Page 34

I am, too, but all I do is nod. Denver squeezes my hand and gives me a smile. “But this does change things. We’re not going to make you try to hike out of here today. And I’m not sure it would be the safest choice for either one of us to try and carry you out with the trail conditions.”

“Carry me?” I blurt out. “There’s no way, even if it wasn’t a disaster out there.”

Griffin lets out an amused chuckle. “Are you doubting our strength, Liv?”

“No,” I protest. “But seriously?”

Denver winks. “Careful, Pix. Don’t harm our fragile male egos. We could carry you. Easily. And if it wasn’t such a disaster out there, we would, just so we could get your ankle looked at by a doctor as soon as possible.”

“Foxxy’s right,” Griffin says. “We need to get you taken care of but keeping us all safe is more important. I’m going to get on the radio to HQ and ask for aerial evac.”

I stare at him in horror. “You mean like a helicopter and a guy dropping down from the sky to get me?”

Griffin nods, completely serious. “Yes. It’s the only safe way to get you out.”

“He’s right,” Denver adds. “I don’t think your ankle is broken but even so, we should get it looked at.”

Griffin turns away and goes to get their radio, leaving me gaping at Denver. “I don’t want a freaking helicopter rescue,” I hiss. “That’s insane. My foot is fine! I could probably hike out.”

Denver folds his arms across his chest and arches one brow. “Really? Okay, stand up and walk to the door.”

I clench my teeth together and glare at him. Then, gingerly, I lower my foot, ice pack still strapped to it, onto the floor. But as soon as I push up to stand, I wince and fall back.

“Fine. I can’t hike out. But I still think sending in a helicopter is ridiculous.”

“Well, lucky for you, that’s not happening,” Griffin says in a grim voice as he rejoins us. He looks to Denver. “With us out of commission, the volunteers are stretched thin. They’ve already enabled military support, and the chopper team is working overtime, so they can’t get to us anytime soon. Armstrong said we have to stay put until the road is clear enough for a vehicle to come through and pick us up.”

I slump back against the couch. “Well, you two don’t have to stay. You could hike out and go help your team. I’ll be fine here until the road is cleared.”

Griffin makes an indecipherable noise, and Denver shakes his head. “Abso-fucking-lutely not, Pixie. We’re not leaving you here, injured and alone. You’re stuck with us.”

I try to mask my relief at their obvious insistence on staying. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“Definitely sure, Liv,” Griffin grumbles.

Denver simply grins. “How many bags of chips did you buy? I’m hungry enough that I’d even eat more cool ranch if I had to.”

16

FOXXY

For the second time in as many days, I find myself feeling oddly happy to be trapped in a rustic cabin. Now that the initial panic over Olivia’s injury has faded and I’m reassured it’s nothing too serious, I’m thinking about how easily she melted under our attention, her reaction to me calling her a good girl, and the flush that covered her cheeks when Griffin’s hand stroked her hair.

She’s attracted to us both. I’m sure of it now. Which means game-fucking-on.

After grabbing more of the snacks that Olivia packed, I move to the metal cabinet that’s against the back wall and open it to see what’s in there.

“Jackpot.” I pick up a deck of cards and a bottle of amber liquid, turning around and holding them up in the air triumphantly. “We’ve got cards, and…” I glance at the bottle. “Jack Daniels. Age unknown.”

From the couch, Olivia giggles. “That sounds suspicious.”

I cross the room to the couch and sit at the other end of it, careful of her injured foot. Opening the bottle, I take a sniff. “Smells like whiskey to me.”

“Liv shouldn’t drink with the painkillers we gave her,” Griff says in a gruff voice. “And we should keep our wits about us, too. In case the situation outside changes.”

I exaggerate an eye roll and smirk in Olivia’s direction. “The no-fun police is here.”

“Someone’s got to be responsible,” he mutters. “Besides, it’s not even nine in the morning.”