Taste (H.S. / A.U.)

Chapter 37

DOUBLE UPDATE: Chapter 37-38

ELOISE DUPONT

I would be lying to myself if I didn't say I spent a majority of my airplane ride just watching clips and videos of Harry's latest show. Maybe it was me trying to psyche myself out for when it becomes my turn, maybe I missed him, or maybe I was being too nosy.

We had texted here and there, with basic talks about him asking my menus, I talked to him about how I didn't know he covered a Taylor Swift song, he told me some of the best moments of the show, and then as quickly as the conversations would begin one of us would be whisked back to our real life and we went hours without communication.

My class was early today, and now I had the rest of the day to enjoy the Spanish scenery. It was not enough to keep my mind at bay though. I wanted to lounge on the beach, letting the sun melt away any and all problems I have tricked my mind into conjuring up, and Ricky talked Jade into the same idea. I was already packed with a swimsuit on beneath my dress, ready to head Zurriola when Ricky confiscated my plan to make his own. He heard from someone else that the Island Beach was the one we had to go to, and now I was in tow while watching from my seat on Ricky's rented boat as the waves frothed around us.

Jade had been quiet all morning, and I wasn't sure yet why she hadn't pressed me more, but maybe she could sense just how off my own mood had been today. South Africa was hard for some reason, because ever sense Harry's and my recent irl encounter in Thailand, something about my mental health was still on the fragile spectrum. The short-lived nightmares about my father, Chase, and the lingering feelings of inadequacy.

It was stupid. I was stupid. The feelings were the stupidest.

Harry had not acted any different, in fact laced between the normalcy of our texts there were moments where he doted. When I told him my menu he asked for a photo as evidence and then pretended to pout that I didn't send a selfie in my green apron along with. Harry somehow was already privy to the concept that I was not complete without my signature lucky apron, and that spoke volumes to me. 

Chase and I were married and he hadn't even noticed once that I wore it every time I cooked. Did he even know where it came from? Had he ever asked the origin of why I had a lucky apron, specifically in a color I never was fond of. 

My favorite color was sky blue. 

But now green has found a way into my heart, I have no idea why or how, but Harry remembered my green apron. The same green as his eyes that I was far too fond of. The same green that was my mother's birthstone. The same green as the ferns that hung above the cash register of Le Coueur, my parents restaurant that turned into a pile of rubbish and ash. The same green that my mother's cookbook was, her favorite color. The same green that my first ever apron was, my lucky apron, the one that Jade, my green girl, bought for me when telling me to pursue my dreams.

Green has recently found a way into my heart.

Today when I told Harry I was headed to the beach he practically begged for a picture. Perhaps I was misreading things, hoping that this was flirting, but with Harry it could be just a typical interaction. Jade ushered me out the door before I was able to clean up my hotel room and snap something in the floor length mirror, instead allowing his to wait for a reply of if there would or wouldn't be a reply later.

While the salty air whipped through my hair, Jade tied hers up into a thick knot on her head, sunglasses pushed against her eyes and my own reflection was staring back towards me. Jade was far too quiet today, and it was eating away at me. I wondered what I said or did to make the situation tense, and figured it had to be me, but who knows the truth. Once we got to solid land again I would ask.