Page 63 of Adrift

I sink to the sand in a one-legged squat. “You think so?” My heart pounds. I turn around, trying to see where they headed into the jungle.

“No.” He stands, bringing his towel over to my makeshift ottoman.

“You should rest too,” I say.

“You wanted something to do. I’m giving you something to do. Can you pet my hair?” He raises his eyebrows at me.

“Your hair?”

“Yeah, like, smooth it down like I’m a pet.” He lies on the towel and puts his head on my lap, bandage side up, facing my stomach.

“A pet chef. That sounds dangerous.” I smooth his hair away from his forehead. It’s silky and dark with a wave to it.

“I’m harmless without my knives.” His eyes flutter closed. I keep petting him. He’s kept his crew shirt on, while all the other guys ripped theirs off the second they got their life vests off. I rub the circle on his back with my other hand. A slow groan hisses out of his lips.

“Sorry.” I lift my hand.

“No. Don’t stop. Feels good.” He’s talking like a drunken sailor, and I’m worried again. But I keep the circles slow with even pressure.

“So good. I’m not drooling on you.” Dante’s lips are open.

“It’s okay if you do.”

“You’re drool-worthy,” he stammers out.

I laugh. “Now I know something’s really wrong with you.”

“Seriously? You have no idea, do you? So sexy.” But that’s the last thing he says before he falls asleep.

I stop rubbing him but leave my hand on his back. Feeling his back lift with each breath makes me feel a hell of a lot better. We’re all here for such a short time, and anything could take us away. Like it did with my mom. Or Candy. I lean back against the raft and close my eyes too. I fall asleep and wake to the sound of Easton and Calvin bossing each other around.

“Just take the end of the log,” Easton says. “You wanted it.” Their voices are coming from behind the raft, so I can’t see what they have.

“Put it down there,” Calvin calls out.

Zane bounces around the raft first, his arms laden with dry driftwood. Calvin and Easton are holding a whole palm tree. I raise my eyebrows at Zane.

“Easton wants to burn it. Cal wants to use it as a support beam for the decking of a shelter. And I am staying the fuck out of it.”

“That’s a good idea.” I put my hand on Dante’s back.

Zane glances at him. “How’s he doing?”

“Sassy. And good.” I leave the hope out of it because I don’t want Dante to pick up a bad mindset.

“Good.” Zane nods.

Calvin and Easton take off for the woods, but Zane is running around the edges of the beach, grabbing enormous stones, bringing them back to the pile of firewood he’s collected. It’s backbreaking work, and after a long time, he settles down in the shade near his pile of rocks.

“I wish I could help.” My chest is heavy. I put a little pressure on my foot, and pain zings up my leg.

“You will, Haley. And watching over Dante is helping.” Zane moves sand and places rocks, making a perfect fire pit.

“That looks amazing. Have you done it before?”

The answer is in his glance. “No. I’m a city kid. I ended up on boats on a lark. A school mate started and got me a job on a day charter ten years ago. I’ve been working my way up. Saving. My boat. Oh well, there will be another one. And we better be getting paid.” He laughs. “Right?”

“There’s got to be something about it in the contract,” I mumble.

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