Page 60 of Explorer’s Revenge

“I’ll let Miranda know we have guests. You’re staying for the night, right?” my dad asks as I continue to stare at him in shock, my eyes bugging from my head.

“Absolutely.” Rick pushes past me. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Carter. You can show me that boat you were talking about?—”

“I—we—what?” I turn around to look at them as Way grunts, walking by with five backpacks weighing him down. Aiy follows, leaning in to kiss my cheek as I stand like a statue. Wilder wheels Logan in and stops in front of me.

“Didn’t think we’d let you escape that easily, did you? We made a promise.” Wilder winks, and then they are gone, their voices filling my dad’s house as I stand in the entryway, wondering what the fuck just happened.

They make themselves at home, which shouldn’t surprise me. What does, however, is how welcoming my dad is. He gets them settled and even lets them help cook with him and step-monster. I watch the entire time, gripping a beer I was given, silent and unsure.

They update us on what’s been transpiring as we eat outside by the fire as night falls.

Logan is going through therapy, which I knew.

He’s been vlogging his story to inspire others, and I watch religiously.

He’s doing well, and I have no doubt he’ll be back out there before long, but until then, his team is waiting.

They never ask me anything, but their eyes are always on me, and it makes me feel insecure—something I don’t like. I feel awkward around them.

“You’ll soon be as fast as I am in this wheelchair,” my dad jokes with Logan after step-monster heads to bed.

“We should race tomorrow,” Logan replies, making my dad chuckle before he catches my eye. I look away, and he sighs.

He gave them this address and brought them here, but why?

For me, I realize. He noticed his daughter was hurting and lost, and he gave her what she needed, even knowing it means I will leave him again.

“How long are you back for?” my dad asks.

“Until Logan is ready. We plan to do some activities close to home. Ajax is happy for us to do that . . . for us to be close to what we want,” Way answers, and his gaze lands on me. I see a new determination there that makes me quickly avert my eyes.

It’s like they’ve all come to break me down.

“Good, that’s good.” Everyone becomes silent, just the crackle of the fire providing background noise as I peel the label of my warm beer, wondering what to say.

Are they mad?

I didn’t meet them like I promised.

Are they done?

Have they realized what I have?

Questions that keep me up at night crowd my head, and I don’t know what to say, so I remain silent, just as I have online other than the interviews the board wanted.

I know my fans are curious and worried, but I couldn’t bring myself to pretend I’m okay right now.

For once in my life, I wanted time away from cameras to figure out what I want, and Ajax gave me that.

“Well, that’s me calling it a night,” my dad says.

“These old bones aren’t what they used to be.

Don’t cause trouble for the neighbors, and don’t burn my house down,” he teases.

“Night, kid.” Leaning close to me, he lowers his voice.

“Be kind, and stop being afraid.” He wheels back inside, leaving me with the guys and the questions I see on their faces.

“I spoke to Ajax, you know?” Wilder starts, and I wince. “He told us that you took the blame for everything.”

Shrugging, I focus on the flames, knowing if I meet their gazes, I’ll melt into them.

“Despite everything that happened, we found what we were employed to find,” Wilder carries on. “We corrected him since you seemed to let him believe we found it. You got there first, Maeve, so it’s yours, as is the payday. He’s going to donate half to your dad’s charity and name it in his honor.”

My head lifts, and I meet his eyes across the fire. “It was your find,” he states as I stare. “Now, let’s talk about you avoiding us.”

“I wasn’t,” I protest. “I was taking care of my father?—”

“You were hiding from us,” he interjects. “Why? We were fine when you left.”

“We missed you,” Aiyaret admits, and fuck if that doesn’t make me soften toward them, because the truth is, I missed them too.

I never needed anyone before, but now, it’s like I don’t know how to be me without them.

“Talk to us, what’s going on? Did we do something?” Logan pleads.

I look around at their hopeful faces and then back at the fire.

“You didn’t do anything,” I murmur.

“Talk to us, Carter,” Wilder demands, and his bossy tone grabs my attention, but there’s an edge of desperation in his voice, which is new, and I fall into that, the truth pushing out.

“You know what? That island was a special kind of hell. We almost died every way imaginable, and we had to fight just to survive every minute of the day, but I kind of miss it as well. We were together, we were a team, and we had each other’s backs.

I miss hearing your voices around the fire.

I miss you.” A tear finally falls, and I see their faces crumple.

“I know I can do this alone, but I realized I don’t want to.

” Wiping my tears away, I meet their gazes.

“But everything has changed. In some ways, it was easy on that island and in the hospital to be what we wanted, but here, it feels like it was a dream. We aren’t a team.

We can’t be what we want. It isn’t what the world wants. ”

“Bullshit.” I startle at the venom in Aiyaret’s voice. “We can be whatever we want. We are right here, Maeve. We were waiting for you. Nothing has changed for us.” He glances around. “We spoke about it. It’s what we want—you, us, this team. We haven’t changed. Have you?”

I stare at him, and he waits.

“Do you still want us?” he prompts when I don’t respond.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Then why does anything else matter? You’re overthinking it, babe,” Rick teases.

“I never thought I’d see the day when Maeve Carter backed away because she was scared, so don’t start now,” Wilder remarks.

“Just so you know, we already applied for you to be a member of our team if you want it. We did it first thing when we returned. The world doesn’t have to know more than that.

It’s your decision, Carter. Are you with us, or are you running away? ”

“What if it doesn’t work?” I ask.

“What if an avalanche comes? What if our boat sinks? What if our plane crashes? What if a crocodile stalks us?” Logan challenges.

“Nothing is guaranteed, Carter. We live our lives day by day. It’s who we are.

Don’t change now. I love you. My brothers love you. We want you to be one of us. Will you?”

As I look around at them, I know there is only one answer I can give. “Yes.”

Their whoops fill the air before they quiet down, remembering my dad’s warning, which makes me smile even as tears fill my eyes.

I was so lonely, so lost without them. I never even knew I was before them, but everyone changed on that island, including me and my future.

Previously, I would have done anything to prove myself solo without them, but now, all I want is to explore the world with them and make memories.

I don’t want to be alone anymore.

I realized I didn’t need to go alone just to prove I can, just to prove I’m strong, brave, or independent. I can still be all of those things with them.

I look around at them with wet eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes,” they agree, and I look at Wilder.

He toasts me with his beer. “I guess I can deal with losing to you for the rest of my life.”

I smirk. “Looks like you have no choice.”

It’s like nothing and everything has changed between us, and I know I’d follow them anywhere. I’m one of them now, or maybe they are part of me.

Either way, we are stuck together.