Not for the first time, I wondered why he was evenhere. No one liked him, and he didn’t seem to like anyone.
Devin’s stomach growled audibly, starting off a round of laughter.
“I didn’t have time for breakfast,” Devin defended, looking pointedly at me.
I gave him an equally-pointed look that I hoped saidand it’s your own fault.
He was the one who’d dragged me into the shower kissing and giggling andtemptingme. I would’ve been sensible and gotten him breakfast.
When I’d imagined it—and okay, I was ready to admit that maybe I’d imaginedsomethings—I got up while he was still dozing and went down to the kitchen, humming to myself while I made a towering stack of pancakes and then brought them to him in bed.
That was the morning after Iwanted.
I couldn’t have come up with this one in a million years.
“I only had a mouthful of protein,” Alex said, leering at Chris.
Chris blinked at him, then burst into laughter. “I can’t believe you just said that,” he choked out between giggles. “I can’t believe I’mmarryingyou.”
“Can’t believe I’m marrying you either.” Alex grinned at him, honest, open love shining on his face.
“Yeah,” Brad said, deadpan. “It’s like a fairytale.”
“Will youquit?” Marta asked. “For just one second?”
“I want breakfast,” Devin said, curling up in my lap.
“Eat a protein bar,” Brad said. “We should be watching the heats, figuring out the competition.”
Devin looked at me, nibbling on his lip.
“I want breakfast too,” Chris spoke up from where he was still pinned under Alex, craning his neck to look at the rest of us.
“Same,” Alex said, without so much as moving.
“Yeah,” Marta agreed.
With a surge of courage, I met Brad’s eyes. “You’re outvoted.”
“I’m staying,” he said stubbornly, tightening his grip on the backpack he was carrying.
“Cool,” Alex said, climbing off Chris and offering him a hand to help him out of the van. “We’re going. See you later.”
18
Devin
“I’m out,”Alex said as he came to sit down beside me, sheltering under my umbrella. “Not taking the risk.”
I glanced up at the dark clouds and then down at the raging river, white water foaming over jagged rocks, hiding them from view.
“You shouldn’t either,” he said. “It’s not worth it.”
“It is worth it,” I said. “Besides, my time’s sitting atthirdright now. I’m in with a real chance.”
“A real chance ofdrowning,” Alex said. “They just dragged one of the girls out of the river, y’know. Straight into an ambulance.”
“Marta?” I asked, suddenly sick with worry.
