Chapter Twelve
Talia was struggling to catch her breath.
Which should’ve been easy considering she was only twenty-four, didn’t smoke, and kept relatively fit.
Every Wednesday and Saturday, she ran the Boulder Creek Path, weaving past dogs and walkers like it was second nature.
And twice a week, she dragged herself to a reformer Pilates class at CorePower Yoga.
Her lungs had never been an issue.
But for some reason, this challenge, which had taken place entirely in the lagoon, had absolutely wrecked her. And apparently Sabine too.
They’d both struggled quite spectacularly to launch four waterlogged coconuts from bamboo slings into floating baskets bobbing at least one hundred fifty feet away.
Every missed shot meant they had to dive after the coconut and swim it back to the starting line.
By the third miss, Talia’s arms felt like damp noodles, and her shoulder ached.
By the sixth, she’d lost her breath completely and thought her shoulder might fall off at the joint.
She hadn’t even been able to rely on Sabine because she had somehow been worse off.
By the time Isla and Taye had landed their final coconut, Talia and Sabine had only scored their first.
“And the winners of our third reward challenge are Isla and Taye,” Vivian declared, looking ecstatic. “Congratulations, ladies.”
There were a few claps amongst the remaining contestants. Even Monique, who hadn’t participated and had been made to sit on a bench on the beach while watching the others compete, was cheering. Half the girls seemed downright bleak that they hadn’t won. Especially Marloe, who hadn’t clapped at all.
“As you all know, the reward challenge is an afternoon at a jungle waterfall. But what I didn’t tell you is that you’ll be treated to bamboo massages, warm coconut oil treatments, and a fully catered jungle feast.” Vivian smiled as if she were cooking up the feast herself.
Isla squealed and clapped her hands to her cheeks.
Taye, beside her, was grinning so wide Talia could see all her shiny teeth.
Talia’s stomach rumbled at the thought of a jungle feast, which was why she couldn’t help feeling a little green with envy.
For once, she wasn’t even thinking about Sabine, about the other night, and about the fact that they hadn’t yet talked about it.
Nothing sounded better than spending an afternoon floating in a cool waterfall-fed pool and getting their muscles kneaded by strangers.
“And because more is merrier, you’ll get to choose one other pair to join you. Who will it be?” Vivian said, bringing her hands together. Her wedding band caught the sunlight and tossed a sparkle across the beach.
Isla’s eyes went wide. Taye’s did too. They scanned the group, then leaned in and whispered into each other’s ears. The rest of them stood in awkward silence.
Talia didn’t even let herself hope because just two days ago they’d come back from an overnight reward, clean, well-fed, and probably deeply resented. There was absolutely no way they’d be picked again.
“We choose Talia and Sabine,” Isla announced.
Talia blinked. Once. Twice. “Really?” she asked, certain she’d hallucinated. The sun was bright. Her lungs were still aching. It wasn’t entirely impossible that she’d fainted and was just dreaming of the jungle waterfall.
“Yes, of course,” Isla said brightly. “I know you two just had the luxury overnight date, but you know, why not spoil you with some massages?”
Talia couldn’t be happier. In fact, she was feeling rather euphoric.
She turned to Sabine, fully expecting her excitement to be mirrored back at her, to see that same giddy disbelief reflected on Sabine’s face.
But Sabine looked cautious. Her lips were in a half-smile, her shoulders tight, and her hands clenched at her sides.
She looked contained, like someone who’d just been handed a gift and was calculating the cost. Was there a cost?
Well, whatever it was, Talia didn’t give a shit. She had a massage to look forward to.
“Come on over,” Vivian said, gesturing for Talia and Sabine to join. “You four lucky ladies will be leaving right now.” She pointed toward the ocean. “Your ride is on its way.”
At first, all Talia could see was a dark dot on the horizon. Then the dot grew clearer and larger, and before she knew it, a sleek white bangka came into view. It was gliding over the water with its outriggers skimming the surface like dragon wings.
“Off you go,” Vivian said.
None of the four hesitated. With the help of a good-looking crew member wearing a navy polo shirt tucked into khaki chinos, they quickly climbed aboard.
