Stranded in Love

Chapter Eleven

Ella's POV

I followed Derick through the trees, watching as he pointed out the carvings he had made in the trees if I was ever to get lost again. I quietly chuckled at his small jive, but part of me was confused. I hadn't imagined that had I? That Derick was leaning in to kiss me... and I was going to allow it.

The warm sensation in my cheeks lingered, and just the thought of kissing him only heightened the buzzing sensation through my veins. What could have possibly possessed me to think of doing that... of kissing him?

What would it have felt like? I wondered if it would be like how it was depicted in the movies Emilia forced me to watch. Maybe it could be an electric spark, or the feeling of floating. It would most likely feel and be just the same as any guy I've kissed before. I remembered closing my eyes as I could feel myself leaning inwards to him, and just as fast as I closed my eyes, he pulled away.

Maybe he realized it before I could. He had every right to pull away from me. He could have had the same thoughts that I did about this situation. Maybe he came to his senses that we were coworkers at the very least, and still technically my boss. The fact that we almost kissed on this island made me want to kick myself.

I wouldn't put myself through this. Once Derick and I were off of this island, life would go back to normal. I would attend my meetings, make my plans, hire people here and there, and then go home. Rinse and repeat the same vicious cycle as the seasons follow one after the other.

Should I tell Derick about what I thought I saw? I was so drained that what if what I saw wasn't even an island, but haze in the distance? I wasn't sure if I could risk telling him, and us building some sort of raft to escape this island.

What if what I had seen was the real deal though? Derick and I could build some sort of makeshift raft, and float our way to this other island, where someone would have to be. We were somewhere in the Bahamas for Heaven's sake, not the middle of the pacific. There has to be someone. I would discuss the thought of it with Derick some other time.

Derick continued to guide me through the trees. He would look to his side where I was, and I'd briefly meet his eyes before bringing them back to the forest floor. Any moment before our near kiss, I'd have no issue staring, but now all I could see was a man who I was attracted to. That thought alone was petrifying.

I couldn't begin to like him. The implications and the looks from others would drive me into a hole I wouldn't come out of. I didn't put myself out in the open to be probed and prodded. I didn't want to be under the microscope of prying eyes. Derick wasn't just anyone, he was my boss.

"Our new home." Derick said, taking me from my inner monologue. We were at another part of the island. Derick had rebuilt the entire shelter, but much better than the one we had before. By the looks of it, it was much sturdier than before. He must have cut some vines to make sure it was more secure.

I didn't fail to notice his use of 'our'. His words warmed my heart, even if he didn't mean them that way. I was thankful for Derick.

"Wow, this looks amazing!" I complimented him, taking in what he had been working on since our argument this morning.

"My bet is that you won't be able to knock this one down like the last." He joked and I put a stray hair behind my ear and looked away.

"I hope so. I think I have a knot on my head." I confessed, rubbing the top of it. Derick nearly jumped at my words. I couldn't even say a word before his hands were running through my hair.

"You don't have the symptoms of a concussion right? Headache, nausea, sensitivity to light?" He prodded and I had to remove his hands from my head. I slowly brought them back down to waist level.