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What could I possibly fucking say?
Tension radiates between us, yet if he notices, I couldn’t tell you—he’s withdrawn inward, buried so deep it feels like a crime to try and break the silence, even if I wanted to.
Truly, what would I even say?It’s okay that you got turned on. In case you missed it, I did too.
A branch snaps somewhere nearby and Skyler freezes, whirling around.
“Easy,” I murmur, pushing past him to look around. In all my other times exploring this jungle, I’ve yet to run into anything dangerous. As far as I’m aware, the only dangerous predators around here are what’s in the ocean. “It’s probably just a bird or monkey.”
“So thatwasa monkey earlier?”
I cut him a look, surprised he’s actually talking.
He shudders and crosses his arms, sparing darting looks above us.
“You’re afraid of monkeys?”
“No,” he says quickly. He shrugs. “I just don’t want something to jump out at me, or…on me.”
“Right.” I glance up, taking in the bruised sky peeking through the leaves. Pulling out my phone, I check the screen.It shouldn’t be this dark already.
My battery’s only at twenty-five percent, but if we’re where I think we are, we should be okay. Flipping on the flashlight, I aim the beam into the trees. “There’s a shortcut this way, I believe. Should take us around the beach, rather than through.”
“How do you know?” he asks, but he follows me without hesitation.
“Studied the map.”
“There’s a map?”
“In our intake packet.”
“Oh. Right,” he mutters. Then, “I just didn’t think we’d get to wander around like this, without—”
I make a face even though he can’t see it. “It’s not a prison.” I wave a hand. “Okay, we can’t exactlyleave,not without a boat. But, at least they more or less let us do what we want.”
“Yeah,” Skyler says quietly.
There’s something in his tone…but I don’t ask. I need to focus and make sure I don’t accidentally walk us off a cliff. From what I recall about this side of the mountain, the terrain is far less friendly.
“Did you bring it with you?”
I wince, realizing he means the map. “No. I didn’t expect us to end up on the other side of the island. I took us farther out than I planned.”
A quiet moment passes. “And then I took us even farther.”
I shake my head. “This isn’t on you.”
And I was right earlier. It does seem like Skyler knows what he’s doing out here. He’s not once complained. Doesn’t seem to mind being covered in dirt and sweat.
Maybe I was wrong about him after all.
We’re quiet as we carefully make our way down a steep incline, grabbing the rocks and roots jutting out as we make our descent.
Ahead, a big break in the canopy shows a smear of thick dark clouds across the sky.
“Shit,” I breathe, my steps slowing. I thought it was darker than usual for this early in the evening, but I was hoping it was just the jungle playing tricks on me.
“What?” Skyler says, worry pitching his voice.
