She leaned closer, and I had no hope in hell of not staring at her parted mouth and thick eyelashes. The island faded. My leg faded. Everything faded but the chemistry dragging me deeper into her spell.
“I’m so sorry, Galloway.”
Who are you?
She had no idea the effect she had on me (or if she did, she wanted nothing to do with it).
“It’s swollen and hot and the deformity is worrying.” Sitting on her haunches, she gave me a weary smile. “I guess all we can do is hope your body knows how to heal and do as much as we can to prevent a clean knit...until we’re found, of course.”
So basically...I’m screwed.
I didn’t want to think about my disability. I didn’t want to come to terms with what the injury would mean. All I wanted was a simple reminder of happier things and for whatever reason...she had the power to make me forget.
I couldn’t stop staring at her. The make-up she’d been wearing last night had washed off in the storm and a rivulet of mascara smudged below her eye.
Without thinking, I ran my thumb along the soft skin of her cheekbone.
She turned frigid. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
Now, what was her problem? I couldn’t be nice? I couldn’t tend to her while she tended to me?
I shrugged, doing my best to downplay what’d happened. “You had dirt on your face.”
Conner snickered. “We’re all covered in dirt. I don’t think a speck on her face is gonna be a problem.”
I glared at him. I liked the kid, but he’d better not form a habit of making me look like an idiot. I did that fine all on my own.
Estelle ran her hand where my thumb had touched her. Her eyes softened just a little. “Well...thank you. But Conner’s right. I’m filthy. We all are.”
I wanted to bring up the fact she was hurt again but didn’t know how to do it without her slapping me or worse...leaving me with no way of chasing after her.
Pippa tugged Estelle's hair. “My Mummy never lets me get this messy. Can I have a shower so I don’t get into trouble?”
All of us collectively tensed. Poor girl. The simple necessities of showering and eating with utensils had been stripped for the foreseeable future.
You don’t know that for sure.
Estelle plastered a fake smile on her face. “I’ve got something even better than a shower.”
Pippa brightened. “Oh?”
“How about a bath in the ocean? It’s so blue and pretty and maybe a dolphin will come and swim with you.”
Conner sucked in a ragged breath—not because Estelle soothed his baby sister but because of the word ‘ocean.’
I latched onto it, too.
“You’ve been on the beach?” My voice was gruff and snappy.
Estelle narrowed her eyes. “I have.”
My patience stretched too thin. “And...”
“And what?”
“And what did you see? Are we close to another island? Do you recognise where we are?”
She smoothed Pippa’s hair with gentle fingers while her voice hardened. “How would I recognise it? I’ve never been to Fiji before.”
Conner said, “Did you find help?”
Estelle’s anger faded—it seemed only I deserved her wrath. “No, I’m afraid not.”
I butted in again. “Where did you end up? After the crash, I mean?”
Annoyance glowed in her gaze. “I was in the helicopter. I was the only one.”
I did my best to understand how I’d been thrown clear, along with the Evermores. Estelle had been in the middle of the cabin, protected on both sides. It would make sense that she would be the last to be flung free.
Conner took Pippa’s hand, looking at Estelle. “We walked back to the helicopter last night. Did you see the pilot?”
Pippa shivered. “He’s sleeping like Mummy and Daddy.”
Estelle swallowed hard. “You mean he’s—”
“Didn’t make it. Yes,” I snapped, worried about Pippa and how she’d react bringing it up again. Couldn’t she see things like that ought to be discussed when juvenile ears weren’t around to hear?
Estelle’s nostrils flared. “Will you stop? Just stop. Okay?”
“Stop what?” I drowned in her angry eyes. They turned more green than hazel when she was mad.
“You know what.”
I did know what, but I wasn’t sure how to stop it. She brought out the worst in me.
I hoisted myself higher. “Look, help me up, then if you want to leave, you can. I won’t bother you again.” Holding out my hand, I did my best not to piss her off. “Please. Just help me stand and I’ll be a lot less annoying. I promise.”
