Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews Page A

put the metal in the sand next to the rocks. On his way back to the cliff base, he gave Brian’s shoulder a wordless squeeze.
    Brian was sure he could feel the heat where Troy’s hand had been, and it was strangely comforting. He went back to work after gulping more water. “Writing giant sand letters is harder than I thought,” he said as Troy returned.
    “ Hauling rocks is pretty much exactly as hard as I thought.”
    They laughed, and Brian breathed more easily. As far as being stuck on a desert island with a stranger went, he could have done a hell of a lot worse than Troy.

     
    “ I think ‘SO’ will have to do for now.” Plopping down on the sand, Troy pulled off his sweat-soaked orange bandanna and gulped from one of the plastic water bottles. He grimaced at the taste of the warm water, swatting at a fly. The flies left itchy bites he tried not to scratch.
    Brian sat beside him with a soft groan and drank as well. He closed his eyes. “It’ll be a philosophical statement.”
    Troy wanted to ask Brian if he was okay, because he clearly had a killer headache, but he knew by now Brian would insist he was fine. The vivid bruise on his forehead was stark against his skin. “Like, ‘So what?’ Maybe we should do a dot-dot-dot instead of the second S tomorrow.”
    A faint smile lifted Brian’s lips as he rubbed his temples. “Sounds like a plan.” He opened his eyes. “Oh, the mirror.”
    “ I can do it.”
    “ It’s all right. You did all the hauling.” Brian took the mirror from one of the big pockets in his cargo shorts and aimed the reflection before sweeping it side to side in a slow pan. He’d been doing it regularly, and now the sun was getting low in the sky, faint pink streaks beginning to appear.
    “ They really didn’t come,” Troy said before he could bite his tongue. He shook his head. “I know it was stupid to think they’d find us the first day.” But in the back of his mind, he’d been hoping.
    “ Not stupid. Optimistic. Nothing wrong with that.”
    “ I guess.”
    As he’d hauled the rocks across the sand, deep down he’d expected to hear the drone of an engine. But there were no planes or ships or anything but chirping birds and the gentle lap of the returning tide. It was beautiful, but God, when he looked out, there was just nothing.
    Troy tried to ignore his thumping heart and push away the panic. “I’m a mess. Want to rinse off? I’ll take my chances with the possibly deadly creatures of the deep.”
    “ Water’s so clear, we’ll see them coming.” Brian returned the mirror to his pocket, buttoning it closed carefully.
    Troy glanced down at the board shorts and tank top he’d borrowed. “Do you usually swim in these shorts?” His sweaty junk had been rubbing against them since he didn’t have underwear.
    “ I do, but don’t worry about it.” Brian got to his feet, and Troy tensed, waiting for him to sway or stumble. But he seemed secure as he unzipped his shorts. “We have so few clothes that we should save them for land.”
    “ Okay, cool. But first…” He felt his cheeks get hot. “I need to go to the bathroom. Um, number two.”
    “ Right, right.” Brian turned to the jungle. “I believe the standard outdoor method is to dig a little hole, do your business, and cover it up again.”
    With a shudder, Troy looked at the trees. “In there?”
    “ I know, it’s not an appealing thought.”
    “ What if…” It was so stupid, but he had to say it. “What if something bites my butt?”
    Brian kept a straight face for a few seconds before shaking. Then he winced. “Ow. It hurts to laugh.”
    Troy couldn’t help but smile too, wanting to hear more of Brian’s rumbly, reassuring laughter. “That’s what you get for mocking my extremely valid concern.”
    “ My apologies. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Just…”
    “ Poop fast?”
    “ Indeed.” Brian smiled again, a dimple creasing his cheek. “At least we can piss by the trees or in the