Page 34 of Uncharted

I smile down at her. “Yes, but not you. I’ve got orders from the tree house czar that he wants to put the finishing touches on before you go up. So let’s go get cleaned up.”

“You sure?” She picks up a tub of Dante’s stuff.

He eyes her and then the tub, and then he turns back to the bin he’s sorting. “You know I like you an awful lot, Sassy,” he throws over his shoulder, “but I’m still a territorial bastard when it comes to my kitchen.”

The box thumps on the wooden plank counter. Her shoulders slump. “Right.” Dante’s oblivious. But then she rises on her tiptoes and kisses the back of his neck.

He twists quickly, catching her around her waist. “Go, Sassy, give yourself a little spa date with Swimmer Boy. I’m sure he’s been to lots of spas. He must know how to help.” Dante raises his eyebrows at me.

Fuck. I’ve never been to a spa. I’ve had plenty of massages, but they were all for physical therapy and usually hurt like fuck. Having someone dig into your muscles with a blade isn’t something I would do for fun on a Saturday afternoon.

There’s a box near the ladder that hasn’t been taken up yet. I spotted some spa scrub and shampoo there earlier. “Let’s go, Firefly. I’ll be your esthetician.” I take two clean towels, and I lift them to my nose. I want to strap the damn thing to my face it smells so good.

“So good.” Haley’s joined me.

“Right?” I laugh and hold my hand out to her. I move to the path. “You know, let’s use the soap in the ocean and then rinse the salt off in the waterfall.”

Haley nods. “Good idea. We won’t want to get soap in our drinking water.”

I take her hand, and we walk quietly back to the big rock. It’s high-tide, and the water comes right up to it. I leave the towel there. I want to ask her how she is, what she’s thinking about, if she’s okay. I flick my eyes over her. I’m terrified. I’m more scared of losing her than I am of not getting off the fucking island.

Haley takes my hand. Then she wraps her arms around my waist, pushing her head into my chest. “Are you okay?”

I laugh. “I’m good. I wanted to ask you the same thing.”

“I asked you first—you looked so sad just now. What were you thinking about?”

“The island.” I smooth her hair, holding her tight against me.

“They’ll be able to fix it. Don’t you think?”

I nod.

“Don’t you want them to fix it?” She looks up at me, her hair a golden brown in the waning light.

“Yes. I mean, that’s the answer you want?”

“I want the truth.” I feel her lips curl against my chest.

“It’s a curse and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Damn. At night, after Zane’s done with whatever movie he’s going off about and you all talk about the foods you miss... Chocolate?—”

“Chocolate,” she sighs.

“Yes, chocolate, pizza, beer... things I’ve sworn off for years. Junk food, alcohol. I made a choice. When I train, I cut them all out of my life. Then the second whatever big event is over, I’m off the bandwagon. And it’s like that now. I shut the things I can’t have out of my mind, replacing them with what I can have. What I do have is fresh fish, no internet, no training schedule, no looming date of working with Rockwell Tire, no meetings, no expectations. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever had.”And you.I don’t say it. She’s kind, beautiful, responsive Haley. “And it’s weird, but you all are some of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

She lifts her head from my chest and cocks her head back. “You and Calvin are friends?”

“It was rough in the beginning, but now... it’s good. I know more about the four of you than anyone else ever. My friends at home dispersed from my life when I was training. And when the training was over, the only thing that ever happened was me paying for parties, traveling. Now they’re mostly settled down and married, kids on the way... gone again. Fuck, I wonder if they even know I’m missing.”

“Of course they know you’re missing. Why would you even think that?” She squeezes me even tighter.

“That’s what I was thinking about. You asked.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“How are you?”

“Fi— I don’t know?”

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