“Couldn’t write it,” he murmurs, brushing his lips across my cheek.
When the tide creeps up and threatens our little moment, Ace walks me back to camp, and I let him. I’m not done with him, I’m scared I will never be done with him. We lay down together, a tangle of arms and legs, and then he fucks me again, slow and quiet, the crackling fire the only sound around us.
Why is it that being here, with him, with them, is starting to feel like home?
14
“I DISAGREE,” KELLENsays, arms crossed over his chest, back straight as a pin, glaring at Ace like he might just throw a punch if this doesn’t simmer down soon.
They’re arguing over whether to light a signal fire and keep it running, something big enough to draw attention. Ace thinks we shouldn’t, because if we do remain here for longer than we are anticipating, we may need that timber for when it gets cold. Kellen thinks we should patch up the new boat and then light the lifeboat up and keep it running from there.
It’s a lot of work to keep a fire that big running. It is a good idea, though, for passing ships. The island has a good amount of wood, but it is also quite wet the further in you go and that means it doesn’t light up well. We need to cut and dry it, and the further we have to haul it, the harder it gets. If we are keeping a large signal fire going, we’re going to be spending a lot of time chopping wood and dragging branches.
“I hear you,” Ace says, calmly. “But brother, keeping a fire that big going is fucking stupid. It could be months and we waste all that timber and energy. We need to focus on survival, and that means stashing wood for the winter and doing what we can, while we can.”
“It could be months,” Kellen argues. “It could also draw people closer in days.”
“I agree with Ace,” Rachel says, hesitantly flicking a gaze in Kellen’s direction. “I think it’s stupid for us to keep something that big alight. It is already difficult getting wood to this fire, andkeeping it going, let alone something that big. Plus, if we light up the lifeboat, and this new boat doesn’t work, we’re left with nothing.”
“Didn’t fuckin’ ask you,” Kellen growls.
Rachel crosses her arms. “Well, I’m telling you anyway. We’re all here to make decisions together.”
“This decision doesn’t fuckin’ involve you,” he growls back.
“Well, guess what, I’m involving myself.”
The two are nose to nose. Aggie steps between them, a hand on Kellen’s arm. “Come on, no point in fighting about it.”
He jerks his arm away, and she looks hurt by that.
Oh dear.
His fist balls slow, like he’s savoring the tension—a tiny, unhinged smile twitching the corner of his mouth. Oh, Kellen ismadmad. Like proper. Ace just stares at him, his body equally as tense, as if he’s waiting for his friend to snap. Maybe this is something he has seen before; either way, the look they’re giving each other is terrifying.
“Get it together,” Ace growls. “This ain’t the time. Calm down and we will talk about it.”
Kellen glares at him. “You think everyone here’s supposed to just listen to you? That you know better?”
“I’m tryin’ to keep us alive,” Ace interrupts. “You want to fight about it, fine, let’s fuckin’ fight about it. I am in the fuckin’ mood to kick your goddamn motherfuckin’ ass.”
Oh.
Shit.