She didn’t warm to my peace offering. “For now, I think you should stay there. I’ve explored one side of the island. There’s nothing but beach and sea for miles.” Looking over her shoulder, she looked into the thicket in the opposite direction. “However, I haven’t explored that way yet. Perhaps, there are people. I’ll try and find help for your leg.”
My heart leapt but the niggle of doubt was too big to ignore. “And if there’s no one else on this island?”
“Then I guess we’d better make more of an effort to get along and remember how to survive better than what credit cards and home delivery has taught us.” Striding away, she left without another word.
Damn woman.
Damn gorgeous, opinionated, strong-as-hell woman.
Conner and Pippa gawked after her. Pointing at his sister, Conner ordered. “Stay with Galloway. I’m going with her.”
“But—” Pippa tried to grab her brother.
“No, Pip.” Conner pushed her. I managed to snag her wrist as she stumbled closer to me.
I wanted him to go with Estelle. Someone needed to be with her and, hopefully, keep her safe.
“Keep me company. I’d love that.” Winking at Conner, I added, “I’ve got her. Go ahead. Fingers crossed you find civilisation and this will all be over.”
Conner jogged after Estelle, still protecting his wrist.
Pippa sniffed, sliding unwillingly into a cross-legged pose beside me. Her brown eyes met mine, almost identical to the copper-brown on her head. She’d been well-dressed and excited when we’d boarded the helicopter last night. Now, she looked wild and unkempt.
We both did.
Holding out my arm, I invited, “You must be tired. How about you get some rest and I’ll keep an eye out?”
“But I wanna know when Conner comes back.” Her voice argued, but her body accepted my offer, slotting beneath my arm. Her little head rested on my chest.
I tried not to think about the blood from her shoulder. She needed to be tended to—disinfected and bandaged. But all of that would have to come later.
“I’ll wake you the second he comes back. How about that?”
She bit her lip, pondering. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”
As the little girl fell asleep on my chest in the middle of unchartered waters, I fixated on the spot where Estelle and Conner had disappeared.
I wanted to know, too.
I wanted to know what they found.
I was just terrified of the answer.
Chapter Thirteen
...............................................
E S T E L L E
......
Breathe. That’s all you have to do. Breathe. When life shines brightly. Breathe. When the world turns its back. Breathe. When nothing works out. Breathe. When luck favours kindly. Inhale with hope and exhale with distrust.
Breathe.
That’s all you’ve got.
After all...that’s all you can ever do.
Lyrics: ‘Breathe’ Taken from the notepad of E.E.
...
“THAT’S IT, THEN.”
My voice was calm and accepting while inside, I was a crying disaster. However, I couldn’t break down. I couldn’t scream with fear or beg fate for a second chance. Not with a child beside me. A child looking u
p to me to be strong and brave.
“I guess.” Conner gasped in pain as we leapt over a fallen palm tree and padded down the beach to the shore. We’d explored the other side of the island. We’d found that there was nothing on this side, just like there was nothing on that.
We were stranded.
Alone.
Utterly marooned and unwanted.
Tears welled but I forced them down. The pain from my ribs kept me centred and the knowledge that things had to be taken care of (if we had any hope of existing past the next couple of days) weighed heavier and heavier on my mind.
Where do we begin?
How do we begin?
Conner groaned as his wrist bounced again. He’d nursed it every step we’d taken. It killed me to see him in pain and not help.
Yanking him to a stop, I asked, “You’re hurt?”
Bravado existed in his gaze but he couldn’t hide it. He looked away, gnawing on his bottom lip. “I’m all right.”
“You can tell me.”
He sighed, glancing at the sand beneath our feet. He still wore his sneakers—scuffed and highlighter green—while I wore my silver ballet flats. Blisters had formed on my instep and big toe, but I couldn’t take them off—not yet. Not until I found my handbag and the pair of flip-flops I’d hurriedly packed before boarding the helicopter.
