“So I guess we go back and tell the newlyweds to pack up,” I tell her.
“You really want us to move here?”
“We’ve got shelter, we’ve got a fresh-water stream, and there seems to be a rainwater catchment on top of the old shower block. I think we’re better off here, more protected from any storm surges or the like.”
Though to be honest, I feel weird about leaving the Atarangi where she is. Not that she’s going anywhere, but I feel like I’m abandoning her when she needs me, as silly as that seems. Maybe if I can just get Daisy, Lacey, and Richard over here, I can stay at the other camp…might be better having Daisy at more of a distance, too.
Though, even if that’s what I need, it’s not what I want.
We head back to camp, following the stream back to the waterfall, then the compass guides us the rest of the way. By the time we make it to the other side of the island, it seems like we’ve been gone most of the day.
“Where have you guys been?” Lacey cries out as we stumble out of the jungle and onto the sand.
“I was going to send out a search party,” Richard says. “Consisting of Lacey.”
We fill them in on what we found, from the waterfall and pool, to the stream, to the abandoned research station.
“So the desert island becomes the deserted island,” Richard muses. “Nice twist.”
“Not very helpful for us if it’s uninhabited,” Lacey points out. “What kind of research is it?”
“Not too sure. Something to do with nature. Maybe marine, maybe bird, maybe insects.”
“Maybe it’s like the Island of Dr. Moreau,” Richard says.
“More like the Island of Dr. Boner,” Daisy says, biting back a smile.
Lacey puts her hands on her hips and gives her sister a look. “It’s Bon-Air. Okay? Doctor Bon-Air. It’s derived from the phrase “de bonne aire,” literally meaning of handsome or of good bearing.”
I stare at Richard, who right now does not look of very good bearing.
“Is that what he promised you?” I say to Lacey, unable to stay out of it.
Lacey flinches like I slapped her. “What? It’s true.”
I glance at Richard, brow raised. “Hey Dick, you want to tell her the truth about her new last name?”
His skin seems to pale before my eyes, and he adjusts his broken glasses. Clears his throat.
“Richard?” Lacey asks imploringly. “Tell me he’s wrong.”
He looks at her, chin raised. “Remember when you lied to me about having to wear glasses?” he says.
She blinks at him.
Shit’s about to go down.
I glance over at Daisy. “Hey, I’m hungry, you hungry?”
I motion over to the fire and she giggles as we quickly walk over there, leaving the newlyweds to start on the second epic fight of this island.
“Island of Dr. Boner,” I say to her. “I like where your mind is at. Filled with cocks.”
“Hey, you’ve seen the island’s shape,” she says. “Besides, you’re the one who had your cock out today.”
“You peeked?”
She blushes, looking away. “I didn’t. But now I wish I did, just to hold it over you.”
“Oh, you can hold it all right. You did such a good job before.”
She bites her lip in such a way that I’m immediately brought back to that moment on the boat when I caught her getting off.
Fuck, I have got to stop thinking like this.
I have to stop flirting like this, too.
Even though it’s painful to stop.
I give her a quick smile, trying to put a bit of distance between us.
“So, lunch,” I tell her, rather awkwardly.
She watches me for a moment, really studying my face, and I can’t ignore the flash of disappointment on hers. Then she manages a fake smile. “Let’s go get some beans.”
* * *
I automatically wake up just before sunrise.
Atarangi.
Always for Atarangi.
It’s still dark when I get up off the sleeping bag, careful not to step on anyone. Richard and Lacey are snoring, but even without earplugs, I don’t really hear them anymore. They’ve turned into white noise machines.
I glance over at Daisy, who is on her side, back to me. I watch her for a few moments. She looks especially tiny all curled up like that and I’m struck by this irrepressible urge to protect her. Not just in the way I’ve felt all along, as a captain, but as something more than that. I want to shield her from whatever dangers might lurk on this island, but I also want to shield her heart from any more sorrow. She’s been dealt a shit hand lately, losing her job, her dickface ex, this whole being shipwrecked thing.
I want her to be happy.
Which is why it’s better she doesn’t get involved with you. You’re a mess. You live in New Zealand and she lives in America. Even if you did give in to her, you know there’d be nothing beyond it.