I turned my hand so my fingers touched his arm. Admitting it hurt nearly as much as his punch had, but he might be right, although I still wasn't convinced I'd lose to Dean. "I get it. I will."
He squeezed my wrist and let me go. Michael moved in, shooting a glare at Aaron, and put his arm around my shoulder again. Somehow Aaron's grip had been more comforting.
We sat in silence for a moment. Dom the camera man shifted his position, and it made me think. I straightened up, moving away from Michael, and said to Dom, "I know you're not supposed to interfere, but if someone was hurting me, would you stop him?"
He looked to his partner then at me. "We wouldn't get involved in something minor."
"Like someone being slapped across the face," his partner said, grinning at me. I grinned back, and he added, "Especially if he deserved it."
"But if you were in serious danger, yes," Dom finished. "But it would have to be very serious. Like, life threatening. Otherwise, we have to let the show go on. And even then, we'd probably take a few seconds to recognize it and put the camera down."
"Okay, thanks," I said, wondering how it had come to this. Dean a threat to my safety, Aaron taking care of me? "Where do we go from here, guys? We're only eight days in."
"I think we should consider losing the next exile contest."
I stared at Greg. "On purpose? Why?"
He looked pointedly out at the ocean.
"But I really don't want to do that. Losing intentionally?"
"Want to keep living with him?"
I shivered, remembering the hate on Dean's face at the contest. "Not so much."
Looking around, I saw that Aaron and Michael shared my distaste for throwing the contest and Jim was with Greg. "I think we're three to two against on that. I'll stay away from him, and he'll go the first chance I get, but I don't want him gone enough to throw it."
"I'd have thought you would," Greg said.
"Oh, I do want him gone," I said. "No doubt. But I'll cope until he goes. He's not important enough to me to lose on purpose."
"Can't say I like it, but okay."
Another silence, eventually broken by Michael. "Did... did you really cheat on Sam?"
I sighed. "Not remotely proud of it, but yeah."
"Did he know?"
"He caught me at it, so yeah," I said, giving him a wry smile.
"Must have sucked for you," Aaron said.
I stared at him. "Sucked more for Sam, I think."
"And Kent knew?" Michael said, his voice strangely flat.
I nodded, wondering why he was pointing out the obvious. "Like he said, I told him."
"He knows how the game works. Did you see how he made us think it was him?"
"I don't think he meant to."
Aaron rolled his eyes at me. "Of course he did. Sounds ticked off, looks upset, it's a quick jump to assuming that you'd cheated on him. He's better at this than I thought."
I really didn't think Kent's anger had been a game ploy. True, he hadn't said anything to me afterward; he'd given me a rather distant smile and left with his arm around Summer, the two of them slightly ahead of the pack. But that wasn't a surprise, considering.
"That last question was cruel," I said.
"What, about the biggest relationship mistake he'd made?"
I nodded. "Peter should have told us 'no comment' was an option."
"Yeah, but then you'd all have said it."
Probably, but better that than four of his exes saying 'marrying Summer'. I knew she tended to the over-dramatic, but her tears when Kent went to her after the contest had been real.
"Do you think she was right?" Michael said.
"What, that breaking up with me was Kent's biggest mistake?" I'd had to fight back tears myself when she'd shown that answer. "No, he didn't answer the question, so 'no comment' was right. I wish I'd thought of putting that down."
I knew what Michael was really asking, and I had no idea how to answer. I did wonder what Kent's answer would have been, though, if he'd given one.
"Yours was good, MC." Greg gave me a sidelong look. "I thought you had it."
I laughed. "You did not. Not letting Kayla sleep with her teddy bear?" I hadn't been able to come up with anything real, so I'd gone for a joke instead.
He grinned. "I suppose not. It was funny, though."
"Poor Summer was really upset," Jim said. "Why don't they like her?"
"Looked at her lately?" Aaron said, but Jim said, "It's more than that. Come on, they're not exactly hideous themselves."
