Page 42 of Lost Paradise

Then there’s Jack, and he just sits and stares at her like some weird creep, and I think she’s more weirded out by him.

Then, Astro, with whom she shared some drunken momentum at his party, but they both seem more like they can’t stand each other. I think she’s still angry at him for re-aliving himself. The woman was so vexed that she bashed him with a human skull. It was funny and terrifying at the same time.

Eve has a wicked temper, one that I would never want to be the receiver of. She is bold and very much a warrior like any one of the guys. For that reason, I admire her, but I also believe she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid my eyes on.

And it didn’t just start because she’s the only female on the island. I’ve been trailing her beautiful ass like a love-sick puppy from the day I approached her to introduce myself at the docks, waiting for the Hawthorne ferry.

“I slipped on a mossy rock,” she says as I remain gripping her waist tight. She looks up at me with those irresistible blue eyes that match the bright, azure, cloudless sky.

“Slippery moss, huh. Try it again, then,” I say and let go of her.

Eve hops onto a more flat, leveled rock surface, and I watch her as she stands at the edge, her silhouette outlined against the backdrop of the shining sun.

She wields her spear with precision, her movements fluid and deliberate. With each graceful thrust, she pierces the surface of the water, her focus unwavering as she hunts for her elusive prey. Her pale skin and slightly tattered white outfit looks surreal beneath the open, clear sky.

I watch in awe as she navigates the rocky terrain, almost at ease now, moving with quiet confidence, her focus on catching dinner.

As she pauses to assess her surroundings, I find myself holding my breath, caught up in the raw beauty of the moment. The cool ocean breeze ruffles her hair, strands of light blonde dancing in the wind as she scans the shimmering surface of the pool.

And then, with a sudden burst of movement, she strikes, her spear slicing through the water with a swift and sure motion. I hold my breath as she emerges victorious, a triumphant smile gracing her lips as she holds up her catch forinspection.

“It’s a big fucker!” she holds up her spear at me, grinning, and I chuckle at her achievement.

“Good one!” I say, taking the spear with the fish from her and handing her another. “We’re three down and need another three to go.”

She wipes away the sweat on her forehead using the sleeve of her shirt and looks down into the pool, searching for her next victim with fixed determination.

Now, I need some time to show off my skills and grab a spear. Heading toward the rocks, I artfully jump over each one, scanning for the right fish. When I spot it, I don’t hesitate and aim my spear at it.

Yes! I have to stop myself from doing a pathetic victory dance in front of Eve.

In all honesty, I have no idea what I’m doing, but I don’t want to look like a gimp who can’t catch a freaking fish.

Pretending I haven’t noticed her staring at me, I jump back to shore with my newly caught dinner, pick up a new spear, and hop back in.

“I honestly don’t know why Mr. Coldwell put me on fishing duty; my aim is as bad as my choice of boyfriends.”

I huff a laugh, “Speaking about boyfriends. Is that what’s going on with you and the teacher?”

She looks up at me and cocks her head.

“What do you want to know?”

“Well, it’s obvious from last night that you now have something going on. Are you two an item now?”

She stands there on the rock at the edge of the pool with her white clothes, holding her spear, and there’s something very compelling with how she looks and stares at me thoughtfully.

“If you need to know, yeah, I’m fucking him. But I think he made it pretty clear as well that the dynamics won’t change in this group. I still get to sleep with you…plus, I’m not too fond of labels. It puts me in a box, and I don’t like that.”

When she means sleep, does she mean sleeping or fucking? Both? Our circumstances are so different from anything I’ve had to deal with before.

I go to open my mouth, but a sudden commotion erupts from a distance along the shore. My eyes dart to the source of the disturbance, where a figure appears, flailing and hollering in what seems like unbridled excitement.

We both watch the amusing spectacle unfold as Astro, driven by some wild impulse, sheds all his clothes with reckless abandon, his shouts echoing along the shore. With each step, he removes his items until he’s completely nude and dives into the ocean.

“He’s lost his mind!” I say, chuckling.

“Probably a combination of the sun and heat,” Eve replies, her laughter a melodic accompaniment to the scene playing out before us.

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