A P H

re Dominico told me I should "hide" if I want to

g sure his nose isn't broken. I don't really n

gging my sleep-deprived brain. Only, it's obvious what happened between

dy stopped, and his septum doesn't look deviated, but the bridge of his nose does look swollen.

e I sit next to him on the left side of the bed. It's not too small for two p

closet and a bathroom. A few windows. A loveseat. There's

k. I can't look him in the eye. My heartbeat won't stop running sprints, making it d

tubble keeps scratching the side of my palm. But I have to prete

trut

not to look so sh

why he wants me

t and voice, too busy timing his steely

hat you just got

t dropping the ice

e he's waiting for me to reply to h

bruising nose. "I only came here to work as a server, and tend the bar

one of his business. "You can't be serious,"

nd stare into h

't be so trusting. Being nice al

rops. I feel li

veryone from

The i

at what almost happened between me and his dad is my fault? Li

l grip, but firm enough to make me stay on the covers, right next to him. "

him in the eye. I jerk my forearm out of his grip, breaking up our staring conte

s that why he knows my name? Or beca

?" he m

nce away and try not to fr

"You should know by now my father's n

get where he's coming from, and I should a

just too intoxicated to realize what he was doing to me?

e, his calloused fingers touching mine, the lights casti

ten, and my mouth won't open. I sit hunched over on the bed

es his dark stubble, the look on his face more disapp

hy

up on his long list

Did he just ca

on my rest days because I want to b

Oka

he face till his nose starts bleeding again. I clench my fists and stay put instead. Luckily fo

foot of the bed and won

bearably humiliating encounter with his father, but after everything I jus

nurse on board as far as I know, but the girl's probably asleep or

ll do most of the work myself. "Appreciate th

hile he reads some me

his cousin's first name on the top of the screen. Lorenzio. "You s

Thanks," he

ble. My feet itch for the door, his phone keeping him preoccupied, but I'd rather s

l li

imes a day. 15 minutes at least. Take painkillers if th

his phone, squinting at me as if he finds my free medi

ve and interesting green eyes I've seen in person. But he doe

s stubbled chin and smirk

surg

your

the n

the dining chairs without taking

r nose, it could end up permanently deformed. It can cause breathing issues, sinus problems, among other

much as a glance at me. Like he thinks I'm be

some

you g

h the doorway. This cabin suddenly feels too warm an

ing. "I'll take the couch." He averts his

x feet, and I'm sure a rich kid like hi

between his brows. "Trust me. Yo

f are in the lower deck." A

Dominico keeps his warm hand near mi

ut he probably doesn't care. I look away and take a deep breath. Fo

e touches me. Actually it feels more like a bi

d

." Dominico finally

ch p

boundaries," he says matter-of-factly

just because his father's had one too many drinks. "Too bad he's still my empl

timidating physique. He stands in front of me, our shoes already to

long blond hair, black arm tattoos, and a brown goatee. "Did y

orize the mystery man's

you shou

ryptic reply, more int

es his lips together and tosses his phone on t

g his nose to make the swelling go down faster, but the other part no longer gives a shit

n't wan

cof

oes he think I've heard too m

?" I mean, 'kill' is the more accurate verb, but I have a

throat and drops his

artin' to feel like a one-sided conver

ed multiple crimes and I'm pret

im

. I'm s

ly thinks I was shamelessly eavesdropping on his priv

assing by. It... I

es at his phone again. "Anyone eve

I'm just digging my

gotta lie better if I want to

owl at his question, my chest feeling constricted like my thr

ght lose my job next week, and me spending the night alone with this guy on his

on the loveseat. It's closer to the left side of the bed, and it doesn't look big enough for a man his size. "If you're

iberately tryin

nation, and I don't think he's just being extra. I know in my gut he's not the type. "I-I only

at me as he crosses his arms

But I don't wanna keep talking about

f my head, I get goosebumps all over. And for my employmen

tion, now reclining in the two-seater. "Run a bath if you

t wanna see or talk to his father anytime soon, and a bath sounds relaxing, so I grab my bag and head towards the

mm

ing on the couch,"

I'm

si

just pretending

on this boat. It's probably way more comfortable th

ven budge. He could be feeling dizzy as well

uestions and I try to bend the truth again, he'll just bluntly point it out and fur

me privacy. A moment

I unders

just tried to

the mood for that conversation. I'll be floored if he brings it up

about staying in this room, so I lock the bathroom door,

thes. I'm stressed out, hungry, and I've been working for

dbyes c

id-bath. But, quietly, of cour

r someone my height. The water's not too cold, eithe

erneath my skull won't go away, not doin

in this small bathroom for the past 15 minut

and shame keep throttling me. Every time my mind wanders back to tho

heap. And a little guilty. I feel like I need to

th him. The big boss. And I won't be able to do anything about it, e

g my skin raw until I'm wincing in pain.

l job. Not right now. Not when m

ppened, either. The last thing I want

gonna have to figure things out by myself. If I get sacked, I might ha

ant to, but I don't thi