“Hey!” Dante yells from below. “No starting Thanks-o-weenie without me.” He laughs.
“The guy has sex-dar,” Zane says sleepily.
“Indeed,” I agree.
Haley rolls over. “Five more minutes, just five minutes.”
I kiss her on the back of her neck. “Take all the time you want, Bunny.” I cover her up with the sheet and make my way out of the sleeping loft.
“What’s that?” I stare at the brown liquid in the cup Dante’s offering me. It definitely doesn’t taste like the tea that Haley and Dante have been perfecting. Honestly, the tea isn’t that bad, or maybe I’ve just lost my addiction to caffeine.
“It’s coffee. We’ve got enough for a few more pots. And I figure for as tired as everyone was after the Island Olympics, the boar, and then swimming at the waterfall? Yeah, we’re going to need a little bit to have the best Thanks-o-weenie day.”
“You’re... Whatever, we’re not going to break her. Okay?”
“You wound me, Viking. I would never dream of hurting Sassy. I just don’t want anyone falling asleep.”
I take the cup out of his hand, and fuck... “This is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.”
Dante brings his up to his lips and has a sip. “Not me. Mine was in a cafe in a little village in Southern France. Made by this woman who had to have been over a hundred. I speak halfway decent French, but she wasn’t telling me her secret. She had thebest smile, though.” He shrugs, looking over my shoulder like he can still see her.
He’s less than ten years older than me, but it’s like he’s lived twice as long. Chefs do that, though—they come and go. One season or two at the most. A guy like Dante? I’m sure he’s a leave-them-wanting-more kind of guy.
It gets me thinking. “What’s your endgame?”
“You talking about when we get off this lovely island? Damn, Green. You really are changing.”
I shrug. Because no, I don’t think we’re getting off here alive. “That’s not what I asked.”
He sits down on the end of the new table, testing its legs before fully committing his weight to it. “You asking me if my intentions are honorable?”
“I suppose.”
“You don’t live through something like this and then walk away. At least, I couldn’t. I’ve always been a nomad. But Sassy? Sure. I could figure out how to stay in one place if that’s what she wants.”
I nod.
“Did I pass your test?”
“Sure.” There’s no test to pass. I’m not his keeper. I’m not anyone’s keeper.
“What about you?”
I take a small sip of my coffee, savoring it. “I’ve never been big on change.”
“Not sure what that means, Viking, but okay. You want some breakfast? I have pig with a side of pig.”
“I’ll take the pig.”
“Good choice.” He slides off the table and makes me a bowl. There’s more than pig in it. It’s good.
“Thanks.” I pull up a stump. With enough work, I can make some chairs to go around the table. But first, I want to get theWaveRunner working. It will make going to the other side of the island easier and use less fuel.
I’m taking the tub of dishes from last night out to the beach to wash them when Haley tiptoes down the ladder.
“Morning.” I put the box down and pull her into a hug.
“Morning. Where’s everyone else?”
