Page 64 of When love and Hate Collide

I’m hungry, but at the same time the sight and smell of food is making me want to hurl.

Begrudgingly I make my way down to the breakfast hall where everyone is waiting for me. Oz, Ash and Jess are all smiles and full of life while Dean is resting against the wall by the restaurant, his shades on and a grim look on his face looking as pleased as I am to be there.

“There she is,” Oz announces with a grin when he sees me walking toward them. “About time kid, I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving, Oskie,” I point out with a tired sigh, and he stops me when I go to walk past him.

“Hold it,” he pulls my shades off and looks me over, his concern glowing in his brown eyes. “Are you okay? You’re looking very pale and unwell.”

“I’m fine Oskie, I’m just tired.” I give him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll catch up on some sleep on the beach and be good as gold for tonight.” Oz eyes me warily, clearly not convinced by my words but doesn’t argue with me.

Just walking into the breakfast hall the smell of the different types of food lingering in the air makes me want to heave. Oz piles a little bit of everything he comes across at the buffet onto his plate. Ash chooses a waffle and Jess goes for a Spanish omelette. I sit at the table staring at the plate of mixed exotic fruit I picked up waiting for my stomach to settle before I eat. Dean isn’t eating anything either, he’s sipping on a coffee while scrolling through his phone.

“Why aren’t you eating anything?” My sister questions, pointing her fork at my plate of fruit.

“I’m not hungry.” That’s a lie. I am hungry, I just can’t stomach anything at the moment. I don’t want to tell them I’m feeling poorly and ruin their day, so I just keep my mouth shut, sip on my bottle of water and pretend it’s just jetlag.

“Dean, why are you not eating? It’s an all you can eat buffet; you should be wolfing down your third plate right about now?” Ash probes and Dean shakes his head, not bothering to lift his eyes from his phone.

“I’ll have something later, I’m not hungry right now.” He replies taking a long sip of his coffee.

“Listen, the two of you better perk the hell up. We have a whole day of activities planned.”

I groan and bury my head in my arms. I was really hoping for a lazy day on the beach to rest.

“Ash, can we not just take it easy today? I’m tired from all the travelling. You refuse to let me bloody sleep, I honestly don’t have the energy to be running around doing activities today.” Dean carps, setting his phone down on the table and rubbing his hands over his face.

“I hate to say it, but I have to agree with your brother, Ash. I don’t have the energy for activities today. Can we please just relax on the beach?”

Ashlyn sighs and nods, “Okay, fine, you two can hang on the beach if you want, but I’m going snorkelling.”

Thank heavens. I’m so relieved and grateful I have to hold back the urge to jump across the table and hug Dean for getting us out of the day’s activities.

After breakfast we all head down to the beach. It’s still early enough that there are plenty of sunbeds available. Ashlyn and Jessica go off to sign up for the snorkelling and Oz went off to check out the gym facilities.

Dean is sprawled out in the sun lounger beside mine. While I’m slathering myself in sun tan lotion, I notice the line of cabanas further up the beach. I hit Dean’s leg and he jumps, pulling his sunglasses down to scowl at me. “What?”

“Have you seen those cabanas on the pier?” I ask pointing at them, and Dean lifts his head to look at them and shakes his head.

“Mm,” he answers curtly and pulls his shades on again and lays down, throwing his arm over his eyes.

“They look so much more comfortable to sleep on. My chair is digging into my back,” I complain with a pout. Dean ignores me and I roll my eyes and lay back down again muttering under my breath. “Jackass.”

“Bitch.” Dean grunts from beside me.

I watch Dean from behind my shades while he sleeps. My eyes leisurely wander over the length of him and for a moment I picture what it would be like if we weren’t Jeyla and Dean, but two people who are attracted to each other and go out on dates and flirt openly without a worry of who is going to see.

With that thought in my mind I drift off to sleep and the next time I open my eyes it’s late afternoon and I’m in one of the cabanas all on my own.

How the hell did I end up in a cabana when I fell asleep on the lounger?

And then I remember complaining about it being uncomfortable to Dean before I fell asleep.Hemust have moved me here after I dozed off.

Ugh, this boy is going to make me lose my damn sanity.

After wakingup alone in the cabana I sit there a while, looking at the clear blue ocean contemplating my feelings toward him. I don’t remember ever being this baffled by one person in my life. I’m honestly exhausted with the back and forth between us. I think it’s time we sit and talk to find some sort of common ground, because I simply don’t have the mental capability to fight with him any longer. With that thought in mind I go on the hunt to find him.

I find Oz lounging in the spot I was in before I fell asleep. “Oskie, have you seen Dean?” I ask and he lowers his shades to give me a quizzical look. “I really need to talk to him.”

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