The Consequence of Revenge

by Rachel Van Dyken

  “So . . .” I took a step back and brought my hands in front of me to protect all parts not solid at that moment. “Jason, I take it this is your choice?”

  “Ah, ah!” Rex came up behind me and slapped my back so hard that I almost turned around and decked him in his orange face. One day he was going to get his and I was going to smile while I hovered over his Cheetos-stained body, feel me? “No announcing until the end of the night.”

  “Aw.” Grumpy’s shoulders slumped. Her grip on Jason, however, was still as strong as ever. Poor guy was going to lose a thumb. I almost felt bad for him, but then again, he was getting his just reward.

  “I’ll just . . . go talk to . . .” I pointed behind me, which meant I was actually pointing at the ocean, so yeah, I was going to talk to nobody, but I didn’t want to stay. I rushed off in the direction of Milo, who was talking to Minion. Ah, lovely. Minion wasn’t wearing her usual overalls but a cute little black dress. Aw, she put on a dress for me. What a nice girl! At least she would be seminormal and—

  “I have dreams of eating him,” Minion whispered in a hushed voice. “My psychiatrist says I fantasize about eating things because I feel powerless in my own life and to consume another person’s soul is like owning them, you know? So if I could eat him, then I could understand him.”

  Please let the him be the goat.

  “Oh.” Milo nodded. “That’s, yeah, that makes sense.”

  “Girls,” I croaked, wishing I hadn’t approached.

  “Max!” Minion yelled. “You look so great tonight. I like your hair. I’ve always liked brown hair, you know, because mine’s brown too. And I hope you like my dress. I picked it out just for you. I hope when you choose me that you realize what a catch you’re getting. Not only was I an Olympic gymnast, but I’m in excellent shape for any sort of . . . activities you may have in mind.”

  “Olympics,” I repeated. “So you’re in retirement, then?” Wasn’t touching the whole “activities” comment with a ten-foot pole, no matter how much fun it was to poke the bear. It always woke up and attacked.

  “Well—” Her brow furrowed. “Apparently it’s frowned upon to trip a girl when she’s getting ready for her floor routine. Honest mistake.”

  “Right.” That wasn’t as bad as I’d assumed.

  “I may have also . . . caused an entire team to get food poisoning.” She shrugged.

  “Awesome.”

  Milo’s eyes widened a fraction of an inch in my direction. “Um, thanks for the chat, I’ll be right back.”

  She grabbed my arm and led me away from the group. “She’s crazy.”

  I nodded. “So crazy that I’m pretty sure the only reason she ended up on the show is because the producers probably needed some entertainment. Last night she ate a cricket.”

  “No!” Milo gasped.

  “And she swallowed.”

  “Max.” Giggling, Milo wrapped her arms around me and hugged. I missed her hugs, how stupid was that? It had always been her and me for the past four years, and now it was just . . . me.

  “You doin’ okay?” she whispered, still holding on tight.

  “Define okay?” I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling at peace for the first time in a few days.

  “Max.” Milo pulled back and looked into my eyes. “Are you okay with this whole process? I feel like I owe you an apology. When Jason suggested you do the show I thought he was kidding and then you started acting so strange. You seemed so lost after graduation, almost like you didn’t know what to do with yourself anymore.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. I hadn’t been acting weird. I had been acting sad. That’s what guys did when they had no passion for anything. But it was lame to tell her that for the four years we went to college my only purpose had been to be her best friend. That was me. I was one half of a friendship, and I was okay with it. I thrived off of it. But things didn’t stay the same.

  She got married.

  She graduated.

  She got a job.

  She moved on.

  I stayed stagnant.

  And staying frozen in place, when you’re a man of action, or typically a man of action, sucks.

  “You know what I mean, Max, a purpose beyond hitting on girls, sleeping with them, abandoning them the next morning, and making up stories about sick family members so they don’t call you ever again, or worse yet, stalk you.”

