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seven

KYLE

Oz was gone when we got back from the hot springs that night, just like I’d planned. I’d warned Launa about it, and though she rolled her eyes at me, she couldn’t hide her amusement at the way I was targeting anyone she might be interested in.

It fucking sucked to go back to acting like we weren’t together, but the eleventh day was done.

Which meant there were only fifteen days left.

Barely more than two weeks.

The time was passing quickly, and we’d be done before we knew it.

The next two days were over soon enough, and then the next puzzle challenge arrived.

There had been an annoying amount of them already, but I supposed I’d rather have my extra time with Launa spread out a bit more. So, it was fine.

I had to fight to keep my breathing even as I watched my female walk away with Travis. Of all the guys on the island, he was the only one I hated. Or even slightly disliked. The others were fine, but Travis?

Our many months on Survival together only proved how obnoxious the bastard was.

He didn’t care who the compatible female wanted.

He didn’t care if she didn’t want him.

He didn’t care which of the other guys were the nearest to death.

He didn’t care about anyone but himself, and it irritated the hell out of me.

I trusted Jordan to keep Launa safe, but I didn’t want Travis alone with her.

It took everything I had to act normal when we made it back to the island. Everyone wanted to talk to me alone, so I forced myself to strategize with each of them the way I always did. They all thought I was working with them, and even though they knew I was working with everyone else too, they were under the impression that they needed me badly enough to continue.

If history had proven anything, it was that they were right.

They needed me if they wanted to get to the end.

And I needed them just as badly, even if I couldn’t let them realize it. All it would take was a few votes to remove me from the game.

That wasn’t going to happen, of course.

But theoretically, it could.

Which was why I had to bullshit my way through the rest of the day, until Launa got back that night and eased my nerves.

So I put my fear in my pocket and went to work.

Twelve hours later, Jim was gone, and Launa returned safely. Travis spent an hour complaining about how she hadn’t wanted to talk to him, and satisfaction relaxed me further.

Everything was going to work out.

I was damn sure of that.