you like him then?”
