Page 45 of Surviving Love

He exhaled. “I know. We’ll be okay.”

“I hope so.” If my mother had been able to see me, she’d be having a meltdown that her little boy was in danger. She’d always been hugely overly protective. Maybe because I’d been a sickly kid.

We fell silent, and my curiosity grew about Jack. A lot of the contestants talked around camp about their lives back home. Harold talked about his wife, and Lydia talked about her kids. Jack and I were really the only ones who mostly just listened to their stories. We didn’t tend to contribute personal facts about our lives back home.

“Do you have family?” I asked softly.

His smile was wry. “Yes. Of course.”

When he didn’t elaborate, I asked, “That’s it?”

“You said earlier you didn’t want to hear my story.”

I guess I had said that, hadn’t I? “I said I didn’t want to hear yoursadstory.”

“You’re in luck, then, because I don’t have one.”

It was obvious he wasn’t going to volunteer stuff unless I asked. He was probably making a point because I’d been rude earlier. “If I want to know stuff, will you tell me?”

“Yes.”

“But I’ll have to pull it out of you?”

He shrugged. “To be honest, Mason, I’m not sure what you want. One minute you don’t want to talk, now suddenly you’re rather chatty.”

My face warmed. “I’m bored.”

“I see. Well, maybe you should sleep.”

He wasn’t going to make this easy, I guess. “Look, I’m sorry if I was abrasive before.”

“Okay. Apology accepted.”

“We’re going to be stuck here in this shoebox for God knows how long. You’re in charge of keeping me alive.” I gave a tentative smile. “I guess talking wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

He laughed gruffly. “So, now you want to hear my life story?”

“I wouldn’t mind knowing more about you.”

He grinned and cracked his knuckles. “You want to know what makes the amazing Jack Harrison tick?”

“We can start with the basics. I don’t need to know when you lost your virginity, but I wouldn’t mind hearing about your family.”

He laughed. “Okay then.”

“So?”

“Well… I’ve had a happy life. No traumas to speak of. My parents are still married, and I have two younger brothers, Lex and Garrett.”

“So you’re the oldest child? Must be why you’re so bossy.”

“Ha, ha.”

I smiled. “I’m an only child—that’s why I’m so neurotic.”

He studied me. “I wouldn’t say you’re neurotic. I’d say you’re guarded.”

“I’m both.”