Talia dropped onto a bench seat beside Sabine, who still seemed unable to relax.
She had her hands in her lap, her fingers intertwined so tightly that Talia could see blanched marks where blood had been pressed away.
“Are you alright?” Talia whispered, leaning in just enough to brush her shoulder against Sabine’s. She was close enough to smell the salt in her hair. “You seem tense.”
Sabine opened her mouth to reply, but then the bangka lurched as it pulled away from shore, and she swallowed her words. Talia didn’t ask again. She’d wait until the time was right.
The ride was mercifully short. It was just long enough for the coastline to give way to the jungle. Palms thickened. Green foliage crowded in from every angle, and the air shifted, turning damp and lush and carrying the loamy smell of wet earth.
The bangka nudged up against a small wooden platform slick with spray.
The same crew member as earlier hopped out first and tied them off.
Then he offered his hand, which Isla and Taye took first, followed by Talia and Sabine.
Talia hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to Sabine again, and she was about to do it now, but then he gestured toward a narrow stone path that disappeared through the trees and said, “Follow the path to the waterfall.”
They did. Isla and Taye were in front, and Talia followed closely.
Sabine was right behind her. In fact, Sabine walked so close behind Talia that she could feel her breath on her shoulder.
Talia wanted to reach back and touch her, but there were cameras following them.
Any touch would be noticed. Even platonic ones.
Though she wasn’t entirely convinced she wanted to touch her only platonically ever again.
Talia kept thinking about that night, under those soft covers, then she remembered how they’d hugged each other after losing earlier.
Talia had moved in first and wrapped her arms exhaustingly around Sabine’s waist, and they’d both stayed like that for a second.
Sabine’s arms had circled her neck. They had stood breathing into each other. The hug did not feel purely platonic.
“I think I hear the waterfall,” Taye said. “You hear that right?”
“Yup,” Isla agreed. “That’s definitely it. What food do you think they’ve prepared? I’m starving. I hope it’s something fatty. I want greasy food.”
“I want a milkshake,” Taye said, then moaned. “Double thick chocolate with Oreo crumbs. Or even better, a thick, creamy peanut butter milkshake,” she moaned again. Even louder.
Which brought back that night when Sabine had said, “I have heard women moan.” Talia had known then what was going to happen.
Her heart had thumped so fast she’d wondered if Sabine could hear it.
She’d been so nervous. But as soon as she’d climbed on top of her, as soon as their bodies had touched, the nerves had gone away.
Just like that night, the desire to touch Sabine was growing like an oil spill in the wide-open ocean.
At least she could distract herself, because right then a thin curtain of mist floated between the trees. And then the jungle opened up and every thought in Talia’s head evaporated with the mist.
Ahead were three-tiered basins carved from volcanic rock.
The water was an impossible shade of jade.
It was clear enough to see the smooth, dark stone beneath.
Their edges were dotted with ferns and orchids so bright and so vivid that they looked fake.
Water tumbled aggressively over the cliffs into the pools, which made the water explode into frothy white at the base, only to smooth out a few feet away.
“Wow,” Talia and Taye said in unison.
“Wait, is that for us?” Isla pointed to two massage plinths set up beneath a canopy of palm fronds. Bowls of warmed coconut oil rested on flat stones nearby, and Talia could smell lemongrass.
To the other side of the plinths was a teak table that had been set up on a smooth rock. Indigo-colored cushions were scattered around it, and on the table were plates and plates of food.
Talia was practically salivating. Even from where she was standing, she could see blistered flatbread slicked with olive oil and salt, bowls of fries dusted with oregano and feta that had already started melting into salty clumps.
And there were mini lamb sliders and crispy calamari rings and thick slabs of golden-crusted fried halloumi that would no doubt give her a stomachache.
And there, on a silver platter, were chocolate lava cakes.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this grateful to anyone in my entire life,” Talia said when she spotted the bottles of beer in ice buckets along with sparkling citrus spritzers. She reached over and squeezed both Isla’s and Taye’s wrists. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Isla laughed. It was warm and sunny and not at all conniving, so Talia wasn’t sure why Sabine was still a stiff ball beside her. Talia glimpsed her standing rigid as a board.
