The setting was perfect, romantic even, if he had any intention of admit to his feelings and confess them as she had just done. He knew she had fallen for him and the usual protocol for this kind of complication was…
He let go of her and stepped away. “I’m going to the upper deck. You should go pack.”
He heard her quick intake of breath as more tears spilled. “Go pack,” she whispered in a deadpan voice. “I tell you I love you and you respond with ‘go pack’?”
Allan remained silent. There was nothing he could say that would salvage this moment. Anything that came out of his mouth would only make things worse.
He turned around to leave. He had gotten as far as the railing before he felt something hit his back, making him arch forward in pain with a hiss. Allan looked down at the offensive
