Page 89 of Stranded

She tilts her head and smiles. “We’ll have matching braids.”

“I wish we had a camera, we could take a photo.”

“About that,” she says, carefully sitting up as she adjusts her clothing back into place. “I haven't heard any of you mention cell phones, did you lose them in the crash?”

“I did,” West says, startling us. He stretches as King sits up and yawns. I don't think they saw what we got up to, not that it would matter if they did, but it’s nice to have something between just the two of us. I catch Zee’s eye and give her a wink, which makes her blush an adorable shade of pink.

West stands up and stretches as he speaks. “I think mine was somewhere in the cockpit, it went down with the plane.”

“Bower and I had ours on us, but they died before we even reached the shore. Besides, they had no signal at all. They'd be useless now,” King explains to her.

“I figured it was something like that. We lost ours in the crash, too.”

“Were you in the plane, when it crashed?” I ask her, my hand stroking up and down her back where she’s sitting up in the hammock beside me, while I stay lounging on my back.

“Yeah. I’m not really sure how we survived when the other two didn’t. It’s all a blur now, really.”

I sense her mood turning, so I quickly jump in with a change of subject.

“I think we should make a bucket list of all the things we want to do when we get off this island.”

She tilts her head as she looks at me, like she’s considering the idea. “Things like… eat a giant bowl of ice cream?”

“Yeah, that can go on the list. But I also think you missed out on a significant time in your life, and when we get out of here, the three of us are going to help you experience everything you missed.”

Her eyes start to water as she stares at me with such intensity that I reach out and pull her against me, my arms wrapping around her.

“Why would you guys do that for me?”

“Don’t you get it yet?” I whisper into her ear. “There’s nothing we wouldn't do for you.”

Chapter thirty-four

Darla

The rain stays persistent for the rest of the day. We take quick bathroom breaks and grab food and water quickly, otherwise we stay in the hut, where it’s dry.

“Let’s play a game,” I suggest from where I’m perched on the desk, fiddling with my necklace and seeing everyone looking just as bored as I am.

“What did you have in mind?” King asks from where he lounges in the hammock.

“I don’t know, I haven’t played a game with other people in a long time. You guys have any suggestions?”

“If we had alcohol, I’d suggest a drinking game,” Bower says from where he’s laying on the mattresses beside Weston.

“I’m adding that to my list,” I say, pointing to Bower in approval.

“Your list?” King asks.

“Yeah. I’m working on a bucket list of everything I want to do when we get off the island.”

Warm smiles spread across all of their faces, and something in my chest loosens. “I love that idea, sweetheart. Tell me what yougot so far?”

“Well, there’s things like eat a cheeseburger and a giant bowl of ice cream. Take a shower, cut my hair. Then there’s the stuff I missed out on. Like learning to drive, going to parties and clubs, playing a drinking game.”

“I can teach you to drive,” Weston says, surprising me.

“Really?”

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