Page 46 of Every Chance to Stay

That last plea seemed to touch Lucky as his shoulders slumped and he melted into the bucket of the bulldozer. “They won’t listen to anything else. Jack found out they want to clear the land, and I couldn’t let that happen. Not when they keep saying the sale isn’t final. They aren’t even giving us a chance to outbid! The island, the turtles, deserve a chance at least.”

“So you decided to force a vote?” Antonio arched a brow, “Then you succeeded. Doesn’t that mean we should free you?”

Lucky shook his head. “No. They are going to come back saying they voted to clear the land… We need to make them listen, make them vote to give the island a chance at least.”

“Which means staying here, then?” Antonio sighed, resigned. He put a hand on the bucket, lowering himself to sit beside Lucky.

“What are you doing?” Lucky was smiling like he already knew the answer.

“Joining you.” He pulled out his phone, opening the group chat he had with all the SAR members, “As I suspect others will soon. Right?”

Teague joined them on the flattened dune grass. “More than a few, I think…”

Both watched the cars lining the road. Cameras were being set up as women armed with beach umbrellas and men dragging coolers made their way down the beach. College students, families, the elderly. They showed up in cars, on bikes, and even on foot as they walked from Rubí Beach to Playa del Tesoro with a determination he couldn’t help smiling at.

“You really know how to bring people together, Lucky.” He rested a hand on Lucky’s knee as he texted the SAR chat with an invitation to anyone who wasn’t on duty.

“This island was built on a system that favors the voice of the small… But not because of signatures on a piece of paper.” Lucky shook his head, “We’re strong together, but someone has to take the literal first step.” He rattled the chains, “An ultimatum they can’t ignore.”

“How long will you stay out here?” Antonio looked up at the bright blue sky overhead. A few scattered clouds drifted by. It was a hot, muggy day on the island. The kind that would have the beaches full even with locals. But they were here. With signs they posted around the bulldozer, with beach chairs and beers before 11, with a determination that made his heart swell.

“As long as I need to be.” Lucky shrugged. “You don’t have to stay… You’re supposed to be working, right?”

For a million reasons, Lucky was right. He shouldn’t stay. He had a job. He had explained time and again that there would be moments he couldn’t stay for. He rubbed his forehead. Every fiber of his being wanted him to stay. He wanted to hang onto Lucky, to show that he could be there when it mattered sometimes.

Except his phone buzzed with a familiar sound reserved for emergencies.

“I don’t get a choice in the matter.” A fire near the camping grounds, campers unaccounted for. “The SAR team is aware of your protest, I need to head out, please don’t be too reckless?” Antonio pushed Lucky’s wide-brimmed sunhat back to kiss him firmly.

The chains rattled as Lucky tried to reach for him, a displeased sound vibrating between their mouths. Antonio curled their fingers together to sooth his ruffled lover. His other hand settled on the back of Lucky’s neck, tongue slipping past Lucky’s lips to taste him one more time.

Maybe they’d be a lifetime of one more times. One more kiss, one more touch, one more moment before something pulled them apart.

He felt like a magnet, inevitably drawn to Lucky despite everything standing between them.

“Go. I’ll see you later.” Lucky smiled against his lips and meant it and that touched Antonio more than anything ever could.

“I love you.” Because that was the most important thing he could think of.

“I love you too. Go.” Because it’s the sweetest thing Lucky could say.

The sharp tang of adrenaline settled into his veins as he settled behind the wheel of his Jeep. Failure wasn’t an option. No council, no fire, no fucking corporation was going to stand between them. Lucky would win. Antonio couldn’t accept any other outcome.

25

Lucky

His knees were hot. Music throbbed from speakers someone set up, food was being grilled, and drinks were passed around at a dizzying rate. But, as the hours wore on, he was uncomfortably aware of how hot his knees were.

“You’re getting burned, Lucky.” Teague sighed, adjusting the umbrella again. He’d gotten one from those who showed up to support the protest, but as the hours ticked by, even that shade wasn’t enough. It was the kind of humidity that made him wonder if his scalp could mold. The kind that left his skin tacky and damp in places he didn’t want to think about.

“A little longer… We’ll hear back in a little while. How is the fire?” He reapplied balm to his lips with his one free hand and grimaced at the sweat trickling down his neck.

“They’re managing. Three campers are still unaccounted for. A group of teen boys on vacation…” Teague shook his head. Camping in the Garnet Mountains was a controversial yet popular attraction. Teague wasn’t a fan.

“And the council meeting?” Lucky closed his eyes, shifting to try and alleviate the numbness in his butt.

Did he regret the things he did? Preventable things, stupid things, things he could easily undo with the key around his neck… No. He just tucked himself more firmly into the diminishing shade and hoped the council would find a braincell to share before his skin fried.