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eight

LAUNA

My reward with Travis was awkward. He tried to force me to open up to him by badgering me repeatedly, and obviously failed.

By the time we got back to the beach, I was hoping I could come up with a way to make sure he was the next one out.

But ultimately, that would require actually interacting with some of the men, which was an easy no from me. I’d just have to wait and hope.

Two and a half more days passed slowly, before there was another challenge.

It was another puzzle challenge.

I was about ready to rip my damn hair out when I saw it. I wanted to spend the day with Kyle, not another guy.

I had noticed that most of the guys weren’t really trying to win puzzle challenges after the first one, though. They weren’t enjoying our rewards, so they weren’t competing.

And I sure as hell wouldn’t complain about that . The less they tried, the better.

Kyle still wasn’t going to win when it came to puzzles, though.

I watched glumly as Colt destroyed the wooden-ball maze puzzle, and reluctantly left with him.

He was nicer than Travis, at least.

We went back to the spa, and it turned into a repeat of the misery that was my first reward challenge with Ev. Same awkward short conversations. Same clothed massages. Same sleeping on the couch.

I was even more exhausted when we got back to the beach than I had been before the reward.

Travis had gone home while I was away, so that cheered me up a little. Going back into the heat and sitting down on the sand wiped away the cheer pretty fast.

I was tired of surviving.

Whose idea was this damn game in the first place?

And why had I thought signing up was a good idea? I could’ve been living in luxury in the Bachelorette mansion, but instead, I was just sitting there while the sun attempted to cook me. Sunblock prevented the burn, but it didn’t make it feel any less miserable.

Cold mist drifted over the back of my neck, and I suppressed a groan.

My eyes closed, and I realized that Kyle must’ve been using his magic on me.

Though I couldn’t thank him, hug him, or even look at him, gratitude welled in my chest.

I’d made a good decision.

I was going to survive.

And then, I was going to be with him.

Two days later, there was another challenge.

It was another puzzle.

I was going to lose my damn mind if it happened again.

I spent the day snorkeling with Nate, though, and it was surprisingly neutral. He didn’t ask me questions, or push me for answers. He was a lot like Oz, actually.

There was no talk about books, but by the time we got back that night, I felt like I could handle the last six days on the island.

Colt had gone home when we got back, which left us with a grand total of five men.

Kyle, Nate, Reid, Ev, and Ian.

Kyle was still the ringleader, of course. And I sincerely hoped it would stay that way.

There were only two challenges left, so there wasn’t too much more ahead of us. The final challenge was always a puzzle, and was always a statue of the compatible woman the guys were competing for. So, that challenge wasn’t Kyle’s to win.

The second-to-last one would have to be the comfort item challenge. Sometimes they inserted it into the game earlier, and sometimes they waited to the end, but they always included it. It gave every one of the guys a chance to sit down with the woman they were competing with, so it was unique in that way.

Ever since they changed the way challenges worked, the winner would have an entire day to walk me through their bag of comfort items and relax at the spa with me.

I sincerely hoped that Kyle would win, and that we were still on the same page, because the end was approaching fast. What if he didn’t want me anymore or something?

Shit, that was terrifying.

With worry hanging over my head, the next two and a half days passed slowly. But, I survived them, and made it to the challenge.

Jordan announced everyone’s favorite competition: finding the bags of comfort items they had packed. The first person back would get the big reward. Everyone else would get five minutes to show me their bag and the asset folder with it.

All of that was expected.

I sat on the edge of my seat, trying not to let my gaze meet Kyle’s before the challenge started.

Jordan announced the beginning of the game, and the guys all took off into the forest. Some had their wings out, and some didn’t.

My fingers were hooked on the edge of the bench, my heart beating rapidly as I waited for a sign of the first guy. It never took long for someone to come back. No more than five or ten minutes.

“Breathe, Launa,” Jordan murmured, relaxing on the bench beside me. “He’ll be the first back.”

“He’s never won this challenge before,” I whispered back.

“He’s never had a reason to.”

The man wasn’t wrong. But Kyle typically did his best to win all of the challenges, regardless of whether or not the girl he was competing for was into him.

“He wins the first challenge every season, and this is the easier version of it,” Jordan said. “Have a little faith.”

I nodded, breathing out slowly.

It was going to be fine.

Kyle was going to win, and I was going to get to spend a day with him at the spa instead of another awkward trip with someone else. I didn’t want to consider not getting any more time with him before I chose him as my mate, so I had to believe that.

A pair of scaly wings broke through the tree line, and I was on my feet in a heartbeat. I barely managed to slap my hand over my mouth in time to silence myself before I could cheer aloud.

Kyle grinned broadly as he landed in front of me and Jordan, and it took everything I had not to throw myself into his arms.

I missed him.

I missed him badly.

My eyes started stinging when he winked at me, taking his seat on the bench.

Another guy came running out of the forest, and I forced myself to sit down before he saw me standing and wondered why.

My breathing evened out, my relief so thick I could taste it.

We’d get one last day together before the final challenge and the big decision.

I’d only need to survive one more uncomfortable reward afterward.

I could do it.

The rest of the guys returned quickly.

I sat through a few minutes with each of them as they showed me the treats they’d brought. Now that the show supplied me with blankets and tarps and everything, everyone just brought junk food. It was kind of fun.

Or it would’ve been, if I wasn’t itching to leave with Kyle.

The guys all showed me their asset folders, which contained pictures of their homes and families, too. I didn’t bother feigning interest; I didn’t want any of them to think I had any kind of feelings for them. They were probably calling me names behind my back, but I didn’t care.

I was there to mate with Kyle, not to make friends.

And I’d almost succeeded.

When the time was finally up, I followed Kyle and Jordan to the boat.

Kyle and I left space between us up until the guys were too far in the distance to see us, and then he pulled me onto his lap. A sputtered laugh escaped me as we went over a wave, rocking the entire boat and smashing me against his chest pretty hard.

“We’d be safer in our own seats,” I said, fighting a grin.

“Nah, you’re safest right here.” He pulled me against him even tighter, inhaling deeply. “Damn, you smell good. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” I tucked my forehead against his neck as we went over another wave, and he held me close. “Only a few more days.”

“We’ve got this,” he agreed. “Being apart during the final reward will be rough, but we’ll make it.”

“We will.”

He kissed my cheek. “My parents are going to love you.”

My chest warmed. “I hope so.”

“You’re saving my life, Beautiful. They’d love you even if you were a menace to the Society. My sister is one, and we’re all still her biggest fans.”

My lips curved. “Your sister is a menace?”

He chuckled. “You have no idea.”

“Do you think she’ll like me?”

“Of course she will.” He squeezed me. “Rhett found her a mate a little while ago, so she’s getting married pretty soon after the season ends. She likes everyone right now, from what I’ve heard.”

“Not a bridezilla, then?” I asked.

“A what?”

I laughed, and explained the term.

“Nah, she’s a bridezilla,” he said with a grin. “But a loveable one. Most of the time.”

Something told me that his definition of most of the time wasn’t the same as everyone else’s, if she was really considered a menace to Society.

But, that didn’t matter.

I leaned against his chest, breathing in his scent.

We were together, and that was what mattered.