Page 5 of Surviving Love
Jack blew out a breath and slapped his biceps, as if pumping himself up. I gave him a surly glance. No doubt that asshole would be one of the captains. While I hated anything that would make him even cockier, his being a captain might work in my favor. Hopefully he’d rub people the wrong way by being super bossy, and his tribe would send him packing.
Anxiety grew in the group as we waited for Shep to lower the flag. Everybody shifted around, jockeying for a better diving position, and I grunted when someone elbowed my ribs. When I glanced over, I found Jack standing next to me. When our eyes met, I was annoyed to notice how good-looking he was. His eyes were honey brown, surrounded by thick dark lashes, and his lips full. There was no denying he was sexy, but it was important to remember he was a jerk. He wasn’t standing next to me because he wanted to be my friend. He was no doubt trying to intimidate me. Psych me out.
Ignore him. He’s an asshole.
I pulled my gaze from his and instead concentrated on the pristine water below us. The ocean was a soothing turquoise blue, and white sand and colorful coral shimmered beneath the surface. Jack wasn’t going to ruin this amazing moment for me. I was actually in the Philippines. I was about to embark on an adventure I’d never have imagined I’d be brave enough to try, just one year ago. Moments like these were what mattered in life, and fixating on jerks like Jack stole my joy. He was as important as a mosquito buzzing around my ear. I just needed to ignore him and focus on the game.
“On your mark,” Shep yelled.
My heart banged my ribs, and my legs trembled as adrenaline pulsed through me. This was it. The game was about to begin. I was officially on season twenty ofDevious Island. If all went according to plan, I could potentially win a million dollars at the end of this.
“Get set.” Shep’s voice wobbled with excitement.
Just stay calm and do your best.
“Go!” bellowed Shep, swishing the flag down forcefully.
Euphoria jolted through me as I started to push off the side of the boat. My joy quickly turned into shock when somebody yanked on the waistband of my jeans, throwing me off-balance. Instead of leaping forward, as planned, I tumbled backward onto the deck with my legs and arms flailing. I landed on my back with a loud grunt and looked up just in time to see Jack’s face split in a gloating grin.
“What the hell?” I screeched.
Sputtering, I glared at him, but he simply saluted me and then dove off the boat with perfect form.
Chapter Two
I scrambled clumsily to my feet. “You bastard,” I yelled, clambering to the edge of the boat in a panic.
Jack was already halfway to the beach, his muscled arms slicing through the water with machinelike precision. I screamed a few choice words at his back, jumping off the vessel with none of the grace I’d planned on earlier. Clawing at the air, I fell into the water with a big splash, fully aware the cameras would have caught my uncoordinated entry into the ocean. Anger jolted through me as I started swimming as fast as possible.
That son of a bitch sabotaged me.
I was so mad my strokes were awkward and ungainly. I was still in shock that Jack would have targeted me, of all people. I was no threat to him; why the hell would he have set his sights onme? He could outswim me with one arm tied behind his back. Was it simply pure dislike that had motivated him to interfere with me?
If Jack thought messing with me would intimidate me into giving up, he was dead wrong. Instead, my fury drove me faster, and although I wheezed and my muscles burned, I kept kicking and splashing toward the beach like a maniac. When my foot finally touched the bottom of the ocean, I dragged my exhausted body from the surf. Fuming, I made a beeline toward Jack. I didn’t care that the cameras were filming everything. I didn’t care that Jack had twenty pounds of muscle on me or that he was four inches taller. All I could think about was taking a swing at his smug face.
I stomped toward him, rage pumping through me. But before I could reach Jack, Harold grabbed my arm and stopped me. He was puffing like a steam engine, and his white hair was plastered to his head. “Whoa, there, Mason. Calm down.” His fingers dug into my flesh.
“He deliberately stopped me from jumping in the water,” I hissed, trying to get my arm away from Harold’s grip. “He’s a cheater.”
“Shhhh. I know. I know. But you need to play it cool.”
“What? I’m not just going to let that go,” I growled, still struggling to escape Harold’s hold.
“You’re not using your head, kid.”
“I don’t care. I’m going to murder him.”
Exhaling sharply, Harold said, “You’re making a mistake by letting him get to you. He just thinks it’s funny.”
“Funny? It’s not even a little funny,” I snapped, vaguely aware of a camera hovering on the edge of my vision.
“Don’t let him see he’s bugging you.”
“But—” I sputtered, scowling at Harold. “He can’t sabotage me like that and have no repercussions. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”
“That’s what he wants. Don’t give him what he wants.”
“I’m just supposed to let him get away with that?”
