On This Island, I Make the Rules

Chapter 010

“Ethan, please. Don't start another fight.”

Hannah held his hand as he walked.

“You might be able to ignore it. I can't.”

He had told Brooke to stop only yesterday. Apparently, she had already forgotten.

“You live with her family. Her dad has done a lot for you. If she wants to say something nasty, let her. I'm okay.”

Despite her words, Hannah looked quietly happy that he was defending her.

“Take a breath,” she added. “You don't have to fight everyone for me.”

“If she had half your understanding...” Ethan muttered.

Years of mockery had taught Hannah to endure things nobody should have had to endure. Losing weight hadn't erased that habit. Other people's opinions still stung, but Ethan's was the one she cared about most.

“Why does what she thinks still matter so much to you?” she asked suddenly.

“It doesn't.”

The answer came too quickly.

Hannah glanced toward Brooke, walking ahead of them in the moonlight.

“Everyone's always treated her like she's special. I guess that gets into your head after a while.”

Then she looked back at him.

“I just need to know there's room for me.”

“There is.”

“Good.” She squeezed his hand. “You were there for me when I didn't think anyone ever would be.”

Ethan took three quick strides and caught up with Brooke. He caught her shoulder and turned her toward him.

Her hair swung across her face. She pushed it aside, glaring.

“Could you show Hannah a little respect?” he asked.

“Was anything I said untrue? If you still think of me as your sister, don't talk to me like that because of her.”

She sounded angry, but there was something different in it now. Less certainty that he would simply obey.

“You don't get to pull the family card only when you want something. And who I date is none of your business.”

Brooke stamped a foot.

“You—”

She stopped herself.

“Fine. I won't call her that anymore. Can we eat now? I'm starving.”

Ethan stared at her.

Had she ever understood how it felt to be the person everyone laughed at? Had she ever stopped long enough to wonder?

Back home, popularity had protected her. Out here, it couldn't find food, build a shelter, or keep a predator away. If she couldn't learn that, the island was going to teach her the hard way.

He glanced back at Hannah, silently urging her not to shrink away, then went to the water to clean the catch.

He buried the crab and lobster in hot embers, skewered the fish on a branch, and set the oysters near the flames.

About ten minutes later, everything was ready.

The smell was the best thing any of them had experienced in days.

“Try this.”

Ethan pulled a tender piece from the grouper and offered it to Hannah.

Brooke's mouth tightened.

“Why does she get the best part? Have you forgotten I'm here?”

Ever since Hannah had arrived, things had changed. Brooke clearly didn't like it.

“You can have it,” Hannah said, holding the fish out to her. “I'll eat the oysters.”

“I don't want yours.”

Brooke looked at Ethan instead. Her lower lip trembled.

“Are you doing this on purpose? You used to give me the best of everything.”

He almost laughed.

Used to give it to her? She had taken it, or bullied him until he handed it over.

But he was too tired to fight over a piece of fish.

He held out the rest of the grouper.

“Here. Take it.”

Brooke accepted it. Her expression softened a little.

“Aren't you having any?”

“I can eat crab. Or lobster. There's plenty.”

What a ridiculous question to ask after she had already taken it.

Still, he supposed it was an improvement. A few days earlier, she would have demanded the fish, criticized how he had cooked it, and slapped him if it wasn't to her liking.

Then Brooke surprised them both.

“You caught it. It wouldn't be fair for me to have all of it.”

Ethan stared.

So did Hannah.

Brooke took a bite and fanned her mouth at the heat.

“That's really good.”

Then she held the fish back out to him.

“You have the rest.”

“I don't want it.”

“Eat it.”

There was the order again.

When he didn't move, she tried a different approach.

“You need to eat properly. You're the one doing all the work.”

He took the fish, still watching her suspiciously.

What had gotten into her?

She had changed since Hannah arrived. Ethan simply couldn't decide what that change meant.

They made short work of the meal. Cooked food was a pleasure he hadn't realized he could miss so badly.

By the time they finished, the stars were bright overhead.

Tomorrow, he would do something about their shelter. They couldn't keep sleeping in a hole among the rocks. He didn't mention it yet; Brooke would only find a way to complain about the plan before he had worked it out.

“So how are we sleeping?” she asked.

She had already claimed the hollow they had used the previous night.

It was plainly only big enough for two people to sleep comfortably.

“You can stay there.”

Ethan took Hannah's hand and started looking farther along the rocks for another sheltered spot. If they couldn't find one, perhaps they could scrape out a place in the sand and manage until morning.

“Ethan!”

He turned.

“You're not sleeping over there with her.”

“Why not?”

“Don't act like I don't know what you're thinking.”

“She's my girlfriend, Brooke. That's not a crime.”

He walked back and lowered his voice.

“What is your problem? For once, something good is happening to me. Do you have to ruin it?”

Brooke folded her arms.

“If I can't stay with Hannah, what am I supposed to do? Stay here with you?”

“Yes,” she said immediately, lifting her chin. “You're staying right here. Beside me.”