Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews Page B

merciless cliff wall where Paula should have been, the pale mystery of her arm at his feet.
    The net grazed Brian’s cheek, and he shoved it away, his heart beating too hard.
    Troy whispered, “I can’t believe this is real. You know?”
    Brian’s throat tightened again, and he pushed away an image of Paula’s teasing smile. “Yeah.”
    “ Do you think they know yet? That we’re lost?”
    “ Yes. The airline will have contacted our families.” He stared up at the dark sky, barely able to make out the shapes of clouds. “Well, your family. Paula’s.” What were their names?
    “ You don’t have any family?”
    “ Not anymore.” He missed them so much, but at least his grandparents wouldn’t suffer, worrying for him. “The authorities will be investigating. The coast guard launching a search.”
    “ Do you think…will they think we’re dead?”
    He wanted to tell a pretty lie to make Troy feel better, but what was the point? “Yes. Over water, there are rarely survivors.”
    “ God. My brother’s going to…” He muttered something under his breath. “Fuck, why did I do this? Ruined everything.”
    “ You couldn’t have known.”
    Troy was shaking, his voice thick. “I should have called my mom before I left. And Ty… The things I said.”
    Troy’s eyes gleamed, and Brian reached out to awkwardly pat his arm. “It’s not your fault.”
    Gripping Brian’s wrist, Troy whispered, “I need to talk to them. Even if it’s just one more time. It’s not fair.”
    “ I know. I’m sorry.” The bone ached where Troy squeezed, but Brian didn’t pull away.
    With a shuddering exhale, Troy let go. “Sorry. I’m freaking out. They’re going to be so upset, and I won’t be there to help.”
    “ Don’t be sorry.” Brian gave him another pat before curling his hand to his chest.
    Troy was quiet for a minute, aside from forceful breathing. Then he asked, “What happened to your family?”
    “ I was raised by my grandparents, and they’re gone. My grandmother lasted to eighty-four. She passed five years ago.”
    “ I’m sorry.” He exhaled sharply. “I just…I feel like I’m going to wake up in that bunk, and we’ll be landing in LA. How did this happen? I was sleeping, and then it was so bumpy, and my ears were popping. It was so fast. I can’t…” He shook his head. “Sorry. I know you told me how it happened.”
    “ It’s okay. Your brain’s processing. I keep seeing it happen again too. Repeating over and over.”
    “ They’ll find us soon. Won’t they?”
    In that moment, Troy sounded unbearably young. Brian hadn’t been able to protect him in the air, but he wouldn’t fail him now. Even if no one found them, he’d keep Troy safe. He put every ounce of confidence and hope he had into his next three words. “We’ll be okay.”
    It must have convinced Troy, because soon his breathing evened out. Brian stared at the few stars starting to inch their way through the shadow of clouds.
    Normally he hated sleeping next to someone. Even with Alicia, they’d had a king-sized bed so there was plenty of room to stretch out. But he didn’t mind feeling the heat of Troy’s body, listening to the sighs and hitches of his inhalations and exhalations. They could have been the last two people the world, and unless rescue miraculously came, they were.

     
    “ Jesus fucking Christ!” Troy shot up, pawing at something stuck to him, his heart pounding. The honks filled the air, and he turned his head left and right desperately. What? Who? Where the fuck—
    It was real. He was actually stranded on a desert island. It hadn’t been some fucked-up nightmare.
    Gut twisting, he forced a breath and managed to kick off his silver blanket and get free of the mosquito net without tearing it. Brian was blinking and muttering beside him, and Troy turned to find the creators of the hideous honking cries that sent shivers down his spine. Rubbing his eyes, he focused on the moving swarm of color in