Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

dark.”
    “ Right. Okay. I’m sure that was nothing.”
    “ Whatever that was, we scared them off.” Brian didn’t know if that was true, but it’s the kind of thing his grandfather would have said. He smiled in the darkness at the thought, then winced. Shit, his head hurt. The headache sent tendrils of pain and tension down his neck and spine. He was pretty sure it was only a mild concussion, but Advil wasn’t cutting it.
    He shifted, no spot on his ass now that wasn’t numb. Anxiety flapped as he blinked in the blackness, and he stretched his hands out as if to make sure the crevasse hadn’t magically closed around them. Maybe they should try for the beach after all.
    But no, there was no sense in getting lost. The tide had to be out, because he couldn’t hear any waves. Best to wait for dawn. Here in their mini cave, they had shelter and were reasonably sure there were no dangerous insects or animals with them in the crevasse.
    Of course for all he knew, a python was stalking them from the treetops, waiting to drop down and strangle them. Or a tarantula was scuttling across the jungle floor, about to crawl right across them. He yanked his legs back in and tugged the net tighter.
    Troy spoke hoarsely. “So. Um, are you married? Kids?”
    “ No. Was married out of college, but it didn’t last.”
    “ What was her name?”
    “ Alicia.” Brian wondered how she’d feel when she heard the news. Last he knew, she was living in Seattle with a daughter from her second failed marriage. He hoped she knew he’d truly loved her once. God, it was all so long ago. Another life.
    There had been Alicia and later Rebecca. The guys from his dorm in university, the other pilots and crew he’d been so close with back in the States. They were all from...before. He wondered if they’d mourn him.
    An intense pang of yearning hollowed out Brian’s chest. He wanted another chance. He wanted to tell them he was sorry. How strange to think he hadn’t spoken to his friends in years now.
    But he’d stopped answering texts and messages, and eventually they’d stopped trying. Not that he blamed them. When he thought about it—which he usually avoided at all costs—it was hard to believe how easy it had been to exit so many lives. To just…fade away.
    Troy said, “I dumped my girlfriend right before I left. Fuck, I was an asshole. Now she’ll think I’m dead, and I can’t say sorry. Not that I’m sorry we broke up. But…I’m still sorry in general. You know what I mean? I dunno. I’m rambling.”
    He could feel Troy shivering where their shoulders touched. It was humid and mild, and they had the emergency blanket, but their clothes were still damp. God, they just needed this night to end. “We should really try and sleep.”
    “ Right. Sorry. I’m just—” The shriek rattled through the trees. “Just feeling wired now. Go ahead and rest. How’s your head?”
    “ It’s okay.” He checked his watch, which was fortunately waterproof and had a light.
    “ What time is it?” Troy gazed at him anxiously in the faint glow of the watch.
    Oh, hell. “Not quite midnight.”
    Troy groaned. “Morning is never going to come.”
    It really, really wasn’t. As much as he didn’t want to get lost in the jungle, he needed to stretch out and sleep, and so did Troy. To hell with it. He groped in the pack for the flashlight. “You went back to the beach earlier. You know the general direction?”
    “ To our right. I think if we stick close to the cliff, we’ll be fine.”
    Brian hadn’t thought of that, and the risks of tripping or getting lost in the darkness now seemed insignificant compared to the need to reach the open expanse of the beach. “Okay, I’ll take the pack.” He turned on the flashlight and handed it to Troy before carefully folding their blanket and mosquito net, blinking in the glare. “Can you manage the suitcase?”
    The light shone up at Troy’s face, illuminating the cleft in his chin and a