So, when I woke the next morning to the sound of us dropping anchor and Joel was still asleep next to me, I knew something was wrong.
I pressed the back of my hand to his forehead, his neck, shaking my head when I felt how hot his skin was. “You’re burning up,” I said.
Joel groaned. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I popped out of bed, pulling on a pair of shorts, a sports bra, and a tank top before I rushed upstairs. I made some tea, rummaged around in the crew galley until I found a stash of cold medicine, and then went back to find Joel trying to get dressed for work.
“You should rest,” I said, popping two of the daytime cold pills into my palm. “Here, take these.”
Joel shook his head, but took the medicine, anyway. He accepted the tea and sat on the edge of the bed, one shoe on, eyelids sagging, his hair a complete mess from tossing in his sleep. “I can’t rest. I have to work.”
Just then, there was a knock on our door.
I frowned, glancing at Joel before I hopped up to answer it, and then nearly stumbling back when I swung the door open and found Theo on the other side.
He was already dressed and ready for the day, a robin’s egg blue hugging the muscles of his arms. The top three buttons were popped, the neck hanging open just enough to see the light bit of hair that dusted his chest. He had a coffee in his hand, and he tilted it toward me with a grin.
“Good morning,” he said to me first, and then his eyes settled on Joel, his smile slipping. “Jesus. You okay, Joel?”
“He’s sick,” I said at the same time Joel answered, “I’m fine.”
Joel glared at me, and I widened my eyes on a shrug like what? It’s true.
“You look pretty rough,” Theo said.
“He’s got a fever, and he was groaning all night, tossing and turning.”
“Body aches,” Theo said on a nod, looking at Joel again. “Why don’t you take the day off?”
Joel was already shaking his head, trying to stand, when it looked as if he got dizzy from moving too fast and fell back down onto the bed.
Theo arched a brow. “I think it’s probably a good idea.”
“I need to work.”
“The rest of the crew can handle it. We’re already anchored for the day, and I won’t be having any guests on board.”
“See? And if you rest today, you’ll feel better sooner and can get back to work when you’re actually needed,” I chimed in.
Joel looked defeated. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Trust me, Captain Chuck isn’t giving the crew any difficult tasks today. It’ll be an easy one, mostly maintenance and cleaning and getting ready for the week ahead. Don’t worry, they’ll save the teak-scrubbing for when you’re feeling better.” Theo tried to smile with the joke.
Joel hung his head even more, but started taking off his shoes. I sighed at the sight, thankful he was listening to us.
“Sir,” Joel said after a moment. “Excuse me if this is rude but… why did you come to our room so early?” He paused, looking at Theo. “Or at all?”
My stomach cramped at the way Joel stared at Theo then, with his brows slowly furrowing, like he just realized there was a snake in the grass next to him.
Theo smiled as if it wasn’t odd at all, and then his eyes found mine. “Actually, I came to see if Aspen would like to go to shore with me today.”
A million tiny butterfly wings tickled my chest.
“I have some business to attend to, but Positano is a great picture stop.”
I gasped. “We’re in Positano?”
The soft pull at the corner of his lips was my only answer.
My heart tha-dumped in my chest, not just from the way Theo looked at me, but from the thought of all the amazing photographs I could capture on shore. I’d seen pictures of Positano in travel magazines and on Instagram, the colorful houses and shops nestled into the cliffs along the bright turquoise water.
But one look back at where Joel sat on the edge of the bed with his head hanging between his shoulders, and I knew it wasn’t possible to leave him.
“I should stay and take care of Joel,” I said, forcing a small smile. “But thank—”
“No, go,” Joel interrupted, shaking his head with his eyes squeezed shut. “You should go.”
I frowned. “But—”
“I look and feel like shit, Aspen. I’m just going to be lying here all day, probably sleeping. There’s no reason for you to stay.”
It was a nice gesture, insisting that I go enjoy my day, but for some reason, I felt like it was more that Joel didn’t want me around. It didn’t feel like a sweet, no no, you should go.
It felt like an I don’t want you here.
“But what if you need something?”
“I’ll be sure Emma knows to check in on you,” Theo answered, nodding to Joel with a smile. Then, his eyes were on me. “Come on, Joel needs rest, and trust me when I say you can’t miss out on this stop for your portfolio.”
I chewed my lip, watching Theo, and then Joel, back and forth like whatever decision I made in that moment would somehow change the course of my life forever.
“Go, Aspen,” Joel insisted again. “Please.”
I sighed, not happy with the thought of leaving him, but even more unhappy at the thought of missing out on Positano.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Joel grumbled, and he was already crawling back into bed, wincing against his body aches as he did so.
I nodded, deciding the choice