"She's so... alive, somehow," Greg said. "I like Lily a lot, but--"
"I know," Aaron said, elbowing him. "Couldn't keep your eyes off her."
Ignoring this, although his cheeks flushed, Greg said, "As I was saying, Lily's great but Summer is so sparkly. Must be hard for other women to live with."
And to hear about. I cleared my throat. "Aaron, you were saying we should figure out how to win, right? Got any ideas?"
We spent the next hour or so discussing what we knew about the game, Kent, and his exes, struggling to find an edge. Partway through, Dean emerged from the ocean, shivering, and took a seat on a rock. We continued talking as if he wasn't there, and after a few minutes he left, first visiting the latrine then walking along the shore until he was out of sight. "Jackass," Aaron muttered after him, but we otherwise ignored his departure as we had his arrival.
At last, Greg heaved a sigh. "Good stuff. Now, who's ready for some food?"
Amid a chorus of agreement, I went to collect rice from the treasure chest. As I bent over, the men's voices fell silent at the same moment. I glanced back over my shoulder. "What?"
They exchanged glances, and Michael said, "It's... um... it's that time of the month."
*****
I walked back into the deserted camp. I'd kicked the guys out immediately after Michael's announcement, unable to meet their eyes. We'd talked about my upcoming period, but to have them actually witness its arrival was more than I could take. That sort of thing had always embarrassed me, right from when my poor father explained it all to me. He'd done his best, but it had been hideously awkward.
Jim had said, "How long should we stay out?"
Two months sounded about right. "Maybe half an hour?"
"Come on, MC. It's no big deal."
"Aaron, get out now or so help me..."
Michael had shooed the guys ahead of him, then turned back. "Don't feel too bad, okay?"
I'd forced a smile and waited until they were well and truly gone, a camera man trooping along behind them, before pouring a canteen's worth of water over my rock and then finding a tampon and clean clothes in my suitcase and heading to the latrine.
Savoring the silence, I took the day's clothes, and some other laundry, down to the shore. I scrubbed them all then found a secluded tree and hung them to dry, hoping the guys would know enough to stay away. Having the production assistant go through my clean clothes had been bad enough; the thought of anyone but me scrabbling around in the dirty ones or ogling my bras and underwear as they dried was unbearable.
My rock had already dried in the hot sun, so I settled onto it then closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. Instead of my sunset visualization, I saw Kent's picture in my mind. I smiled, watching the cartoon sun sink down and disappear behind the wavy line of the water, slowing my breathing to match its gentle pace.
Something clicked against the rocks at my feet and I snapped my head up, eyes open and searching. Another pebble landed beside my foot, and Dom let a few more fall from his hand, his walkie-talkie gripped in his other hand. He jerked his head toward the shore. I looked.
Dean stood watching me.
Our eyes met and he started forward, picking up speed as he approached. Not running, but moving faster than I'd have liked. I stood and took a step toward him, struggling to keep my face calm while considering my options. Run? Yell for the guys? Attack him? He didn't look like he planned to hurt me. I didn't think.
&nb
sp; He stopped about ten feet away. "Do you know how angry I am?" His forced calm was more frightening than his earlier fury, and again I thought about screaming for help. I didn't want to, though, and if I did and it made him go for me the guys would never reach me in time.
I took a deep breath. Trying to match his tone, I said, "I'm starting to."
"I gave up so much to be here," he said, taking a step closer, and I held my ground even though I wanted to bolt. "Cancelled that concert, my students... do you know how stupid I feel?"
"You shouldn't feel stupid, it's--"
"Don't tell me how to feel!"
I caught my breath at his passion, but before I could find a response he said, "I'm sorry. I promised myself I wouldn't yell at you any more. But I hate being told I'm too emotional."
"I didn't mean it like that," I said. "C-can I tell you what I meant?"
At his nod, I said, "It's horrible what they did to you. I thought that from the beginning."
