Page 53 of Stranded

And I know more about Bower than any of them, thanks to his constant nattering. He loves food, which is no surprise to me. He’s constantly talking about what he wants to eat when he gets back to civilization. The funny part is that he’s apparently a terrible cook, everything he craves is either from a restaurant or something their cook makes for them. He also has a pet Siamese fighting fish named Seymour that he hopes Reece is feeding for him. But most of the time, when he isn’t working, he’s just relaxing with Kingsley and Reece, playing video games.

The more he talks about Reece, the more intrigued I become. They describe him as grumpy and angry and yet also super loyal and would do anything for them. It’s why they are so convinced he’ll eventually rescue them. Even Weston, who doesn’t know him as well, is sure he’ll find them soon.

Each day, after we’ve gathered the fruit, the four of us eat in the shady part of the beach near the jungle, where Mo-Mo joins us, sometimes with his family in tow. Then the guys go swimming while I guard their clothes. Sometimes we head back to the waterfall to swim there instead. I don’t have a change of clothes, so I often hang back, choosing to bathe when they’re done, sending them back to camp so I can be alone, something that really bothers them. They constantly grumble about it not being safe for me to be alone, which makes me roll my eyes in annoyance since I’ve been doing it for so long.

They are always offering me soap, shampoo and clothing, which I refuse, not wanting to take any of their few possessions from them. But when Kingsley gave me his spare toothbrush, I think I hugged him for five minutes straight.

They don’t ask me anything about my life before the island, something I appreciate. Each day I feel myself growing closer and closer tothem, and I’m terrified that any day a boat or plane is going to show up and whisk them away. I have a feeling they won’t take it well when I tell them I’m not leaving. I knowIwon't take it well when they leave. The fear of being alone again keeps me up almost every night now.

But what really has my mind preoccupied is the fact that I think we’re heading into the rainy season any day now. I won’t be able to sleep in my hammock when that happens, and I’m still not ready to share my nightmares with them. I know I have two choices; the cave at the top of the cliff or their raft.

Considering how dangerous the cliff is, especially when wet, I’m leaning towards the raft. But I have a feeling they aren’t going to be happy about that and I’m not sure what to do about it yet. So far, I’ve been lucky, and it hasn’t rained once since the first day Bower and Kingsley arrived.

But I know it’s only a matter of time before everything I’m keeping from them comes spilling out.

Chapter twenty-two

Kingsley

Itug at the collar of my golf shirt, the material starting to feel rough against my skin. I let out a deep breath as I stare out at the never ending ocean, empty as always. This morning it was Weston and my turn to look out for any boats, and I was feeling more agitated than usual.

We’ve been here for almost three weeks now, and every day that passes without sign of rescue, I start to worry more and more. Surely Reece should have found us by now? Our radio was fully working until the plane started going crazy, it was ten minutes later that the explosion went off and then we went down within eight minutes. How far off course could we have gotten in that time?

So where was he? I didn't expect Reece, the man who was terrified of flying, to actually be on the plane that finds us, but I did expect him to have hired a search team. So where were they? Better question, where were we?

I don’t want the others to know how worried I am, so I keep playing the part of being hopeful and optimistic, when inside, the knot of worry grows bigger every day.

The only saving grace out here is Zee. The way she walks and swings around this island like she owns it, makes me feel like we could survive out here without too much hardship. I’m not an idiot, though. Without her, this whole thing would have gone completely differently. We probably would have died or starved to death by now. At the very least, we’d be sleeping on the hard ground, miserable and hungry.

But her knowledge of this island wasn’t the only captivating thing about her. No, she also has this raw, primal energy that was infectious. It made you want to be around her all the time. Then there were the times her sweetness and vulnerability peeked out. With her big green eyes and pouty lips, sometimes she reminds me of a stray puppy, just wanting to be loved but not knowing how to trust someone enough to do it.

Whenever I hug her, it calms my racing mind and everything else fades away. It’s as if nothing else matters when she’s close. I’m desperate to move to the next step with her and kiss those plump lips, but I’m terrified of scaring her off. The way she seems to melt into my hugs, to all of our hugs, makes me think she might be ready, but the truth was, I’m not sure who she would choose.

And worse, if I wait too long and we’re rescued, she’ll probably have a family to go back to, one that’s likely nowhere near ours, and we may never see her again.

“Did you hear what I said?” West asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, what?” I ask, turning to face him.

He smirks and shakes his head. “You were thinking about her again, weren’t you?”

I sigh, turning back to the ocean from where we sit at the back of the beach, in the shade by the edge of the jungle.

“Yeah, it’s hard not to.”

“Is that because you haven’t had sex in three weeks? Cause you know she’s worth more than that, right?”

“What?” I look at him with surprise and a little hurt. “Why would you even think that, West? First of all, it’s been at least six months since I’ve dated anyone. And no, it’s not about sex at all. I mean, yeah, I’ve pictured what it’d be like with her, but it’s because it’sher. It’s Zee. But she’s special, you know?”

“Yeah, I do,” he says with a sigh. “And sorry, I had to ask. I feel so protective of her.”

“Why do you think that is?” I ask, my eyes scanning the horizon.

He shrugs and is silent for a minute before he speaks. “I dunno. I’ve had girlfriends before, and I guess I’ve been a little protective of them, but it’s nothing like I feel for her. With Zee, it’s like an obsession. I tell you, King, I’m not sure I can take many more nights of her sleeping alone in that tree. If I had some rope, I might have tied her to me by now, so I can always keep an eye on her.”

I let out a small laugh as I try to picture that. “I don’t think she’d like that very much.”

“You never know, maybe she’d be into bondage.”

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