Page 8 of Glamour & Gumballs

I felt slightly bad, but ignored it.

I didn’t want a mate at all. But a mate who was excited about the game, and wanted to have a cheerful conversation about our pasts or hobbies or whatever?

Not a chance.

Reid sat down a few feet from me.

Two more men were close behind him. Ian, the new guy, and Colt.

Both grinned and greeted me as they took seats beside Reid.

I answered their questions as shortly as possible.

Ian tried to keep the conversation going anyway, until Reid elbowed him in the side, silently telling him to shut up.

Friendliness had been their go-to strategy with Molly, but they were probably realizing that wasn’t going to work with me.

And I hoped they’d already realized it hadn’t actually worked on Molly. Considering she and Cameron had been playing everyone, and they had won, it was safe to assume no one had picked up on their plan soon enough to do something about it.

A handful more guys joined us. Some of them were bruised and bleeding, which made me think they’d tried to fight someone else for the weapons and tools.

When Kyle came jogging out of the jungle, whooping, I bit back a sigh.

The guy closest to me scooted over, as if blocking the seat from Kyle.

Kyle tossed the bag in the air, ignoring the blood dripping off his hands, arms, and chest thanks to the rain. He was a wreck, though it had obviously worked out for him.

He pointed at me, flashing a grin that could’ve made someone else’s heart flutter.

Not mine, though even I could admit he was gorgeous.

“Get ready for the first of many dates, Erin,” he declared.

I grimaced.

Yay.

Twenty minutes later, I climbed onto a boat with Kyle and Reid. I liked Reid more than most of the other guys, though I didn’t know a whole lot about any of them. Him included.

I expected both of them to try to talk to me.

Instead, after I folded myself onto the far side of the bench I was sharing with them, neither of them bothered.

They launched right into a strategy discussion.

“You’re a threat now,” Reid told Kyle.

Kyle snorted. “I made it to the end and didn’t win.”

“But you made it to the end,” Reid pointed out. “Now, everyone knows you’ll make it there again if they don’t get rid of you the first chance they get. No one will expect us to team up. If we do, we can work together to change your outcome this time.”

“If we work together, we’re going to get to the end, and she’ll pick you. The same way Molly picked Cameron.”

“Not necessarily,” Reid countered.

“Do you guys realize I’m sitting right here?” I interrupted.

Reid flashed me a look of apology. “We need to talk strategy before chaos breaks out on the island.”

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