"Did you really?" He sounded half hopeful and half sarcastic, which didn't bother me as much as his taking another step toward me. I backed away, only to feel the rock pressing against my calves. Trapped.
"Of course I did. You weren't stupid. They set you up."
Aaron came crashing out of the jungle with the others a few feet behind. Without slowing, he ran straight up to us and slammed his right fist into Dean's stomach. Ignoring Dean doubling over and gasping for air, Aaron grabbed me by the shoulders. "Are you okay?"
I shook his hands off me. "I'm fine! You didn't need to hit him."
Aaron ran his eyes over me. Not flirtation this time: he was clearly checking for damage. The fear began to fade from his face, but anger replaced it when his scan reached my legs.
"I told you, I'm--"
"Between a rock and him, I see that. Why the hell didn't you run? Or yell?"
"He wasn't trying to hurt me, and--"
"How long ago did we ask you not to be alone with him? One hour? Two? I don't know why I bothered."
"Who asked you to? I can take care of myself."
"Fine, do that," he said. "See if I care." He stalked past the groaning Dean.
"I know you don't care," I shouted after him. "You never cared."
He didn't look back.
I dropped onto the rock, my body swept by waves of tingly weakness. Greg said, "You okay?" to me, then repeated the question, with far less concern, to Dean after I'd nodded.
"Think so." Dean struggled upright, his face an awful grayish-white. "Why'd he do that?"
"Oh, I don't know," Michael said. "Maybe because you attacked her at the contest and he didn't want to see it happen again?"
"I didn't... I wasn't..."
But he had, or at least he'd been trying to at the contest. I saw him realize the truth and bit my lip against his horror. He staggered toward the latrine, but dropped to his knees and threw up before he reached the path.
Michael said, "Go make sure he's not dying. I'll stay here."
Greg and Jim exchanged glances, but did as he'd suggested, leaving Michael and I alone. He knelt in front of me. "Are you sure you're all right?"
I dropped my head into my hands. "I am," I said, so weakly I barely believed myself. I tried again. "Really."
He put his hand on my shoulder then slid it tentatively across my back. "It's okay now."
I pulled away. "No, it's not. We can't win like this."
"Exile him and then worry about winning."
I jumped at Greg's voice; I hadn't seen him returning. Despite everything I hoped Dean hadn't overheard, but he and Jim sat on a log near the path talking intently so probably not.
"I can't. I want that money for Colin."
Michael said, "We can get the money after. I think he needs to go."
I stared at him. "You thought he should stay."
"No, I just didn't want to lose on purpose. But now I think it's better for you-- for us if he goes as soon as possible."
"But he didn't do anything," I said. "You stopped him at the contest, and I still don't think he was going to hurt me anyhow, and we were only talking when Aaron hit him."
Greg started to talk, but I cut him off. "I won't let us end up three people down. This time it's better for the group if he stays. We play it to win."
Pushing himself to his feet, Greg said, "So who'll you use? Yourself and Dean? Everyone else will throw the contest."
"If you do, you're going home instead," I said, glaring up at him. He gave me a disgusted look, then shook his head and set off after Aaron.
I sighed. What was I going to do?
"MC, I'm sorry but I think Greg's right."
"Well, I don't."
"I don't want you to get hurt!"
His voice, rough and intense, shocked me to silence. I stared at him, and he stared back then started to cough.
"Sorry," he said between coughs that sounded distinctly forced. "Got a frog in my throat."
"It's the heat," I said quickly. "Want me to get you a drink?"
"Please," he said before dissolving into another coughing fit.
I fetched a canteen, taking deep breaths to calm myself. Michael hadn't sounded like he was having throat trouble. He'd sounded more like someone worrying about the woman he--
I wouldn't let myself finish the thought. Things were tense enough already around camp without Michael feeling--
A frog. Nothing more.
Chapter Thirteen
When I whispered to Michael, he said, "I can't," clearly torn. "I'm sorry, I know--"
"Okay, fine." I didn't want him to reveal what I was asking.