“Should we dig in?” Taye asked, already walking toward the food.
Isla stayed back. It wasn’t until Talia had walked past her and turned around to see where Sabine was that she noticed Isla staring at the doctor.
Sabine hadn’t moved. In fact, she was standing so still, staring at the waterfall that she looked as if she were part of the scenery. She looked like she wasn’t even breathing.
“Everything alright?” Isla asked, frowning ever so slightly. She barely had a crease between her brows. Her forehead was nearly as smooth as Sabine’s. The only difference was that Isla could barely be older than twenty.
It was as if someone had pressed a button at the back of her neck. Sabine snapped to it. “Perfectly fine,” she said. “I’m just looking forward to the swim.”
“Let’s eat first,” Isla said, half-turning already. “We can all get to know each other.”
Sabine smiled, and for some reason, Talia felt relief trickle over her shoulders.
Her muscles finally relaxed. She hadn’t fully considered this, but over the last few days it felt like her entire personality was tethered to Sabine’s mood.
If she was happy, Talia was happy. If she sulked, Talia wondered pathetically what she’d done wrong.
Talia picked up a beer before settling onto a cushion. She took a swig and smacked her lips together as the cold bitterness slid pleasantly down her throat. “This beer tastes amazing.”
Sabine sat on the cushion beside Talia. Talia had already moved on from her beer and was stuffing a halloumi slice into her mouth. Sabine crossed her legs and reached for a slider. “You know, there are going to be a few upset contestants when we get back to camp,” she said, not yet biting into it.
Isla smiled over the rim of her spritzer. A slice of lime was pressed against the side. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?” she said. “We’ve all watched enough Survivor episodes to know that we need to do what’s best for our game.”
“And you think we’re best for your game?” Sabine asked.
“Are we really diving right into it?” Taye asked, licking tomato sauce off the side of her middle finger. “Can’t we just enjoy a few minutes without talking strategy?”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Talia said, grabbing a slider from the plate. The lamb was shredded and soft, and covered in barbecue sauce. She couldn’t get it in her mouth fast enough.
“We can talk about the game later. After the massages. While we’re sitting in the pools.”
Yes, that sounded like the perfect place and the perfect time. They would be much more relaxed after they were all well fed, and every ache had been pummeled out of their muscles by trained hands.
Not that Isla agreed. “I’m sure you’ve figured it out,” she said, speaking directly to Sabine. “That we have an alliance.”
“The Core Four,” Sabine said, still holding onto the slider. If Isla was surprised Sabine knew the name, she didn’t show it. Not even a blink. “You two are in an alliance with Amy and Shakira. But you managed to sway Connie and Charlize to your side for The Sending. It’s how you got Hanna out.”
“Exactly,” Isla said. “But I want to change that.” She looked at Taye, who had just stuffed a large piece of flatbread into her mouth. “We want to start a new alliance. With the two of you.”
“Why?” Sabine asked.
Talia didn’t care why. This was exactly what they needed to get out of the bottom. She washed down the mouthful of slider lodged in her throat with a long pull of beer and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “What about Shakira and Amy? And Connie and Charlize?”
“We need to vote off Shakira,” Taye muttered between bites of fries. “She’s too strong. She thinks she’s got the game wrapped around her pinky, and right now she does.”
“Connie and Charlize basically worship her,” Isla added. “They voted with us against Monique and Hanna, but their allegiance is definitely to Shakira. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but they’re like her puppies. They follow her everywhere.”
Sabine nodded as if she had noticed. Talia, on the other hand, had not. She’d been too busy following Sabine around like a puppy to notice anything.
“What about Marloe and Lucia?” Sabine asked.
“We need to convince them to join us. Which I think they’ll do. Marloe and Connie have been butting heads. Then we’re six strong. Monique can’t vote next round, so it will be us against Shakira, Amy and Connie, and Charlize.”
Sabine seemed to consider this. Talia didn’t need to consider it.
“We’re in,” Sabine said, making the decision for them. It wasn’t Talia who Isla wanted to hear from; it was Sabine.
“Alright, what shall we call ourselves?” Sabine said as she bit into her burger, chewing slowly.