This was our reality now, and we had no one else to blame but each other.

Chapter Fourteen

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G A L L O W A Y

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THE ANSWER I didn’t want blurted the moment Estelle and Conner arrived.

The starkness of our circumstances plastered all over their faces’ as they morphed from the forest with their arms full of junk.

I met Estelle’s gaze. I didn’t want to believe it. My heart thudded with frustrated rage; I looked away just as quickly.

We’re alone.

My shoulders rolled while increasing pain in my ankle drenched my skin with a mixture of sweat and nausea.

Pippa slept soundly on my chest. I hugged her closer¸ finding comfort in her warm body. I hoped the kid had good dreams...she’d need them to get through reality.

Taking a deep breath, I looked up again. Estelle moved with decision and purpose, but her hips still swung in an intrinsically feminine way.

Why did she have to infuriate and beguile me all at once?

I wanted her but she’d never reciprocate.

No one wanted a long-term commitment with a guy like me.

The moment I’d set eyes on her, I couldn’t explain the sudden rush and confusing link tugging me to know her.

I’d never had that before.

With anyone.

And I didn’t want it now when she was the only woman around and I had no way to give her what she deserved.

My temper rose again at the flush of her skin and obvious pain in her eyes from carrying such heavy items. I should be the one exploring and carting bloody bags, not her. I should be the one taking charge and keeping everyone safe. I should be the one tending to stuff and making this disaster easier...not her.

Damn her for caring.

Damn her for being a better person than I was.

While she’d been off playing explorer, I’d replayed the glance I’d earned down her top. I’d concluded that the scratch on her chest had been from the helicopter harness. And if the cut was that bad, it probably meant she had broken ribs as well.

My suspicions were validated as Estelle dropped her armful of gear, unable to hide her wince and the quick way she wrapped arms around herself.

Christ, what I’d give to be able to leap to my feet and take over.

Conner dropped his armful and came to squat beside his sister. Pippa didn’t move in my embrace as he stroked her hair, his eyes bloodshot from tears and stress. “She okay?”

I somehow managed to plaster a smile on my lips, hiding my rage at not being able to help. I was a glorified bloody babysitter. All I was worth. “She’s fine. Been sleeping the entire time.”

My throat scratched with thirst; I hated the hollowness in my stomach. If I was hungry and all I’d done was sit here, Estelle and Conner must be starving.

I’d done my best to come up with a plan, eyeing the foliage, pretending I knew what I was looking for.

But I had to face facts. I knew crap all about that sort of thing.

“That’s good.” Conner stood. “Sleep will make it easier.”

I pointed at the supplies they’d brought. “Been shopping?”

Estelle half-smiled, thanking me wordlessly for not asking hard questions like ‘what did you see?’, ‘where are we?’, and ‘just how screwed are we truly?’. Those questions would come later—when we weren’t in front of two scared children.

Moving toward Conner, Estelle draped an arm over his shoulders. They almost matched in height. In another few months, he would be eye-level with her. “Conner found a convenient helicopter supermarket, didn’t you?”

He grinned. A rudimentary splint shackled his wrist; he fiddled with the black ties holding it together. “Sure did.”

Pippa’s head shot up. I let her go as she squirmed out of my hold and ran to him. “You’re back!”

Conner grunted as she wrapped stick arms around him, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I dreamed you were sleeping, too. Never go to sleep, Co. Never. Promise me.”

Estelle’s face crumpled with sadness. I wondered if she had the same thought: that it would’ve been kinder if they hadn’t survived. Was a quick death better than a slow one? Or was the hope of being found justified to warrant starvation and uncertainty? Because we couldn’t deny it longer.

We were alone.

Chances of being found were slim—not because of location or remoteness but because of our ability to stay alive until that day happened.

It might only take a few days to locate us...but a few days were too long when we were already hungry and dehydrated with no skills at sourcing food or water.

Shut up.

I swallowed hard, quelling those unhelpful thoughts.

Conner squeezed his sister. “You just went to sleep and woke up. Not everyone falls into the forever kind of sleep, Pip.” He brushed aside the hair sticking to her cheeks. “I’m going to sleep at some point. Estelle and Galloway, too. You can’t freak out if you wake up and we’re resting, okay?”

Pippa sniffled. “But what if you don’t wake up? I’ll be all alone. I don’t want to be all alone. I want to go home!”

Conner looked at me for help.

I splayed my hands. I didn’t have experience in child psychology. I didn’t know how juvenile minds dealt with death.

However, Estelle saved me once again.

Bending over, she collected two rucksacks and painfully slung them onto her shoulders while somehow managing to hold her ribs. “How about we get out of this shady place and enjoy some sunshine? Fancy going to the beach? We can have a picnic there and see if we can spot any boats.”