Virgo's Vice by Trish Jackson

be able to hold it. “Come on, Jake.”

Chapter 7
    Mark pointed the camera at the attorney. “We need to figure out what to do about a shelter,” he said.
    “Right,” Billy and Trip both agreed.
    “What do you suggest?” Jared asked Rodriguez, who was still having his ankle bound. “You said you have construction experience.”
    “Like I said, get some of those saplings over there. As straight and long as you can find them. Bring them here.”
    The cowboy picked up the axe, and Trip picked up a machete. “I should help you guys,” Mark said. “There was supposed to be camping gear and food for us but it seems like we’re gonna have to survive like all of you.”
    “Bummer. When is the boss man coming back?” Jared asked, pushing his black-rimmed glasses back up his nose.
    “Three days. In the meantime, you’re stuck with us in your camp,” Mark said. “Unless the Assistant Producer shows up with some other crew members.”
    “I’m not gonna complain,” the cowboy says. “That Lexie is hot. Have you worked with her long?” He had reached a sapling and had started hacking away at it. It fell with a loud crash and a thud.
    “And the redhead,” Jared added. “She’s hotter than July, man.”
    “Three years,” Mark said. “I’ve been working with Lexie for three years.”
    “Is she single?” Billy cleaned off some of the leaves and small branches.
    Jared held the sapling for him.
    “Didn’t you dudes hear me? Kelli, the teacher. Hot or not?”
    Mark grinned at Jared. “Yeah. She’s hot.” He turned his gaze to Billy. “Lexie hasn’t had a serious boyfriend since I’ve known her. She’s been on one or two dates here and there, but nothing that has lasted. I think there was some sort of major problem with the last one. She arrived at work in a bad way.”
    “Bad way?” Billy said.
    “Yeah, she was a bundle of nerves and I caught her crying a couple of times, but she wouldn’t talk about it.”
    “Well, maybe that’ll be good information. Time will tell.” Billy nodded at Mark. “You can have the redhead,” he said to Jared. “I’ll take Lexie any time over her.”
    “Just go easy on her, man,” Mark said. “She’s kind of sensitive.” He hoped she wouldn’t have one of her panic attacks while she was out here. He had warned her that she might have problems, but she had said she wanted to do this as some sort of therapy to help stop those episodes. Now the Old Man had dropped them in the crap and he wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle it. She was okay with things if she knew they were coming. It was the unexpected stuff that seemed to push her over the edge. He thought again about the interaction she’d had with Trip.
    “Don’t worry about Lexie. I respect women and I won’t do anything to upset her. At least I’ll try not to.”
    Jared trimmed the leaves and branches off two saplings and started dragging them toward the camping area.
    “You married?” Jared said to Mark.
    “Yeah. Two kids. I’m not complaining. Married life is pretty okay.” Mark set his camera down where it could film without him carrying it and grabbed the next couple of saplings.
    I’m getting desperate. I can’t have a meltdown out here. For one thing, I don’t think anyone will care. “Can you hold this?” I almost throw my camera at Kelli the redhead. “I have to, um, pee.” I feel myself going red. I hate that there’s no latrine or anything, but I can’t hold it any longer. I hold on to Jake’s collar to make certain he comes with me to the thick clump of bushes, and I make sure nobody can see me before I unfasten my jeans with a hammering heart.
    When I take the camera back, Kelli and Eve each take turns behind the bushes. I feel kind of good inside that I was the one to do it first. Like some kind of peeing pioneer. Me, Lexie King, who has never even been camping. I could still do with something to calm me, but the crisis is over.
    The tall model, Lela, and the skinny