Page 67 of Surviving Love

“That’s not true.” He looked insulted.

“Thanks to you, now the tribe thinks I’m damaged goods.” I scowled.

Wincing, he said, “No. You’re looking at it all wrong. This was a good thing. Harold now thinks you hate me—”

“I do hate you,” I rasped.

A muscle worked in his cheek. “Damn it, Mason, use your head. Stop being emotional.”

I didn’t speak. I pressed my lips tight, still feeling angry.

“You argued away what I said. You proved your asthma wasn’t an issue by overcoming itwithoutyour inhaler. Don’t you get it?”

I hesitated. “They’ll still think I’m weak.”

“No. You’re wrong.” He put his hands on his narrow hips. “I pointed out your asthma because, to be honest, it’s not something that you can hide for thirty days.”

“Bullshit.”

“You’re naive if you think you can. Your body will be taxed out here. You might have multiple flare-ups. But you got ahead of it now. They now know that you have it, but you can handle it. So long as you keep performing well in the challenges, they won’t judge you because of your asthma.”

Hesitating, I studied him. Was what he was saying possibly true?

“You don’t think I’m right, but I kneweventuallythey’d discover your asthma. I thought this was a smarter way to let them know. Otherwise, they’ll feel like they caught you in a lie. Sherry would hate that.”

“Sherry,” I muttered.

His gaze flickered. “You have a problem with Sherry?”

“I know you don’t.” I chuffed.

“No, I don’t. She’s a great girl.”

I didn’t respond.

“I’m serious. She’s an asset.” He frowned. “Wasn’t that why you were going to befriend her on the boat? I beat you to it, but you were planning to use her charm to get you further in the game.”

I watched him, feeling conflicted. I wanted to believe him, but I’d been so shocked last night, it was hard to forget all those feelings of betrayal in an instant. “All I know is I don’t trust you.”

He actually looked frustrated. “Mason, wake up. We’re allies. I was protecting you. It was a preemptive strike.”

He sounded so sincere, I did soften a bit. “How am I supposed to play this game as your ally if I don’t trust you?”

“Youcantrust me.”

I swallowed hard. “It’s not easy. You surprised the hell out of me last night.”

He grimaced. “Yeah. I know. I knew you were confused, but I couldn’t reassure you, or that would have defeated the purpose. I’m sorry you didn’t understand what I was doing, but I did what I thought was best for you.”

I watched him warily.

He inched closer. “You can believe I’m who you think I am. How I was with you in our little hut?” He smiled and touched my arm. “That’s the real me.”

My pulse picked up at his touch. “You seemed like a different person then.”

“Yeah, because the real meisdifferent than the game me.” He licked his lower lip, attraction buzzing in his honey-brown eyes. “Don’t be mad at me. Not when we’re alone like this.”

I felt breathless as I held his earnest gaze. “But I should be mad in front of the others?”