Liam
Iscratched my arm as we pushed through the trees. “These damned biting flies are going to make me insane.”
Cerise slapped the back of her neck. “Then I shall be insane with you.”
We stepped over a moss-covered log, heading in the direction we came from after the flood. At least, I was pretty sure that’s where we were headed. Two brilliant academics with meager survival skills lost in the rainforest…whatever could go wrong? It couldn’t be worse than what we had already experienced—a spider bite, a protective big cat, a fucking flash flood.
We kept on. It was our only idea to try and get back to the team who was probably searching for us. Perhaps they’d contacted the authorities, a search and rescue already under way. Maybe we should have stayed put and waited for them to locate us, but we were both antsy, ready todosomething.
So now, after a couple of days of rest, we were trudging through the thick underbrush, being devoured by insects.
I scanned the jungle, keeping my eyes peeled for wildlife or anything treacherous. The trees loomed above us, sunlight filtering through the emerald canopy painting the understorywith warm beams of light. Monkeys screamed in the distant trees, a toucan called in the boughs, insects buzzed in the bushes.
“Stop,” Cerise grabbed my arm and pointed skyward.
I looked to where she’d gestured. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Aspow flowers.”
“I don’t know what that means. I’m not well-versed in plant life.”
“It means we can stop these insects from feasting on our flesh.”
“Excellent.” I dropped my pack. “I’ll kneel and you climb on my back.”
“What?”
“Well, we can’t reach them. But if I put you on my shoulders, we can.”
Hands on her hips, Cerise frowned. “You mean to tell me you want me to climb on your shoulders?”
“That’s literally what I just said. Scared?”
“No…I just don’t want to fall.”
Several pieces of hair had come loose from her braid and I reached out and tucked one behind her ear, unable to stop the compulsion. “I’ll try not to drop you, sunshine.”
“You’lltrynot to drop me? I’m not sure I appreciate your lack of confidence.”
I knelt, trying to hide my amusement. “Well? Climb on.”
“Oh, fine. Make sure you try very hard to keep me from falling.”
Using a nearby tree for balance, she settled herself atop my shoulders.
I gripped her thighs and stood. “No promises.”
Her hands clutched my hair with a tight grip. “Liam.”
“Ouch. Stop pulling my hair.”
“I’m trying not to fall!”
“All right, all right. All jokes aside, I won’t drop you. Now grab some of those flowers.”
I could barely hold her still as she reached above us, collectingthe yellow blooms. She wasn’t heavy, but so tall it was throwing me off balance and causing me to sway. “Hurry, please.”
“You just said you wouldn’t drop me!” She gasped.
