Page 79 of Adrift

Dante’s gone most of the morning. Easton bustles around the beach, building the help sign bigger, checking on the mound we have ready if we see something. The flare gun is near me since I’m watching the horizon. But Easton makes a few more grease-dipped fire starters for the cold pile of the signal fire. Around lunch, Zane shows up and Easton disappears.

Zane gives me the same answer. “Nothing, bird, we’re just gathering firewood.”

I squint at him, and he sits next to me. I’ve been yachting too long to not know when I’m being left out of something. But asking him if they’re in the woods jacking off isn’t going to happen.

Calvin trades with Zane, but instead of moving firewood, Calvin catches us two fish. The silly things practically jump onto his hook. He guts them on the rock next to me. He’s back to mostly grunting at me.

The sun is dropping out of the sky by the time everyone is back and we’re eating the fish and coconut in our little bowls, with a few scraps of pork. The guys are silent.

“What the hell is going on?” I look up from my fish, which is amazing. I’m grateful, but I’m not going to live like this, with them keeping secrets.

“Well, are you going to tell her?” Easton puts his hand on my leg.

“Tell me? Tell me what?” I glare at Calvin.

Chapter 31

Chart

Calvin

Haley’s glaring at me like I’m the only one not telling her. She’s not wrong. In fact, I’m currently still trying to figure out a way to not tell her. Because hope is an important thing.

Zane’s sitting next to her, and he takes her hand. “We didn’t tell Dante either.”

“Not until I came across them.” Dante pokes at the coals.

“What in the world are you talking about?” Haley turns to me, her blue eyes wide. “Calvin?” Her chest heaves. And the memory of her taste on my lips shakes me.

I shake my head. Going around the circle, each of the guys glares at me. I let out a long breath. “It’s better if we just show you, I guess. It’s getting dark, but we have a little time. How’s your ankle?”

“It’s almost healed,” she lies.

I turn to Easton, the closest thing we have to a doctor, anyway. “You’re not going to climb up to let her see, are you?” he says.

“No,” I growl.

“So what does it matter, then?” Easton shrugs his shoulders.

“Let’s go, Little Bird.” Zane stands up and offers her his back, ending the debate. Haley grips him around his shoulders.

We’re off into the woods. It isn’t too far down the beaten trail from our frequent trips back here. I stop at the largest tree. Its trunk is too big for even me to fit my arms around. “Put her down.”

Zane lets her slowly down to her good leg. We stand around the trunk, one of the two longer ropes we have attached to the lowest limbs.

“Wait, what’s that?” Haley wraps her hand around the rope.

“This is what we brought you out to see.” Easton’s got the same regretful look on his face. Damn this girl; she’s going to want to climb up and take a look for herself.

Her eyes are on the trunk, but she hasn’t let the rope go.

“We’ve copied the sea charts onto the trunk of this tree. We don’t have enough paper, and paper can get wet. Easton’s battery is only going to last so long. Mine’s already dead, even though I’ve been turning it off. So you see, this is where we think we are.” Zane points to the little X far up the tree. “But this would be our logical position for anyone to search for us.” He taps another spot on the tree.

“And you’re sure?” Haley gives a nod, her hand on the tree.

“We are,” he says. “When you’re better, we can show you.”

And I want to muzzle him. “No. You don’t need to go up there. It’s too dangerous.”

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