Page 24 of Hunter
“My guess? She’s got a history with long-distance relationships, and it ain’t good. I’m thinking she got hurt at some point,” whispers Kit. “Bet you anything.”
“Nah. She would’ve mentioned that. Explained.”
And if she had, at least I’d have had a reason I could sink my teeth into. Maybe I could have even convinced her that we weren’t fated to end up like whatever previous long-distance disaster had jaded her.
“During your long weekend of hot sex? Or while you were exchanging sexy texts?”
“I begged her to give me a reason—to give me a chance—to tell me why things had to end. She didn’t. She wouldn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have one, dummy. It just means it’s a reason that’s important to her…or painful.”
“You think?”
“Iknow,” whispers Kit. “I’m a lesbian, Hunter. Understanding women is my superpower.” She stares at Isabella for a second, then nods. “Ask her.”
“I intend to,” I say. “And then I’m moving on.”
***
Isabella
“Beto, tomorrow’s challenge is all you,” I call to my cousin, who’s in the bathroom changing into his swimsuit.
“You know it!” he exclaims. “A crab boat challenge? I can’t believe we got that lucky!”
I asked him to hang out with me in the room tonight so we could discuss strategy, but he was invited to meet Team Soul Sisters in the hot tub, and trying to keep him from going will just result in another fight between us. So, he’s getting ready to go, and I’m determined not to make him feel bad about it.
“Any advice for me?” I ask him. “I’ve never been on a crabbing boat.”
“If it’s a one-person challenge, I’ll handle it,” he says, emerging from the tiny lavatory wearing an aqua swimsuit patterned with black palm trees. He’s in good shape, my cousin. With his brawn and my brains, we could be a formidable team. We just have to figure out how to get along. “If we have to work together, follow my lead, okay? Do what I say. I know you think you’re the brain trust of this team, but I’m not dumb, Iz.”
“I know you’re not,” I say, feeling sheepish because that’s exactly what I was thinking.
“If we’re with other teams, I’ll speak in Spanish when I don’t want them to know what we’re doing.”
“Hey! That’s a good idea!”
“I just told you…I’m not an idiot, bruh,” he says, messing up his thick, black hair in the mirror. “I have ideas.”
I didn’t realize until now how transparent I’ve been in my feelings toward him. It makes me feel ashamed of myself. It makes me want to do better, to be better.
“Of course you’re not an idiot,” I say. “You know, your dad’s really proud of you.”
He catches my eye in the mirror. “He is?”
“Definitely. He was bragging to all of us about his ‘Crab Boat Kid’ and how you two would have an edge on the race. It killed him that he couldn’t do this with you. It’s a big part of why I said yes. He believes in you.” I pause for a second, then add: “I do, too.”
“That’s cool, cuz. Thanks for sharing that with me.”
“So…” I say, grinning at him. “Which of the soul sisters are you interested in?”
“They’re twins,” he says, waggling his eyebrows at me. “Both!”
“Gross,” I say with a chuckle, shaking my head at him. “Have fun, okay? Be safe?”
“Siempre,” he promises, heading for the door. “Catch you later.”
Left alone in my room, I consider taking a shower and getting into my pajamas, but I’m a mix of excited and jittery about starting the race tomorrow and decide that a drink might take the edge off.