“Calla, join your new partner,” Rita said sweetly.
My feet felt heavy as I walked over to stand next to Grant. Instantly my brain flooded with thoughts of last night and the conversation I had overheard between Eli and Sofia. She had been begging Eli to pick her; had Eli somehow convinced Grant to pick me so Sofia would be open for him?
My gut, and the way Eli glared at Grant, told me that wasunlikely. But I felt so confused right now, I wasn’t sure what to think.
“Eli, you seem upset,” Rita pressed. “I’m assuming Grant picking Calla is a surprise to you?”
“Damn right it is.” He rubbed his temple and stared at the two of us. “He doesn’t even know her.”
“So, it’s safe to say you would have selected Calla if you’d had the option.”
“It should have been us,” Eli said, eyes locking with mine.
“Calla, do you agree?”
I swallowed to coat my dry throat. “I-I’m a little shocked that Grant picked me. We’ve never really spoken before.”
“You hoped you’d be with Eli?” she pressed.
I nodded. Despite everything, I’d assumed I’d still be with Eli today. It was what I wanted. I could try to piece my walls back into place and deny my feelings, but they were there. And they were only getting stronger.
“Sofia, why don’t you join Eli.”
Sofia smirked as she sauntered over to take her place next to Eli on the mat. Rita said a few more words before cutting the scene. Crew members walked us over to our four-wheelers, but before Eli and I were separated, he reached down and squeezed my hand.
“Hey, be careful out there today,” he said. “I better not find you being medically evacuated.”
I forced a smile. “I’ll try my best.”
He lingered for a moment, as if not wanting to let me out of his sight. Then he looked at Grant and his eyes hardened. “Don’t do anything stupid on that four-wheeler, Grant.”
He held up his hands. “I won’t, Christ. I’ll take care of your girl, Eli.”
“If she’s my girl, then why the fuck did you pick her?”
Grant grinned. “Maybe I’m hoping I can persuade herotherwise. Anyway, sounds like this challenge will be nice and long.Lotsof time to get to know each other.”
Eli stood there fuming. This in no way seemed like the reaction of a guy who had wanted someone else as a partner. Eli’s response at least provided me a little comfort as we were separated.
Robert pulled Grant and I away and gave us a quick explanation of how to operate the vehicle. Then we were given our map and compass to help us find the location of the shelter we’d be building.
They called action and I took in the map, noticing a circled spot just southwest of where we were standing. Holding up the compass, I oriented myself with our surroundings.
“We need to go that way,” I said, pointing in the direction of some thick brush.
“You can read a map?” Grant swung a leg over the four-wheeler.
“You can’t?” I arched an eyebrow and stood next to the four-wheeler, still wary about getting on the back of it. I tightened the strap on my helmet just to ensure it was on securely.
Grant shrugged. “There’s an app for everything nowadays.”
Rachel and Arnie, and Trace and Danny, had already taken off in different directions. Eli and Sofia were the only others who remained. Sofia was already yelling something that was being muffled by her helmet as Eli flipped the map around.
“Are you going to get on the bike, Calla? I swear I don’t bite.”
I wasn’t entirely sure about that. But here we were, and I really didn’t want to come in last and potentially be stuck withGrant for the remainder of our time here. So, I swung my leg over the seat and joined him.
“You’re going to fall off if you don’t scooch forward and grab on.”
