AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“TourSpotter is already showing signs of decline, as newer apps come on the market,” I say, and she nods her head, acknowledging the fact. “I need GlobeTrotter to do more than kill it. If it’s not ready for the summit … Let’s just say, I’m running out of resources.”
“Grayson,” she says, her head toward me. I can barely make out her face in the moonlight, but I can feel her gaze on me. “Why haven’t you told us—the leadership team—about this?”
I shrug, my shoulder brushing hers. “Sebastian knows some of it,” I say, because of course the CFO would be privy to this information. But he doesn’t know all of it. He doesn’t know how much I still owe to my family. He doesn’t know the details of the crappy loan I took out.
“The rest of us should know,” she says.
“I don’t know why. It’s my problem,” I say.
“You’re the CEO, yes,” she says. “But we’re your team. I can’t speak for everyone, but knowing this, I want to do whatever I can to make this happen in September.”
I want to kiss her so badly right now. To lean in and just put my lips on hers. Stupid boyfriend be damned.
I manage to refrain. I turn my head away, my eyes forward on the shadows surrounding us. “Maybe,” I say.
She pulls on our hands. “Not maybe. You shouldn’t be doing this all alone, carrying this burden.”
“It feels like I should,” I say. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m tired or that I’m lost in a rainforest right now, but her words make my throat feel a little thick. I swallow it down.
She leans her head on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out.”
Mila
“IF WE DIE UP HERE, I think you should know something,” I say to Grayson as I lean my head on his shoulder, holding his hand. I was surprised when he grabbed my hand, weaving his fingers through mine like he did. It sent a pleasurable shock down my spine. Amazing that just the touch of his hand has that power. If he thinks he’s getting his hand back anytime soon, he’s got another think coming.
I felt like we should lighten the discussion after the one we just had. Both of us admitting things we haven’t divulged to anyone else. I can’t fathom the weight he’s been carrying around all this time. I want to take it from him, to make it lighter. Whatever I can do. But there’s not much either of us can do, lost like we are.
Grayson laughs, that low, gravelly laugh that makes my insides twist. “What’s that?”
“Wait, aren’t you supposed to reassure me that we’re not going to die first?”
“We’re not going to die,” he says. “But I’m more curious about what you were going to tell me.”
Some kind of rustling sound to my right has me sitting up straight, keeping ahold of Grayson’s hand.
“What was that?” I ask, my heart immediately starting a pounding thing in my chest.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” he says.
The noise comes again. “Whatisthat?” I’m whispering now, so as not to give away our location to whatever may be out there.
“Maybe a wild hog?” he whispers back, which is either him reflecting what I’m doing or maybe starting to worry himself. That possibility doesn’t help the anxiety rushing through my veins right now.
“Are they deadly?”
“I don’t know,” he says.
“That’s not very reassuring.”
The rustling sound happens again, but it’s closer this time.
“We’re gonna die,” I say.
The noise comes again, this time followed by a soft sort of grunting. I want to say what happens next is me living out a fantasy I’ve had about Grayson, but I didn’t even consider that as I let go of his hand, anchoring myself with my good foot and basically move right into his lap.
“Mila.” He immediately wraps his arms around me. “We’re okay.”
“You can’t guarantee that,” I say.
