Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I look down at the clothes that now cling to my body like a second skin. “Just cold. All my clothes are wet.”
“I suggest you strip, and you can wrap yourself up with the blanket.”
“It’s a fantastic thing you have … What did you call it? A ditch bag?”
“Yep, a ditch bag.”
“Turn away,” I order.
“Seriously, dove. We are stuck in a cave during a tsunami—”
I lift my hand and cut him off. “It’s a tsunami?”
“No, it’s not a tsunami. I’m just joking with you.”
“Real funny, bro. I don’t think I could handle that right now.”
“Listen to me right now. We obviously didn’t meet in the best of circumstances, but I can tell you without a measure of a doubt that you could survive. You are one of the strongest and most fearless women I have ever met.”
His words stun me. They take me off guard so much that I have no answer for them at all. Instead, I remove my clothes until I’m left in my bra and panties, and then I reach for the blanket. Once I have it completely wrapped around me, I take them off too.
“At least I won’t have to wash them. The rain did the job.”
“See? Tough as nails and always seeing the bright side.”
“Hardly, but what else can I do?”
“Not very much, considering the position we’re in.” He looks around the cave before pointing at a spot in the corner. “I’ll set up the fire there.”
“How are you going to start it? We are in a cave.”
He smiles.
He freaking smiles.
Mister Nature has a plan.
“Okay, Mister I Know Everything About the Wilderness and Being Stranded on an Island, tell me oh, wise one, what’s the plan?”
“I packed wood.”
“Of course, you did.” I roll my eyes. But with the sky so dark and the fire not started, he can’t see.
“Dove, I know you are mocking me. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“I did no such thing.”
Before I know what’s happening, he’s shining the flashlight on my face.
“Damn ditch bag,” I mutter.
“Damn ditch bag? That ditch bag saved your life. Apologize to it.”
“The bag isn’t Wilson. I’m not building a friendship with an inanimate object solely because I’m living the ‘Castaway’ life.”
“Don’t insult Ditch.” His voice is serious, and if I didn’t know better, I would think he’s serious. Seeing as Alaric Prince is sarcastic, I play along.
“Ditch? Seriously. You named the bag that?” Cue eye roll.
“Well, what else would you have me name her?”
This man is impossible yet entertaining.
“And now it’s a her?” I mock.
Alaric’s lips stretch wide across his face, his eyes gleaming with enjoyment. “She is.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“And she saved your life.”
“Just light the damn fire already. Ditch would have been a better bag if she had a VHF radio. Who cares about a blanket or a flashlight? What we really need is a way to call for help.” There, I said it.
“We were scared you would find it.”
“See what a dumb move that was. The almighty Alaric Prince made a mistake.”
With the flashlight now on the floor, illuminating the cave, I can see his face. His face is now serious and no longer playful.
“I did, Phoenix, and I’m sorry.”
Phoenix. Not dove.
After that admission, I don’t speak. I watch as he turns back to the wood and eventually makes a small but big enough fire. My own head tilts down, looking at the hard, dark earth beneath me. I feel bad for what I said. Alaric would have never done what he had if he knew what the future held. That’s the thing I realize now. He’s not the man I thought he was. Blinded by rage, he made bad decisions. But deep down, he’s not that man. No. He’s the man who saved me time and time again. There is no part of me that doesn’t think he regrets his decision. It’s still his fault we are trapped here, though, no matter how sorry he is.
“Are you hungry?” His voice pulls me from my inner thoughts.
My head lifts. “Not really.”
“I’m not either, but we should eat to keep our strength up.”
He’s right. “As long as it’s not the fish.”
“Coconut?”
“Sounds amazing. What does your bag think of that?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. With the future uncertain, there is no place for tension.
“She wants us to make the fish. I have vetoed her.”
“Good call.”
The fire is now up and running. The red embers drift around, warming the cave.
Alaric was right. It doesn’t affect the air quality just like he thought.
We both settle around the heat, our clothes close enough to hopefully dry by the morning.
It’s a good thing the cave is big and we could fit the raft inside the mouth. Just barely, though. It will be a bitch to get it out. Heck, it will be a bitch to carry back to the beach. But at least the boat won’t tear, and we should be able to get it out to the ocean. Alaric had said it was meant to withstand the open sea. The only thing it can’t withstand is thirst and hunger.