Play With Me ✔️|| 2 || Off the Ice Series

07 | Arden

We've been walking for at least an hour, and the harsh reality of our situation is beginning to settle in. No signs of life, no boats on the horizon—just endless deep blue ocean and dense jungle.

"We are officially stranded," I mutter, feeling the weight of those words sink into my chest.

"We are not stranded." Jason states when I point out the obvious, "We're just beached."

I turn to look at him, incredulity laced with irritation. The slight tilt of his lips only adds to my frustration. "You're impossible to deal with," I sigh, rubbing my temple as it starts to throb. "This is serious, Jason. Who knows how long it'll take for anyone to find us. It could be hours, days."

His bright eyes sparkle with that familiar, annoying twinkle. "What'd I do?"

I huff, staring at the man who followed me onto a party boat and then followed me when I went overboard. I'm not sure which one of us is more stupid, him or me. I rub my temple, feeling an ache beginning to form, whether from his annoying company or the sun I'm not entirely sure.

Jason grins when I don't reply, tilting his head at me, finding amusement in my suffering.

I turn away from his infuriating face and continue walking.

He chuckles, the sound following me. "I'm just messing with you, kitten."

"Don't call me that." I hiss and walk – or hobble, faster. "Maybe we should separate, see if we can find civilis-"

"Arden," he interrupts, stepping closer, his voice firm. "You said it yourself; we are not separating. If something happens to you, Matt will kill me. End of discussion."

The mention of my brother sends a jolt through me. Jason has always been fiercely protective of me—of our whole family, really—because of his friendship with my brother, but it feels different now. There's an edge to his protectiveness, one that makes my pulse race for reasons I don't want to examine too closely for fear that maybe I'm being delusional and needy. Two traits I told myself I'd never be when it comes to Jason Wilde.

I can't afford to get hurt again.

I turn from his inquiring eyes and move forward, my mind racing with too many things and scenarios and none of them include being stuck on an island and all of them include my brother's best friend.

This trip just got a whole lot worse.

• • •

The movies make this look easy, it's not.

I mutter a curse when another gigantic leaf falls forward, smacking me in the face. I ignore the short chuckle from behind me as I take hold of the leaf once more, wrestling it into position before using a flexible vine to tie it to the other three I'd already struggled into position.

"You almost done there?" Jason says, not even bothering to hide his amusement.

I huff, turning to stare at him with narrowed eyes, "I don't know, maybe if I had some help, it would be a quicker process." I mutter sarcastically, counting to ten in my head, slowly. Very slowly.

He turns to look behind him, as if a crowd of willing participants may appear before turning to look back at me, "Who, me?"

I shut my eyes, groaning and make the mistake of letting go of the leaf, causing all four to tumble down around me. "I hate you." I whisper, staring at the leaves. Maybe they're a metaphor for how my life is going right now, falling apart.

"Love you too, kitten."

My heart thumps in my chest and I scowl. "Stop calling me that." I mutter but he only grins wider as I lean down and scoop up the leaves once more.