Page 30 of Stranded

“I’m going to show you guys where to get some other fruit, and we’ll have to break down Brutus,” I say, motioning to the hanging boar. “Actually, we should probably do that first, it will take a lot of time. But you guys probably need to eat now, right?” I ask, eyeing his large body.

“I’m always hungry, but I can wait if I need to.”

“I don’t have to show you all the fruit today. I can show you mangos and how to retrieve coconuts and break them open.”

“That sounds like a good plan, why don’t we go get West? He’s on lookout at the beach.” Kingsley says as he returns, passing me my bag.

“Lookout?” I ask in confusion.

“Yeah, you know, for a plane or ship? Don’t you do that?” Bower asks as we start walking to the beach.

I watch the ground in front of me, pulling the strap of my bag over my head as I lie. “Oh, yeah, of course.”Totally believable, right?

We walk in silence for a few minutes before Bower speaks. “Hey, Zee? How old—Ah!” he yells as Mo-Mo drops from above onto my shoulder, right beside him.

“Eep!” Mo-Mo trills, looking proud of himself and making me smile.

“Morning, Mo-Mo. You have a good night?”

“Eep!”

“We’re going to get some food.”

“Eep!”

“Yes, of course I’ll give you some, don’t worry.”

“You can’t really understand him, can you?” Bower asks, his eyes bouncing back and forth between us.

“Eep!”

“Mo-Mo! Don’t be rude! He is not a crab sucker!” Okay, maybe Mo-Mo didn't actually say that, but the look on Bower’s face is priceless, making me laugh at his wide-eyed expression.

“Oh, Tink. You’re messing with the wrong guy,” Bower says with a smirk. My laughter dies and suddenly I wonder if I’ve offended him.

“He’s teasing you, Zee. Bower loves teasing people,” Kingsley whispers from my other side. I look back at Bower and he gives me a wink, making my skin flush.Why am I blushing?

Before he can call me on it I start to run as I yell, “last one to the beach is a rotten crab!” I’m not sure if they let me win, or if I’m just that fast, but I hear them running right behind me the rest of the way there. I stopright at the edge line of the trees, so I’m still in the shade as they stop on either side of me, panting heavily.

“Oh shit, that looks like a good idea. I’m sweatin’ now anyway,” Bower says, stomping towards the ocean.

I stare with wide eyes as a shirtless and pantless Weston moves through the water. At least he has boxers on this time. Bower whips off his own shirt and pants and throws them down by Weston’s clothes, then runs into the ocean to join him. He’s a couple inches shorter than Weston, and not quite as big, but he’s still a huge guy.

I try to casually bring my hand to my mouth, to make sure I’m not drooling while giving Kingsley the side eye, to see if he’s watching them, too. But his eyes are on me, making my cheeks redden in embarrassment for getting caught staring at that so blatantly.

“You want to go for a swim, sweetheart? You’re looking a little hot,” he asks gently.Can he tell I’m blushing?

“I’m okay, I don’t have anything to wear anyway—Hey, where are my clothes?” I ask, realizing he doesn’t have them anymore.

“I laid them out at camp so they’d dry.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

“If you don't want to swim, how about you show me how to get a coconut down?”

That thought brings a smile to my face. I haven't talked to Kevin in days. Grinning, I turn to my right and start moving down the beach. “First lesson,” I call to Kingsley as he follows me. “You gotta pick the right tree.” I stop in front of Kevin and plant my hands on my hips as I look up at him with a grin.

“And how do you do that?” he asks, coming to stand beside me and looking up at the giant palm tree.

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