[Fiona POV]
Do I feel insecure about my body? Yes, I had dated bums that had told me how disgusted they were about my body. Do I have a praise kink? Also, yes, who doesn't like being told their gorgeous?
Did Heath satisfy my kink? Definitely, the man is passionate about loving my body, and I feel really secure about it.
Sure, many would have liked it if I waited a bit before sleeping with him again, maybe take it slow like Selby and Lucas, you know, start with the dates, and take it slow, but you didn't hear how that man moaned my name in his sleep, so shut up.
"What are you smiling at?" I am startled by Selby, who catches me smiling at myself.
"Nothing," I say, clearly embarrassed, and I hear Heath chuckle happily.
"So, has anyone seen Carl?" Esther asked, completely draining my happy mood.
"No, I haven't. Why are you asking?" Heath says, annoyed.
"I was just worried about..." She doesn't finish her sentence as Carl joins us.
"Morning," he coldly says, his face bruised up and still smelling like alcohol. Everyone had tensed up as he sat at the table. Selby and Clover were the first to look at me suspiciously.
I shrugged at their suspicious looks; I had a look at Heath, who had balled his fists up with anger.
"Carl, you are here," Esther chimes happily, "What happened to your face?"
"Hmph, some girlfriend-stealing fool happened," he snorted, glaring at Heath, who was glaring at him back.
Girlfriend? What about your girlfriend, Carl? Because, for as long as I have known you, you have always been single. Who is this monster who stole your imaginary girlfriend?" Heath says sarcastically.
"You know, I looked up to you," Carl says angrily, This early in the morning, we are going to have to witness another fight.
"Well, I didn't ask you to look up to me, Carl," Heath shot back, "eat your food and stop fighting for imaginary girlfriends."
At Heath's remarks, Carl had stood up to retaliate, but he had knocked over a jug of juice as he stood up, knocking it into Clover's lap.
He had looked at the mess he created before rolling his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was shut by a punch on his face from Gian.
Gian was not a violent person, but if there was one thing he drew the line on was disrespecting his wife, and the clearly unbothered look on Carl when he spilled juice all over his wife was a sign of disrespect.
"Gian," Lucas shouts as he restrains the angry husband.
"Apologize to my wife," he roared, scaring Carl.
"I… I am sorry, I didn't mean to," he stutters. "Heath just angered me, and I didn't see the juice and I…. I am sorry."
"Go sober up, because you seem to be too drunk right now," Lucas says.
I had watched him walk away from the table like a dog with its tail between its legs. It was pitiful, I felt bad to see him fall apart.
I looked away from him to meet Heath's eyes, who was clearly unamused by how I felt sorry for Carl. How am I supposed to be unsympathetic?
"Whoa, Carl seems to be in bad shape, huh?" Esther says, clearly not reading the room, "I wonder who stole his girlfriend. It must be a terrible person."
"It was me; I stole his girlfriend; you have a problem with that?" Heath shot at her; he was angry at me for feeling sorry for Carl and was taking it out on Esther.
"Wow, guys, can we stop the fighting?" Selby says. She was enjoying this. I knew she was; I could see her devilish smile.
"Sorry," Esther says, troubled clearly. Ugh, Heath really needs to control his temper.
"It is okay, Esther, don't worry about it," I say firmly, "Heath, can I have a word with you in private?"
He had followed me out of the breakfast room to the deck of the ship swiftly. "Did I do something wrong?" he says, wrapping his arms around my torso.
"Why did you yell at Esther?"
"She was trying to instigate sh*t, you saw it too, right?" he reasoned.
"No, I didn't see it. Look, Esther can be a bit timid at times, and she is very unaware of her surroundings. Okay, she didn't know Carl was talking about you." He had raised his eyebrow, clearly judging me.
"Fiona? That woman knows what she is doing. Okay, she is trying to start fights on purpose," he says, but I don't believe it. She is the same woman who didn't understand when Clover wanted her to stay when she was confronted by her former in-laws; she can't be aware of the mess that is happening now.
"Okay, let's say she is trying to instigate things. Why are you letting her win by fighting Carl? He is not worth your time nor energy, Heath," I scolded.
"He is sure worth your pity and sympathy, though," he says.
His fingers started trembling as he started playing with my dress, his eyes only emitted nothing but pain. It seems this will be a big problem for us.
"This is just the person I am, Heath; I cannot help but care if others are hurt," I reasoned, "I will try my best not to care if that is what you want."
"No, I… I just feel fearful. I know this relationship just started, but I still don't want to lose you to him," he says in a low tone.
"Look at me," I say, adjusting his head, so his eyes meet mine, "stop worrying about a man that has zero significance in our relationship. Heath, I am not getting back with him. Why would I choose him over you?"
"I know, just a little insecure," he admits, "but I will deal with this okay, I trust you."
"Good, you cannot ever feel inferior to a man like Carl ever," I told him before claiming his lips, mine. I really want this man to be mine.
"Let me take you out on a date tonight, just you and me," he says into our kiss.
"Hmmm, can't wait, you better make me feel special," I tease.
"I will make you feel extra special, I promise," he says, gently kissing my forehead.
"Um….," I looked behind us to see Clover standing there waiting.
"Oh…. Clover, is everything okay?" I asked, rushing to her side, "Is the baby okay?"
"Stop worrying, I just need to have a word with you," she says.
"I will leave you two to it," Heath had walked away, leaving Clover and me alone, and Selby joined us with a chair later on.
"Okay, what is it? You are scaring me," I said. Clover had been looking at me very suspiciously.
"It is nothing, I just want to spend time with my friend," she says.
"Come on, Four Leafs, be honest," Selby scolded. Clover had taken a deep breath.
"Well, I really want you to be happy," she said, "but I don't really know about this Heath thing."
"What…. What do you mean?"
"Well, we both know him; we know his lifestyle well. I don't want you to get hurt again, Fee," Clover reasoned, "Gian says he is serious about you, but I am very scared. I don't want you to spiral because of yet another heartbreak."
"I... Um…." I struggle to respond; she is clearly raising reasonable and valid worries.
"I get what you are trying to get at. Fiona is one to jump into a relationship without a life jacket, but I really think this time is different," Selby defended.
"I just, I don't want any of you to get hurt, both of you," Clover says, "but if you are happy, I am happy."
"That is not encouraging at all," I say, "Tell you what, just monitor our relationship from afar. If you see that he is going back on his word to never hurt me, just tell me, and I will break up with him.
"No, you don't have to do that," Clover says, "I am just being paranoid, okay, maybe the pregnancy hormones. I should be happy you are willing to love again."
"Clover."
"Anyway, I heard him say he will be taking you out on a date soon. Are you ready?" Clover says, changing the subject.
It is my friends who pick up the pieces when I am hurt, so I understand her reluctance to this romance story of mine, but I hope she sees what I see in him soon.
"I don't know, I don't even have a dress," I said, as the two had dragged me back to my room to get me a dress.