  Wincing, I shrugged and broke eye contact. “Yes. To answer your first question, I’m fine. I’m glad I came.” Milo had that look in her eyes that meant she wouldn’t stop pressing until I divulged more. “Look, I’ve just been in a bad place. For the last four years it’s been you and me against the world, right?”

  She nodded.

  “And then you moved on and I stayed . . . on my ass. I graduated but realized upon getting that fun little diploma that I had no idea what I wanted to do.” I sighed. “Doing the show hasn’t been the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. Besides, I met Becca and was able to give Reid yet another reason to sleep with a night-light.” I flashed a smile.

  “She’s cute.” Milo grinned. “Have you slept with her yet?”

  “What?” I roared. “No! What the hell, Milo?”

  “Just checking. She’s cute, she’s fun, she plays along with your insanity, and I wouldn’t want you screwing anything up just because you like to play night games.”

  “Bed sport”—I rolled my eyes—“is a real thing.”

  “Whatever.” Milo shook her head. “So what’s the plan? Get through the next week and a half, kick off the girls, and then what? Get the girl? Ride off into the sunset?”

  I suddenly felt hot all over. My mouth dry. My nerves shot. Becca looked in our direction and waved. I had no choice but to wave back with a stupid grin on my face, while I said through clenched teeth, “That’s the plan, then again . . . she may not want what I want.”

  “Max . . .” Milo looped her arm through mine. “Any girl who doesn’t want you is insane.”

  “You didn’t.” The words were out before I could stop them. Holy shit, did I just say that out loud?

  Milo froze, then looked up at me. “But you said, I mean you always acted like—”

  “Gay?” I offered. “Stupid? Like I didn’t care? Like I was the sexless best friend without any feelings? Or just all of the above?”

  “Max—”

  “Milo.” I laughed and shoved my hands in my pockets. “It’s over and done with. I’m over it. I love you, not like that, but as a friend. Honestly, it’s my fault. I liked you too much to care. I just wanted to be in your solar system even if I was Pluto.”

  “Pluto?”

  “The last planet.” I sighed. “The furthest away from the sun, the most unliked, the cold planet, the one nobody can reach, the—”

  “Stop comparing yourself to Pluto.”

  We walked back in Becca’s direction. The minute we approached the table her face lit up when she saw me.

  “Huh, interesting,” Milo whispered.

  “What?” I felt my face light up.

  “You may be Pluto, but she’s not the sun. She’s Neptune.”

  “Huh?”

  Milo rolled her eyes, “Look it up . . . Neptune’s right next to Pluto, genius. You do the math.”

  With that, Milo walked off.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  BECCA

  In typical Love Island fashion, the winners of the individual dates were announced with pomp and circumstance, meaning they had to walk through a tunnel of fire if their names were called.

  It wouldn’t have been such a big deal.

  But one of the girls had used too much hair spray. The night was almost ruined because of that hair spray.

  As Rex announced each name, Jason, Milo, and Colton grinned from ear to ear. Milo even winked in my direction when I walked through the fire—unharmed.

  I should have been excited.

  But I felt . . . unsettled.

  When I’d decided to do the show I had
n’t intended to fall for the guy. My head had been fully engaged in the game, in the competition. And the competition had been good to me. I’d been winning. Each game earned the winners either dates with Max or points toward prizes at the end of the week, when we could cash out and get things like cell phones, shopping sprees, and gadgets.

  But at some point, my motivation had changed from money to Max.

  Rex instructed all the girls to return to their huts. The first of five dates would take place tomorrow morning. Each girl was given three hours with Max, and during those three hours he could choose if she stayed or went home. Those three who weren’t chosen for the individual date would go on a group date.

  At the end of the day three girls would stay and two would go, so only five of us would be standing at the final ceremony.

  “Pssst!” A noise came from the bushes.

  I whipped around and stared at the trees. What the heck?

  “Psst!”

  “Okay, stop freaking me out,” I said out loud, slowly walking backward.