Jim's "Absolutely" didn't surprise me; he and Dean had talked for ages the night before and Jim had told me he didn't think Dean was a threat.
I nodded and moved toward Dean, my heart pounding despite Jim's assurances as I deliberately put myself within easy reach. After I asked the question, his eyes widened. "If you'll let me, definitely."
Greg's response, without a moment's thought, was, "No way."
It all came down to Aaron. If he wouldn't play this elimination contest to win, then I didn't have the three guys I needed. We hadn't spoken since he'd stormed from camp after punching Dean. Beforehand, he'd wanted to win. Now, I had no idea. I took a deep breath and whispered into his ear, "I need your help. I want us to win this contest, and only Dean and Jim are willing to try. Are you?" I pulled back and waited for his answer.
He shook his head and murmured, "You're something else, MC." Was that admiration in his voice? Before I could finish analyzing his tone, he said, "My answer is yes."
Relief swirled through me, and I turned to Peter. "I choose Dean, Jim, and Aaron."
"What did you say to them, Princess?"
I feigned shock. "Those were private conversations."
"No such thing here," he said, smiling.
I smiled back but didn't answer his question.
"All right, then." He probably had a good idea what I'd asked, since my choice of players had obviously been based on their answers. "So we have the Prince, with Faith, Ashley, and Summer, against the Princess and Aaron, Jim, and Dean. The rest of you head back to the shore."
Greg didn't even wish us good luck before leaving. Michael did, but looked back repeatedly as he left. Far from finding it sweet, it annoyed me: I could take care of myself. Kent's remaining women departed walking close together and talking in low angry voices.
Summer had not been a popular choice. He'd chosen Ashley and Faith because they'd sat out the previous day, but when he picked Summer the others had stared at him in shock. Ignoring their reaction, she threw her arms around him and he pulled her close and whispered something that made her lean back and smile up at him.
They still stood apart, arms around each other. Nobody wanted to hold me like that, and I wanted it. Looking at her with him made me want it so much it hurt, a heavy burning feeling deep in my chest. I turned away, unable to watch another second.
Peter said, "You will run along the path un
til you reach a pile of logs. Once you all reach your pile, assemble the logs into a raft and carry the raft down to the shore. From there, paddle out to pick up a flag and bring it back." After making sure we understood, he did his countdown and we raced off.
The 'path' through the jungle didn't deserve the name. We ran for about ten minutes, scrambling over tree roots and rocks, and I gave it everything I had but couldn't quite keep up with the guys. They were about fifteen feet ahead of me by the time they reached the pile labeled 'Princess', and they screamed at me to hurry as if it had been fifteen thousand feet.
The logs weren't labeled, but Dean said, "I played with toy logs as a kid, I can do this. We want this one and that one first." Jim grabbed the first one he'd indicated, and Aaron put the second one down beside it after only a second's hesitation.
Kent, a few feet away and a few seconds behind, snapped orders his exes didn't seem to understand and they were soon snapping back at him.
In contrast, Dean's calm tone brought peace to my team and his music teaching skills made his instructions precise. We had our logs linked together before the others were even half done, then took off through the forest, Kent's shout of frustration echoing behind us. I'd never heard him so aggravated.
We hauled the raft along, Jim and I on one side and Dean and Aaron on the other. I could hear Kent's group crashing through the trees and tried to ignore them, but finally couldn't stand not knowing how close they were. I glanced over my right shoulder and saw they weren't far behind at all, then turned back. In time to see a rock sticking up from the rough path. In time to see my foot smash into it.
I might have kept my balance if I hadn't tried to keep my grip on the raft. As it was, I went down hard on my knees and left shoulder. When the shock of it cleared, I found myself crumpled, my left cheek mashed into the dirt.
"Shit! Get up!" Jim grabbed my arm and tried to pull me to my feet.
I buckled and hit the ground again, pain exploding through my knees, but held a hand up to him immediately. He took it, pulled harder than before, and I managed to get upright.
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