What I wouldn’t give for my suitcase.
I had sunblock in there. A floppy hat. A first-aid kit.
Everything I didn’t think I’d need for an overnight stay had suddenly turned into every precious requirement.
“Ouch.” Conner flinched as I ran my fingers along his wrist.
The skin puffed with swelling, red with discomfort.
My stomach twisted. Not only was Galloway, myself, and Pippa hurt, but it looked like Conner was as well.
Damn, were we all in pieces?
I delivered the news as gently as I could. “You’re going to be okay, but...”
“It’s broken, isn’t it?”
I glanced up, meeting his angry, fearful eyes. “I think so.”
He huffed. “Figured.”
“It doesn’t mean it can’t be set.”
“How? Do you see a doctor and an X-ray machine around here?”
I smiled at his morbid humour. “Not exactly, but humans healed from breaks long before a doctor had the ability to make plaster casts.”
Conner stiffened. “Whatever.”
Sliding my fingers from his wrist, I took his hand. “May I?”
His eyes widened but he nodded.
Guiding him toward the border of where the forest met the beach, I sat down in the soft sand, taking him with me. Switching to face each other, I gently felt his wrist again—just as I’d done with Galloway’s leg.
Unlike Galloway, my lungs didn’t asphyxiate with overpowering desire. I didn’t understand my snappy shyness or nonsensical attraction toward him. When he’d looked down my top and seen the cut from the seat belt, I’d wanted to slap him for thinking he had the right to protect me but also for the way his eyes burned with lust.
The opinionated Englishman rose full force in my thoughts. Conner and I had been gone for over an hour, but the annoyance Galloway caused still simmered.
What was his deal? I was only trying to help, but he kept growling at me as if he couldn’t stand to have me near.
He’d wanted me (unless I misread the way he watched me) but that had no place here.
We didn’t have time for egos or desire. Not now. If this truly was an island and we were the only people on it, we had to stick together and find some way to survive side by side.
Conner didn’t move as I felt along the bony angles of his wrist.
I had no idea what I was feeling for. Sharp edges? Misaligned ligaments? Even if I did, I wouldn’t know if it was normal or wrong. Plus, if I did somehow know what was wrong, what on earth could I do about it?
I couldn’t even offer generic painkillers, let alone assure him he’d heal intact with no ill effects. However, I knew from experience that fake confidence was better than panicked horror, especially where children were concerned.
Smiling brightly, I let him go. “I might be wrong. It could just be a nasty sprain. But let’s be on the safe side and make you a splint. How does that sound?”
“A splint?”
Grabbing a straight-ish stick, I nodded. The bark had weathered into the silvery softness of driftwood. It wouldn’t stab him and would hopefully keep his bone in line to heal. I didn’t know how long it would take to knit together, but this was all I could offer.
What can I use as a bandage?
Twisting in the sand (killing my ribs in the process), I looked for a possibility. “Yes, you know? Like a cast but without the plaster.”
Dammit, there was nothing to wrap his arm with. The only thing I could think of was my top. I wasn’t precious with my clothes and didn’t hesitate.
Dropping the stick, I grabbed my hem and ripped the soft cotton with my teeth. With a quick yank, a section came away. I repeated it so I had a few strips to use.
“You just ruined your top.” Conner rolled his eyes. “I don’t see a mall to buy another one.”
Laughing as if he’d told the funniest joke, I grabbed his wrist again and placed the stick on his forearm. As a quick addition, I picked up a newly fallen leaf and wrapped it around his skin to protect him as much as possible from the stick. “Oh, well. I’m not exactly going for best dressed or a fancy party, am I?”
Conner grinned. “I guess not. However, I’d still vote for you as prettiest girl, even though you are completely filthy.”
My hands froze. I could barely deal with Galloway and his snide comments and he was closer to my age for sexual innuendo arguments. Conner was too young. How did I deal with pubescent testosterone when it was just him and me and no referee?