  “Damn it! Let me be romantic!” came a male voice.

  Max slowly emerged from the bushes, all smiles. “I was going to capture you, pull you under the coconut tree, and have my way with you.”

  “Ah, darn, and I missed it. How come?”

  Max shrugged. “Simple. You didn’t come close enough to the tree line. Oh, and also we aren’t close enough yet to where we can read each other’s thoughts, but no worries, all good things come to those who wait.”

  “You always like this?” I asked seriously, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Like this . . . meaning?” Max squinted. “Awesome and good-looking? Yes, yes I am.”

  I laughed and looked away. “No, I mean, are you always this sarcastic?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “How silly of you to ask.” I looked up into his dark hooded gaze. “Was I being sarcastic when I had you straddled across my lap? Or how about when I gave you a naked show? Or kissed your neck and dipped my tongue into your mouth? Was that sarcasm? Or something else?” He started stalking toward me. I didn’t have enough good sense to back up. “What say you, Little B?”

  “What’s Little B stand for again?” I asked.

  “Aw, smooth transition from subject of sarcasm to lust to nicknames, I tip my hat.” He offered his hand. I took it. “Little B means . . . Little B.”

  “You just repeated yourself.”

  “I think we should do something crazy.”

  “You mean like go on a dating show and then drug your brother so he sees visions of Milo’s grandma and the Jonas Brothers when he closes his eyes?”

  “Right . . . that.” Max sighed. “It’s unfortunate that I mixed up the needles, but to be fair I never said I was a medical professional. I mean he can’t sue me because I never made any promises to make his penis bigger or his eyes smaller.”

  “Why would he want smaller eyes?” I ignored the other comment.

  “So when he sees Grandma he only sees a fraction of her. I imagine it would take away some of the shock.”

  “I see.”

  He gripped my hand, the smile reaching his gorgeous eyes, and yeah I was in so much trouble because he was pretty, easy to talk to, hilarious, and he . . . was smiling at me like he wanted to get into trouble, and I really, really wanted to join him.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I’m so glad you asked, Little B. First let’s drop off Hades at the hut.”

  “Huh?”

  Sure enough, I turned around and Hades was following close behind.

  Max sighed. “He’s my kin.”

  “So you’ve conquered your fear?”

  “Of course.” Max stopped walking and released my hand, only to touch my face. “Then again, it’s kind of hard to be afraid of goats when my mind is otherwise occupied.”

  “With revenge?” I teased.

  “That”—he returned my smile—“and a girl with blond hair.”

  “Milo?”

  “Who’s being sarcastic now? I’ve created a monster.” He laughed. “Maybe I should just call you Frankenstein.”

  “Right, because that will get you laid.”

  “It will?” His eyes widened. “The secret formula! By Jove, I’ve discovered it!”

  “You’re insane.” I couldn’t stop laughing.

  “I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “Let’s go be insane together.”

  And that invitation right there . . . was the beginning of the end. Because I knew I would never say no to him. He could ask me to bungee jump, and even though I was terrified of heights, I’d do it. I’d do it because it was Max asking and he made me feel like I could do anything.

  After eleven days.

  I tried not to worry about how fast I was falling and reached for his hand—not letting go until we reached his hut.

  Once he dropped off Hades, he grabbed my hand again and led me to the water.

  “Strip.”

  “Sorry?”

  Max lifted his shirt off his head. “I said strip.” With a wink he removed every stitch of clothing he had on and dove.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  MAX

  One point Max, no points Becca. I mean, you can’t earn points when you’re frozen in place.

  Should I yell? Clap my hands in front of her face?

  I decided to splash her.

  Mouth open, she didn’t even say anything. Holy shit, was she having a stroke? Concerned, I jumped out of the water and pulled her face in for a soft kiss. “Hey, you okay? Need CPR or something?”

  I was kidding. I wasn’t serious. I mean, I just wanted her to laugh.

