I snorted. "There is no way Jonathan has a crush on me."
"Girl, you're in denial! DENIAL, I tell you!" Jessica laughed.
"Jess! What makes you think that he likes me? Give me a reason and if I find it legitimate, then I'll believe you," I conceded. "Just one reason."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's easy. I have a million reasons!"
"JUST ONE!"
"Fine. Have you seen the way he looks at you? I mean, seriously. He gets all dreamy and doe-eyed."
"I thought the term 'doe-eyed' was only applied to lovesick girls!"
"Well, it fits Jonathan when it comes to you!" Jessica laughed. "He gets all defensive when the guys talk about you, too. He's all 'Men, if you wouldn't talk about this in front of her then don't talk at all' and stuff like that."
"What do they say?" I asked, curious.
"They're seamen deprived of their lovers," Jessica snorted. "Sex, obviously. And they apply it to you and me often, because we're alone and not related to Captain."
I twisted up my nose in disgust. "Ew. Jonathan can get defensive of me if that's what he's defending me from."
Jessica laughed.
I looked back out at sea. "Jonathan just doesn't strike me as someone who'd be...lovey-dovey, you know?"
"I know he doesn't, but he handles everything he possesses with care. That would include you. Besides, he dreams about you."
I choked on air. "WAIT, what!?"
"Oh, yeah!" Jessica laughed. "The girls and I overheard Jonny talking to the captain and Edward Hickens about ya in his dreams!"
"You should have started with that reason!" I said. "Now I DO believe you!"
"Just don't tell him I told you," Jessica said.
"Of course not," I said.
"Now, I'mma start a rumor with the girls about Jonathan liking you, see if we can get you two together, okay?"
"Okay," I said meekly.
Jessica looked shocked. "I'm surprised you didn't object!"
"Well, I may have a teensy crush on him, too," I admitted.
"HA! I KNEW IT!"
"SHUT UP!"
⠴⠴⠴
A day later, a rumor started getting passed around the ship that Jonathan was having dreams about one of the girls on the ship. It didn't take brains to figure out who when Jonathan started blushing around me.
My crush on him remained secret.
Until I met his eye just a bit too long and I blushed and then started blushing around him from there on out.
The crew was insufferable, knocking us into each other multiple times and purposely pushing us into walls together or locking doors on us as we left the room, the two of us ending up stuck in a room together for hours.
Several times, the crew pushed me directly on top of his chest. I could always feel his muscles tighten beneath his shirt as he tensed up. On more than one of these such occasions, his muscles weren't the only thing stiffening.