Page 63 of Surviving Love

“Are you my friend, Mason?”

I was saved from answering when Harold handed me and Rob each a serving of food. Bacon and eggs had never looked so good. The bacon was crisp and the eggs golden and fluffy. I inhaled, groaning at how good it smelled. Harold also gave me a coconut shell filled with orange juice, and I gulped that down first and then dug into the food.

I didn’t give a crap about James sticking his camera in my face as I consumed my meal. Mom would have been horrified at my manners. I ate like a starving dog, licking my fingers when I’d finished. I wasn’t the only one with no manners. Everybody wolfed their food down quickly and grumbled that there wasn’t more. We were lucky to have any protein, so I just counted my lucky stars that I’d had any food at all.

When the meal was finished, Sherry and Jack wandered off together, and that odd feeling returned. I was distracted when Julia and Harold pulled me aside to talk.

“The storm almost turned into a category one hurricane,” Julia said, her eyes wide. “I was terrified.”

Harold laughed gruffly. “The only thing I was really afraid of was that they’d cancel the shoot.”

I smiled. “I wasn’t sure if we’d still be filming either.”

“Our alliance is still strong, right?” Harold asked, his gaze astute. “I saw you talking to Rob.”

“Rob started that conversation, not me.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I frowned. “I assume our alliance is still strong. Rob and Luciano were bullies. I’m happy to stick with you guys and Jack and Sherry.”

“Okay, good.” Harold smiled. “I know Sherry is all in with Jack. I think she’s infatuated. All she talked about was Jack while you two were missing.”

“Really?”

He laughed. “Yeah. She kept saying she wished she was the one lost with Jack.”

I grimaced. “We weren’t gone by choice.”

“No. I know. She had it in her head that being trapped in the storm with Jack would be some big romantic scenario.”

I kept my expression blank. “Uh, hardly.” I wasn’t really lying. What had happened between Jack and me hadn’t been romantic; it had been purely sexual.

Julia giggled. “Sherry told me she got divorced last year. She thinks coming on this show and meeting Jack was fate.”

Guilt nudged me. “Is that right?”

“Oh, yes. She issmittenwith Jack.” Julia sighed.

I winced inwardly. Sherry seemed like a really nice person. Maybe she still had a chance with Jack. For all I knew, Jack was bisexual. I certainly wouldn’t get in her way. It wasn’t like Jack and I had anything serious going on. We’d given in to our baser instincts, but it’d been a stupid mistake that wouldn’t be repeated.

“Yeah.” Julia smiled. “Who knows, maybe love will blossom onDevious Island.”

Harold chuffed. “Those relationships never last in the real world.”

“There have been a few couples who made it over the years,” said Julia, looking miffed. “Don’t be so negative, Harold.”

He laughed. “You’re young, so you believe in true love. I’m too old to buy that’s a thing.”

The sound of footsteps came to us, and Jack and Sherry appeared near us. They were talking as they approached but stopped when they reached us.

“What are you guys talking about?” Sherry asked, tucking her blonde hair under her tribal buff.

“Oh, nothing.” Julia smiled slyly.

Jack frowned. “Nothing?”

“Nope.” Julia met my gaze and winked.