6.     Unique Flavor

I chanced a look at Emre who was silent and staring at the ocean. He suddenly turned and looked straight at me as if he could feel my gaze. Our eyes clashed as a song began to play and I couldn’t look away. I was like a deer in headlights, like the inadvertent prey caught in the hunter’s eyes. He tilted his head and raised a brow, as if asking me something. He slowly walked towards me and wrapped his hand around mine on my now nearly empty glass.

“I’ll get you a new one” He said, still not breaking the stare.

I looked down, flexing my hand against his.

“No,” I could hardly speak, I felt breathless from his proximity, “There’s still some left.”

He gave me a smile suddenly, lifted his hand holding the glass on top of mine and still looking at me, drank the remaining contents of the glass.

“That really is a very unique flavor,” he said as he walked away towards the bar with my empty glass leaving me staring after him. Again.

I felt like my hand had been burned where he’d held it.

Melisa looked from him to me, she was obviously confused.

I didn’t know how to explain anything to her.

Luckily, at that moment, Zayn came up to us and asked us to come and dance.

Melisa, born to dance couldn’t refuse and I was thankfully saved.  

“Come on Sarah, show us your moves.” Zayn teased me.

I shook my head; I wasn’t comfortable enough to dance. I only danced when I could enjoy it. It was freeing, it was joyful. I realized I hadn’t danced in a while.

Eric came up to me, swaying with the music and placed his hands on my waist, he twirled me around once so that I landed against his chest “Cmon babe, lets burn the dance floor”

I laughed at him and pushed him back, “No, I can’t dance. You know that.”

I just couldn’t dance with him, the only man I’d ever danced with stood across from me and he’d broken my heart.

At the back of my mind, I was wondering why I didn’t feel anything when Eric held me, when he touched me, even when he kissed me when only a touch, even a look from Emre was enough to light me up like a 4^th of July firework.

It was absurd. I felt so guilty; I couldn’t even look him in the eye.

When Pelin pulled him away, I was almost grateful to her.

I felt miserable and it was all because of the man standing there as if nothing was wrong. I stared daggers at him, thinking I needed a break.

“I’m going to go use the restroom,” I said to no one in particular, making my escape.

I assumed one of the guest staterooms might have one and I walked inside the first one I saw, in a hurry to get away from everything.

I was right, it had an ensuite restroom but it looked like I’d walked into the wrong one. I didn’t know how but I knew whose room I had walked into. Emre’s, it was his room.

Maybe it was the hint of the cologne in the room, maybe it was the shirt on the bed but I knew right away. I didn’t know what to do…

I could use the restroom here without anyone knowing, although I didn’t really have any particular need. It had just been a ruse. Why then should I go to another room, I thought as curiosity arose inside me.

The room was obviously in regular use, I though as I looked around. Did he live on his boat?

What did that mean?

Before I could find out, the room burst open.

“Sarah?” Emre walked in and slowly closed the door behind him.

“I was looking for the restroom,” I hurriedly explained.

“So, you found it?”

“Yes, I’m sorry for intruding. I didn’t know this was your room”

“No harm done, do you like it?”

His question sounded strange.

“Like it? Oh the restroom, yea it’s great” I finished lamely, wondering if he knew that I hadn’t even entered it.

“No, I meant on the whole, the yacht” he tilted his head to one side and smiled as If knowing exactly what was going inside my head.

“Emre..” I realized this was the first time I’d said his name since we’d met again.

“I…Its great…I should go,” I stammered looking anywhere but at him.

It was being in the same room with him. I moved towards the door but Emre didn’t move.

He shook his head and stood in my way.

“Emre?” I whispered.

Abruptly he moved and took my hand. He tugged me towards himself but at the last moment, flipped me so somehow I was against the door now and his hands boxed me in on both sides.

He reached out a hand and clicked the lock.