Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Jessica’s POV

The salty tang of the ocean hit me first as we stepped off the shuttle onto the bustling dock, the massive cruise ship towering above like a floating city of white steel and glass.

The ocean didn’t just look like water; it felt like a void. It was an endless, churning expanse of ink-blue that seemed to swallow the horizon whole.

Every time a wave slammed into the hull, I could feel the deep, low vibration through the soles of my shoes; a rhythmic thrum that reminded me just how far we were getting from dry land.

It was supposed to be a soothing sound, a lullaby of salt and spray, but to me, it felt like the heavy breathing of a monster waiting to pull us under.

I’d never been on a cruise before. Hell, vacations weren’t exactly a staple in my childhood-so the whole scene felt surreal.

Porters in crisp uniforms hustled luggage onto conveyor belts, while security lines snaked along the gangway, everyone clutching passports and boarding passes.

The air buzzed with anticipation: families herding kids, couples snapping selfies against the railing, the faint scent of sunscreen mingling with the briny breeze.

Aaron handled the check-in process smoothly, his hand on the small of my back guiding me through the crowd.

We scanned our documents at a self-service kiosk, then joined the line for the final security check-bags through x-rays, a quick pat-down, the works.

Once cleared, we boarded via the gangway, the ship swallowing us into its grand lobby.

My sneakers squeaked on the polished surface as I gawked, feeling underdressed in my denim shorts and tee amid the sundresses and polos.

At the reception desk, a sleek counter was staffed by workers in marine uniformis. A young man with a name tag reading Connor greeted us with a bright smile.

He was cute in a polished, resort way-tanned skin, gelled hair, eyes that lingered on us a moment too long.

“Welcome aboard the Tyrone Oceanic Dream,” he murmured, his gaze sweeping over me briefly before landing-and staying-on Aaron.

“Passport and booking reference, please.”

I felt that familiar, petty spark of feminine pride. I straightened my posture, waiting for the inevitable compliment or the lingering gaze I usually got.

Connor took the passports, and I noticed his fingers brush against Aaron’s intentionally. But I chose not to read meaning into it.

“Jessica,” he said, reading my name without even looking at me. Then he turned his full, predatory attention back to Aaron, his voice dropping an octave.

“And Aaron. Well, Aaron… if you find the ocean air a bit too lonely tonight, the private lounge on Deck 12 is very… secluded. I’ll be off shift at midnight.”

The silence that followed was deafening. I froze, my brain struggling to recalibrate. I had been braced to play the ‘fake girlfriend’ role, but the script had been flipped.

Chapter 47

Aaron’s expression didn’t even flicker. He just stared at Connor with the flat, unimpressed look he usually reserved for a referee who’d made a bad call.

I couldn’t help it. A snort escaped me, followed by a full-blown, wheezing laugh. I doubled over, clutching the marble counter for support.

“Oh my god,” I managed to choke out. “He’s not-Connor, he’s really not-”

Aaron shot me a brief, murderous glare before turning back to the receptionist.

“The room key, Connor,” he said, his voice like grinding stones. “And just so we’re clear, I’m straight. Spectacularly straight. Give us the cards.”

Connor’s face went a shade of pink that matched the sunset, but he handed over the gold-embossed key cards with a trembling hand. “Room 804. Enjoy your… stay.”

I was still cackling as we walked down the hallway, my shoulder bumping into Aaron’s as I struggled to catch my breath.

“Spectacularly straight’? Was the ‘spectacularly’ really necessary, Tyrone?”

“Shut up, Jess,” he grumbled, though I saw the tips of his ears turning red.

The humor died the second the door to 804 hissed open.

The room was beautiful-a sea of deep indigo velvets and crisp white linens, smelling of expensive sea salt and ozone.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the Atlantic that should have been peaceful. Instead, it felt like a countdown to a mysterious moment.

I made a move toward the bed, desperate to just curl into a ball and disappear, but Aaron’s hand caught my wrist.

“Don’t get settled yet,” he said, his voice losing its edge and turning soft.

“We have to meet the family for drinks on the deck. My grandmother… she specifically asked for you, Jess. She doesn’t ask for much, but she insisted that you came along. Your presence would be highly valued by her.”

I looked at him, my heart doing that slow, painful ache it always did when he was being sincere.

“So you didn’t want me to come? It was just a Grandma Wendy request?”

The air in the room shifted. Aaron let go of my wrist, but he didn’t move away. He looked out at the ocean, his jaw tight.

“What do you think, Jess?”

We shared a glance, and his eyes searched mine, deeply.

I knew the answer deep down: he did want me here, more than anyone. But the years of stigma from our past didn’t vanish overnight.

Those old doubts whispered: You’re not enough for his world. What if he regrets this? Despite his change: the kindness, the protectiveness-it didn’t magically erase the scars. I looked away, fiddling with my bracelet.

“I think… yeah.”

He stepped closer, and tilted my chin up gently.

“Then trust that.” His voice was soft, reassuring, and for a moment, the dread eased.

After an hour of rest, we headed out. The ship had set sail, the gentle rock beneath our feet a constant reminder we were

13:15 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 47

addrift.

“Stay by my side,” he whispered into my ear as we stepped into the elevator, his hand holding mine tight, fingers interlaced.

AD

Comment

Send gift

No Ads

13:15 Mon, Jan 125