  Instead the joke was on me. As I stood there, naked, water dripping off my body, she gave me one sultry look and lifted her arms high into the air.

  Rather than my breaking out into song and dance like I wanted to, my hands moved to the halter part of her dress. One pull. And the dress pooled at her feet, leaving her naked.

  Because, apparently, I was back in God’s good graces.

  She wore nothing underneath.

  Nothing.

  NOTHING.

  I’m sorry, I don’t think you understand, let me rephrase, underneath her dress, there was nothing but skin. Really, really, really soft skin.

  I let out a moan and just . . . drank my fill.

  “So we doing this insane crazy thing or not?” She placed her hands on her hips.

  I shuddered.

  “Nervous?” she asked breathlessly.

  “Naw.” I pulled her tight against me; we fit perfectly. “Just hoping they aren’t filming this from the bushes over there.”

  “Aw, you don’t want to be naked on TV?”

  “Do I look like I have a problem being naked?” I pinched her ass. “No, but my little cousins are watching and I’d hate for them to see the little censor blocks across my parts. I mean the natural assumption would be that I was sexless and I’m kind of a big deal in their eyes. I don’t want to give them the wrong idea.”

  Becca shook her head. “I have no response to that.”

  “Good.” I squeezed her ass harder. “I wasn’t really looking for a response, now a moan? I could use a moan. Maybe a slap.” I pretended to think about it. “Some kissing would be nice too, but first we have to get you wet.”

  “But—”

  I fell backward into the ocean and pulled her with me.

  The water was warm and inviting. The minute we hit, she moved away from me and dove deeper.

  And like a man totally obsessed I followed her deeper and deeper until we were out where we couldn’t touch, just treading water.

  “I think I like your crazy ideas.” Becca let out a breath and rubbed her eyes. Damn, she was beautiful.

  “Yeah, well, there’s more where that came from,” I teased. “Then again, that means you’ll have to spend copious amounts of time with me to discover all of them. Hope you don’t mind.”

  She was quiet, then her eyes met mine. �
��I don’t mind.”

  “Good,” I whispered. “That’s good . . . you know, considering . . .” I swam toward her and then tugged her arm to me. Within minutes we could touch again. Once we were back to the dock I pushed her against one of the wooden legs and kissed the hell out of her.

  With a gasp she kissed me back, and her hands dove into my wet hair and then slid down my neck as I deepened the kiss. She hooked her legs around my waist.

  With a groan I switched positions so I was leaning against the dock pulling her harder and harder against me.

  “What if we get caught?”

  I immediately stopped kissing her neck and looked up, my chest heaving. “Then we get caught.”

  Her smile grew. “And then what?”

  “We wait.” I drew her mouth into a long sensual kiss, slowly tasting her before pulling back. “And then we do the same damn thing again.”

  “What?” Breathless, she pushed against my chest.

  “Getting caught means that we’re doing something wrong.” My hands slid down her arms and gripped her hips. “Truth or dare?”

  Moonlight caught her skin, causing her features to glow. “Truth.”

  “I’m sure, no, I’m positive, that up until this moment I have been doing life wrong.” My hands gripped her hips harder. “Because I haven’t been with you. It hasn’t been with you.”

  She gasped. I took her mouth again, plundering it until I was so out of breath I couldn’t think straight. We were in the ocean. But no matter how many times my brain kept screaming at me, my body had other ideas, so when Becca guided me to exactly where I wanted to be, I not only almost drowned, but had little to no self-control left.

  “Are you sure?” I groaned, knowing that even if she wasn’t, I was too far gone. I was tipping over the edge of sanity. Swear the roller coaster just kept going and I had no desire for it to stop.

  Our eyes locked.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sure.”

  I didn’t wait for another invitation. I’d like to think I’m the type of guy who knows how to be patient in order to get what he wants.

  But that’s the thing about these moments, the ones that steal your breath away, you aren’t in your right mind, and you sure as hell aren’t patient.