Page 57 of Attraction

Eventually, she sits up, and her mood is more deflated, her hands dropping between her bent knees and she shakes her head.“He’s just not gonna let up, is he?” She frowns, despondent, knowing Darius is probably about to snatch all her hard work away—making the whole day pointless just because he can.

Digby stretches his hand upwards, gesturing to the team for help and watching as Darius stares and then walks away. “Hey! Hey! What the fuck? Dee, what the hell are you playin’ at man? Just help us up!”

Darius doesn’t answer and Bud and Ozzie turn around questioning Darius once again.

“What, so we’re not gonna help them?” Ozzie asks. “Oh, c’mon man, really? No… this, this is too much now.”

“He’s right…” Zak turns his attention to their sulking team leader. “Darius man, don’t do this.” He can hear the gravelly hiss of annoyance coming from Darius’ chest, but Zak ignores him. “Oh, fuck you! Digby man, get her up!” He then offers his hand, beckoning them both towards him and locking his grip around Digby’s wrist, he pulls him up over the top of the ridge and Ozzie drops the near-vertical climb to help Kat.

She releases her kit from her shoulders, Ozzie grabbing it and throwing the heavy canvas bag up to QT—still stood at the top of the ridge. “Kat, c’mon on get up.” He smiles. “Hey, you did great! You made it!”

She nods. But, beyond tired and more exhausted than she can even imagine, she struggles to reach for Oz’s helping hand. And as they get ready to pull her up, she stumbles on the loose rocks at the bottom. She’s about to fall when Bud just-in-time catches a grab on the straps of her body armor, stopping her and keeping her upright. Then in one swift lifting movement, Bud and Zak pull her up over the lip of the ridge to join them.

Zak and Digby mark the end of the Herculean achievement with a high-five and an embracing brotherly hug. “You knowshejust cost me fiftyfuckin’bucks,” Zak says. “I didn’t give her a chance in hell of bein’ able to do that. What’s she got some kinda super-girl thing going on under the uniform?” He grins.

“Yeah, yeah, you could say somethin’ like that.” Digby laughs.

Kat smiles, elated by her accomplishment as it finally sinks in and it counters some of the mind-aching tiredness her body feels—refreshing her energy reserves and giving her just enough strength to stay on her feet.

QT hands her a fresh bottle of water. “D-Drink,” he says, smiling.

She nods, taking long gulps of the not-so-cool liquid. “Thanks! Oh hell….” She rubs at her shoulders. They ache so much, every muscle worked to its core, and the soreness is unreal—she mentally notes that her body will pay for this in the coming days.

Cooling down brings more problems as her leg muscles start twinging with cramps and shaking uncontrollably. Dehydration and lack of food are the main culprits, she reminds herself. She’s definitely looking forward to something to eat and a good night’s sleep. Now exhausted and unable to stand, she slumps to the ground, her head resting between her knees as the five large figures surround her.

“See I knew you’d do it!” Digby can’t help but grin—he’s so proud of her. Then, as his stomach growls, he looks around, sniffing. “So, where the hell’s the dinner then Bud? My stomach thinks I forgot about it.”

“Oh uh, yeah… About that. Look uh, we got uh… a slight problem,” he stutters.

“Problem?What d’ya mean? What fuckin’ problem? Bud, where the hell’s the dinner?”

“Uh, yeah, well… you need to… come see.” He leads Digby to where he’s finished clearing away everything except the one metal dish filled with food—dried chicken pasta ration—reheated.

“Wait … that’s all there is?” He sneers at the measly portion. “What the hell is this about? And where’s the rest of it… and some for Kat?” Bud shrugs. He can already feel the simmering rage in Digby brewing—his blue eyes fierce with questions. “Bud is this a fuckin’ joke man? ‘cos if it is, well it’s not funny. Now, where’s the damn food?”

“Uh… well, that’s it. That’s all there is.”

“Yeah,” Darius interrupts. “And you’re damn lucky Bud’s soft, ‘cause if it were left to me you wouldn’t get any. But then I got overruled.”

“What? This is a joke, right? You expect us to go without food? How the hell do you think that’s even close to bein’ funny?” Digby steps forward with the dish in his hand, confronting Darius close up.

“Whoa, you need to be careful, I mean, you don’t wanna spill any of that,” he says, grinning. “Dinner was over an hour ago, not my fault you didn’t make it back. Still, at least Bud kept you the leftovers, so that’s something, right? C’mon Digby, don’t look at me like that, you know the rules. If you’re not here when we eat… you don’t eat.”

“You know I should—”

“You should what? You should watch yourself,is what!You need to get back in line!”

“Whoa man, you’re seriously pushin’ me here. This… this shit is goin’ too far.”

“Maybe, but that’s just the way it is. I’m in charge and you need to remember that. And… well, it’s time for you to shape up.”

“No, you’re just pissed ‘cause she did it—because she proved you wrong. You were wrong about her not being able to hold her own in this team,” he smirks. “Darius, I’ve known you for too many years and I knowexactlyhow you think. So, just for once in your damn life, swallow your fuckin’ pride.”

“Yeah… yeah, you’re right. I didn’t think she could do it. I thought she’d quit, for sure. And yeah, that was impressive. She showed some grit and determination, but she’s going to need a lot more and still doesn’t change the situation with dinner, does it?” He grins. “Now it’s for you to decide which of you eats. There’s the dilemma,” he says, laughing smarmy and annoying. “Do you care enough to give it to her or is it the usual—Digby comes first?I mean, if this were any other guy, you’d eat it without a thought, which proves one thing to me… she’s messing with your fucking head. I can see it and you need to snap the hell out of it!”

“No, what I need is for you to stay outta my head. You got no damn right to be in there… who the hell do you think you are, to judge me?” Digby snarls, the churning growl of anger building in his chest.

“Alright, alright… Stop it!” Bud steps between them to break the tension. “Just uh… calm the hell down.”

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