Page 52 of Stranded

I jump to my feet, avoiding their eyes as I head for the ladder. “I’m getting tired now, goodnight.”

“Wait! Tink, you have to give me a goodnight hug!” Bower says, stopping me in my spot as I grip the bottom of the ladder and contemplatewhat to do. I really wanted a hug, but I didn’t want to talk. Not right now.

“Zee,” Kingsley says from right behind me, making me stiffen at his nearness. He places a hand on my shoulder and tugs me gently to face him. “Zee, you never have to tell us anything you aren’t ready to share, okay? Even if we ask, you don’t have to answer. We’ll try not to pressure you, but we may ask from time to time. Just tell us if you don’t want to answer. Is that fair?”

I lick my dry lips and nod before finally looking up to meet his eyes. He gives me a tight-lipped smile, and I feel guilty for making such a big deal about this. But I can’t help it. “Thank you,” I whisper before wrapping my arms around his waist.

He presses a kiss to the top of my head, and I sigh in relief.

“Are you sure we can’t persuade you to stay in the hut tonight?” he asks after a few moments of silence.

I shake my head and step back. “Goodnight, Kingsley.”

I turn to Bower, and he bends and lifts me into a hug like Weston had given me earlier. He kisses my neck and I giggle, his beard tickling my skin. “Tink, I could listen to that giggle all day long.”

He places the next kiss a little higher, near my ear, and it has a completely different effect, making me suck in a sharp breath, my body heating instantly.

“Say goodnight, Zee,” Weston says from behind me.

“Goodnight, Bower.” He slowly sets me down, but doesn’t instantly let me go. He watches me for a moment before taking my face in his hands and tilting my head so he can place a kiss on my forehead. My heart leaps in my chest from the touch.

“Goodnight, Tink.”

He turns me around and I hear him and Kingsley walk back over to the firepit area, leaving me alone with Weston. He stares at me for a moment, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but it looks like he has a hundred things he wants to say.

“Stay in the hut with us tonight?” he asks.

“I can’t,” I whisper, shaking my head. He looks resigned, like he expected that answer, and nods once in acceptance.

“Alright, give me a hug then,” he says, pulling me into his giant frame as I wrap my arms around his waist. “Zee?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you come down in the morning when we call? It always scares me when we can’t find you.”

“You were worried about me?” I ask in surprise. Although I’m not sure why, I’m still surprised by them. They have repeatedly shown that they care about me.

“I’m always worried about you, baby. I hate that you aren’t by our sides all day and night. I hate that you had to be out here for who knows how long without anyone, and I hate that you’re obviously going through something on your own and you won’t let me help you.”

“West—”

“I know, baby, you aren’t ready. But we’ll be here for you when you are, okay?” I let out a deep breath and nod against his chest.

“Okay.”

We say goodnight and I climb up to my lonely hammock, grabbing Steve and clutching him to my chest.

I stare up at the small patch of night sky above me; the stars are shining brightly tonight. Maybe I'll finally be able to sleep without nightmares. Maybe images of the guys would invade my dreams instead.

Unfortunately, I had another fitful sleep. But when I heard them calling my name in the morning, I headed straight down to them after cleaning my teeth. I was greeted with three big hugs that all seemed to linger a little longer than the previous ones.

And that becomes our routine for the next two weeks. I wake up and am greeted with smiles and hugs, two of them head to the beach as lookout while me and the other one go and pick some fruit. I spend that time getting to know them, asking them about their life outside of the island.

Weston tells me more about his time as a pilot for the Marines, which makes me wonder why he left it. When he’s not working, he apparently spends a lot of time tinkering with small engines as a side business. He also loves watching action movies and has read every Stephen King novel at least once.

I teach him how to hunt and prepare rabbits and boar, and quickly learn that he’s a natural, unlike the other two.

Kingsley told me more about AI and what his company does. I think he’s actually a tech whiz, but doesn't like to boast about it. He shared his love for tennis, apparently, having even won some tennis championships in his youth. The part that amuses me most is his extensive shoe collection. Why a grown man needs over fifty pairs of shoes, I have no idea.

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