“Oh, my gosh! I’m sorry!” Another cough. “Here.” Olivia held out the canteen. Looking sheepish, she said, “I-I don’t think I took it all.”
Scowling, Jake took the container from her hand. “I don’t give a shit about that. I just didn’t want you drinking it too fast and getting sick.”
Right on cue, Olivia’s stomach lurched, and she turned away just in time for every ounce of the water she’d just consumed to come right back up. She heard Jake’s low curse from behind her.
While in the middle of very hard, very embarrassing dry heaves, Olivia felt his soothing hand on her back. With his other, he pulled her tangled hair away from her face.
The injured muscles around her ribs felt as though they were bursting into flames with every retched contraction. Worried Jake would notice and insist on carrying her the rest of the way, she wrapped an arm around herself for added support.
When her stomach finally stopped convulsing, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stood straight. She drew in a slow breath to steady herself, only taking in longer ones when the pain in her ribs began to ease.
“You okay?” Jake asked softly, his hand still on her lower back.
She closed her eyes.No. Not even close.
Keeping her thoughts private, Olivia turned to face him and nodded. “I’m good.” She scrunched her nose. “Sorry.”
Jake shook his head. “No need to apologize.”
She disagreed. “No, I know better. I was just so thirsty, I didn’t think about it.”
Jake’s brows bunched with concern. “When was the last time you had something to drink?”
Olivia tried to remember. “Yesterday, I think. They gave me a small glass of water and a piece of bread once a day.” Her thoughts went back to that morning’s shower. To the boy she’d been unable to save, and everything that had happened since. “I hadn’t had anything, yet, today.”
The look that crossed Jake’s face was positively murderous. It would’ve scared her, but she knew his anger was directed toward the men who’d taken her. She expected him to say something more about it, but when he finally spoke, it was just to quietly tell her they needed to get moving.
He waited for her to take another drink, just a sip this time, before taking a swig for himself. He returned the canteen to his bag and zipped it back up. Without another word, he began walking.
She quickened her pace so that she was walking at his side, rather than behind him. Attempting to lighten the mood, Olivia looked at him pointedly and said, “So. I don’t suppose any of those boring conferences you’re always running off to gave you any tips on how to survive in the jungle at night, did they?”
Picking up on her blatant sarcasm, Jake spun his head toward her in surprise.
“What?” She gave him an innocent smile.
For a second, she thought she’d upset him, but then, Jake shook his head and smirked. Though it was only a half-smile, Olivia felt her heart trip over itself a little.
“Smartass,” he muttered, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her to his side. “Come on.”
Olivia wanted to push him into a confession, but decided to let it go for now. She’d find out the truth eventually.
About an hour later, she found herself praying they’d quit walking soon. Her feet were killing her, and the harder she breathed, the more her ribs hurt. She was thinking of sucking up her pride and telling Jake she couldn’t go any farther, when he turned and said the three little words she’d been longing to hear.
“We’ll stop here.”
