Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“What did she say? She thinks I’m going to break her heart?”
Layla’s expression turned guilty and she pressed her lips together. I looked over my shoulder and saw Lauren walking back into camp, carrying both canteens.
“Hey, did you guys catch any fish?” she asked.
I held up the line I’d carried into camp, with all three of our catches hanging from it.
“Nice. I’m working on boiling some rice and beans.”
Simon walked back into camp then.
“Is that all you guys eat?” he asked.
“Pretty much,” Lauren said. “Unless we win a competition. The reward is usually some kind of fancy dinner.”
Since Simon had never cleaned fish before, I taught him how to do it. Once our meal was ready, the four of us ate and shared water from the canteens. We’d almost finished when Sal drove up to camp in a golf cart.
“Ugh,” Lauren groaned. “That was the fastest twenty-four hours ever.”
Simon gave me a bro hug, both of us clapping the other on the back, and Layla gave me another death glare. There was no chance we’d be able to finish our conversation.
“It was great meeting you, Lauren,” Simon said, hugging her. “You too, Layla.”
They got onto the cart and Sal started driving away, both of them turning to wave at us as they left. Layla blew Lauren a kiss, and Lauren did the same.
“I still can’t believe she was here,” Lauren said wistfully. “And she’s already gone.”
I kept my expression somber, not letting on that I was thrilled they were leaving. Our camp wasn’t big enough for four people. Especially not when one of them was Layla.
“Did you and your sister get a chance to talk?” I asked, hoping she’d tell me about the conversation they’d had about us.
“We did. She caught me up on all the adorable things my nephews have done and said since I’ve been gone.”
I cleared my throat, getting right to the point. “Did you tell her about what happened between us?”
She gave me an alarmed look, and then waved one of her hands back and forth, like she could wipe away my question. “Oh, a little. Not much. Anyway, I think I’m going to lie down now. I don’t feel so great.”
It sounded like a weak excuse to get out of an uncomfortable discussion. I kept my mouth shut, though. A conversation between me and Lauren about what was going on with the two of us would go better after we’d each had some rest. And maybe a shot of whiskey.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Day Twenty-Five—Five teams remaining
Lauren
“You don’t want breakfast?”
Archer gave me a concerned look from his spot on a stump stool next to the fire. It was the morning after Layla and Simon had left, and I’d hardly left the shelter since then.
Yesterday, I’d told myself I was just tired. That maybe I had a touch of heat exhaustion. But with the number of times I’d had to get up in the middle of the night and run into the tree line to expel everything in my stomach, I knew it was more than that. I wasn’t ready to talk about it with Archer, though.
We were so damn close to the finish line. Why was my body breaking down now, after making it to Day Twenty-Five, with just five teams left?
“I’ll eat in a little bit,” I said, pouring a small stream of water from the canteen onto my sweaty face.
If we had a competition today, I didn’t think I’d even be able to walk to the competition site, let alone compete. I was hoping I’d just picked up a little bug from Layla or Simon and it would pass in a day or two.
Archer finished eating his meal of fish and rice and walked over to me, carrying a bowl.
“Can you get down a couple of bites of rice?” he asked.
I eyed him warily, my stomach revolting at the sight of the food in the bowl.
“I think so,” I said, pushing myself into a sitting position and trying not to let on how bad I felt.
He passed me the bowl and then pressed his palm to my forehead. I frowned and turned away from his touch.
“I think you have a fever,” he said.
“No one asked you.”
He gave me a small smile, which made me feel like a petulant child he was indulging. “Lo. Talk to me.”
“I can’t talk while I’m eating,” I said, putting a small bite of rice in my mouth.
“You always could when we were eating popcorn at the movies. Talked constantly, as I recall.”
I rolled my eyes. “I whispered. And it was pertinent information only.”
After eating two bites of rice, I passed the bowl back to Archer and lay down on my back. He put a hand on my cheek, and then moved my hair aside to feel the back of my neck.
“We’re in the tropics,” I said weakly. “Of course I’m hot.”