Chapter 343

• The others are up on deck, lazing around and eating a cold buffet set out on a long, low table by the loungers; it looks incredible, and my stomach rumbles despite the anxious tension between Jake and me. It’s a welcome distraction, and I head straight for it to fill myself a plate, deliberately ignoring him behind me.
• “Oh, the love birds have returned,” Leila squeals and almost throws herself into my arms for a hug. I cast her a warning look, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
• “We went for a drive.” Jake’s broody tone comes from far behind me, as though he’s still standing at the top of the stairs to the deck; I ignore him. Leila casts a worried glance behind me and then back at me, but she keeps her mouth closed. I hear his footsteps as he leaves and heads down to the lower deck, and I’m relieved. We could do with some time apart to get over whatever this is between us; I can’t even begin to dissect the past twenty-four hours of this trip. So much for a vacation that would relax us!