I forced myself to meet his eyes. “How old are you, Conner?”
“Thirteen. Why?”
“And Pippa? How old is she?”
He frowned. “She’s seven. Turns eight in a few months.”
“I bet she seems really young to you.”
He smirked. “Hell, yeah. A baby, really.”
Please don’t let this backfire.
I hated confrontation (a nasty symptom of being an introvert) but if we had any chance of surviving together, then boundaries had to be put in place immediately.
I straightened. “Well, the way you think of Pippa, with how young she is...that’s how I think of you.”
Conner sucked in a sharp breath.
I didn’t say a word, merely waited for the backlash. Only...it didn’t come. “Do you understand what I’m saying? I want to be your friend, Conner. But I’m too old for you...”
His face didn’t hint his thoughts. His skin had already caught the sunshine. His brow and square nose had turned pink and his brown eyes glowed warmly. He was a great looking boy, and I had no doubt would break many female hearts...when he came of age. I just hoped I hadn’t emasculated him by treating him like a child.
He burst out laughing. “Ah, I get it.”
“You do?”
“You have the hots for Gal.”
“Gal?”
“Galloway.”
Embarrassment flushed my cheeks. “No. That’s not it at all.”
He leaned closer, encroaching on my personal bubble, making me slightly uncomfortable. How could a boy unnerve me so much?
Because he’s nailed it.
I acted as if Galloway pissed me off because I didn’t want to face reality. I was attracted to him. When I’d touched him to check his broken ankle, all I thought about was skimming my hands higher and seeing what wasn’t broken.
I’d never wanted to do that to anyone, let alone a complete stranger.
It was better for me to keep my distance, and if Conner kept his distance from me, believing I liked Galloway...well, where was the harm in that?
Besides, we were on a freaking island!
&n
bsp; Alone.
We had more pressing things to worry about than romantic wishes and misunderstood arguments.
Clearing my throat, I picked up the stick again. “Hold that.”
Still chuckling, Conner did as I asked as I wrapped the leaf tighter and positioned the stick along his wrist from his palm to middle forearm. Once in place, I used my makeshift bandage, wrapping the fabric strips around him and binding tight.
It wasn’t pretty, but at least it would give him support and allow the bones – if they were broken—to knit correctly.
Galloway.
I’ll have to do the same for him.
He could growl and grumble all he wanted, but his leg wouldn’t heal without some sort of attention.
Conner sighed as soon as the knot was finished. “Thanks. That already feels better.”
I stood up. “No worries.” My eyes drifted from bright beach to gloomy jungle. We’d achieved more than just setting a damaged wrist. We’d formed the foundations of a friendship that I hoped would benefit both of us—no matter what happened.
My stomach rumbled and thirst nagged my dry throat. We’d wasted enough time exploring and hoping that help was just around the corner.
We had to face facts.
We had to be smarter and focus on items that would keep us alive rather than kill us faster. “Want to go back and get the others? I think it’s time for some food, don’t you?”
As if on cue, Conner’s tummy mimicked mine, growling with emptiness. “Food would be good...but what?” He scanned the island that’d become our prison, protector, and home. “Just like I don’t see a mall, I don’t see a supermarket or fast food joint.”
“Think you’re so smart, huh?” I laughed, doing my best to keep my tone jovial. Pretending everything was fine helped keep my unravelling despair from taking over.
Earlier, when I’d come back from the other side of the island and found Galloway propped up and the two children fighting, for a single horrible moment I’d wished they hadn’t survived. One awful, spiteful, selfish second, I wished such innocence hadn’t survived so they wouldn’t know the hardships of what was to come.
There was no luxury of purging myself with tears of self-pity. No way of screaming for help like a crazy person. I had to be the one others leaned on. I had to fight, not just for me, but for these precious children who deserved so much more than what they’d been given.
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