Page 66 of Deceptive Lies

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she nodded. “I wish we would have gotten a chance.”

“We still have it, it’s not gone yet,” he said fiercely. While he might not be able to give Willow’s body the water it needed, he could make sure she didn't give up. That he could give her. For weeks, she’d been fighting this alone, but she wasn't alone anymore, and he could fight hard enough for both of them.

“Cooper—”

“No. I won't let you give up. Not yet. Not while we’re both still breathing.” Maybe he couldn’t stop the inevitable from happening, but he’d sure as hell give it the best chance he could and fight with everything he had.

Scooping her into his arms he started walking again.

There was no way he was going to just sit there and watch her die right in front of him.

He was going to get them both out if it killed him.

While he might last longer than Willow, death was certain for both of them unless he could find help.

“Talk to me,” Willow said, exhaustion lacing every word as she rested her head against his shoulder. “Tell me anything, I don’t care what, I just like hearing your voice.”

That was something he could do.

Temporarily buoyed by having a practical task to do to make things at least a little better for Willow, Cooper did his best to shove all thoughts of the fact that Willow might not even make it to sunset when the temperatures would fall a little, and just started talking.

July 13th

5:13 P.M

Why wouldn't the world stop spinning?

She wasn't even walking on her own, she was over Cooper’s shoulders in a fireman’s carry, and yet it felt like the world had sped up until it was like one of those crazy fair rides where you got whipped around in circles until it felt like you were going to throw up.

In fact, Willow did feel like she was going to throw up.

Nausea churned in her stomach, and she was sure that if anything was in there, she would have already embarrassed herself in front of the man she liked by vomiting all over the sand.

So, she supposed it was some small mercy that she hadn't eaten in over twenty-four hours.

Why couldn’t the sun give them just a tiny break?

What she wouldn't give for clouds to form, blocking out some of the sun’s rays and giving her and Cooper a respite from the relentless heat.

Unfortunately, it was still hours until the sun would set and give them a little relief. Not that the temperature drop would be enough to save them, but maybe it would at least slow down the progression of dehydration and heat stroke enough to buy them a few more hours.

It was clear Cooper wasn't going to give up.

He was going to walk himself into an earlier grave by his determination to power on even though he, too, was struggling with the same effects she was, just a little slower.

She was worried about him.

Maybe she should be more worried about herself. She was the one who was more quickly succumbing to dehydration and heat stroke, but she had a feeling her death was going to do terrible things to him. Willow absolutely one hundred percent wanted Cooper to live even if she didn't, of course she did, why wouldn't she? But she didn't want him carrying around a weight of guilt for not saving her. That was no way to live.

All she wanted for Cooper was for him to be happy.

To find the answers he needed about his mom so he could get some closure and focus more on his future and less on his past. To find someone to love him as much and as deeply as she wouldhave if they’d had the chance to get to know one another properly and allow these tiny little feelings to grow into something more.

When Cooper stumbled, barely managing to regain his footing before they both hit the ground, Willow knew she had to do something.

Had to make him stop and rest for a while.

Make him see reason.

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