Eighteen

The following day is just like every other morning.

I woke up before the others and stepped out of my tent, letting the sun's rays hit my face. If only I had my sunglasses, I wouldn't get blinded. Once my eyes adjust, I scan the beach. I see four tents made out of banana leaves and sticks.

The boys did a great job building five tents on the beach. It's as if we set up a small village. But we won't stay here long. Once Don and Claire know we have not returned, they will get Grandpa for help.

I stretched to ease my aching body. I sway my hips and bend my back to give it a crack.

Sleeping on banana leaves over sand isn't exceptionally comfortable. I used Rex's arm as a pillow, which probably made him sore.

I never knew sleeping on the ground could be this uncomfortable. I think Rex has no issue since he experienced it once. I wonder about the others. Logan, Liam, and Seth share Rex's experience. Effie and Lily, I'm most concerned about this since this is their first time. Terry probably had the experience as well, since she travels a lot, and sleeping on the ground isn't the worst thing she's done.

Ares must have difficulty sleeping on the ground with only banana leaves for a bed. He can't sleep comfortably if he doesn't have his long-body pillow with a Japanese cartoon half-naked girl printed on it.

My stomach growled.

"Need food," I touch my stomach.

Since everyone was asleep, I decided to do a little adventuring through the jungle. I know I shouldn't go in alone, but I need to gather some food before we search for Jo.

I didn't go too deep, just the area where I could still see the beach. I scan around, looking for anything edible. After searching for a couple of minutes, I gathered mangos and bananas. I may ask the boys to go fishing if this isn't enough.

Along the way, I gathered fallen coconuts, and as I approached the beach, I stopped in my tracks to find Rex shirtless and stretching his body. He was flexing his muscles, and my legs started to become noodles.

His tattoos make him even sexier. I want to pounce on him. But I must retrain myself because of other people here on the island. Now is not the time to have sexual thoughts.

I inhaled as I tried to keep myself calm. I pull on a smile. "Morning, baby!"

Rex turned and pulled on his smile as I went to him to kiss him on the cheek. "Morning. Did you sleep well?"

I placed the fruits on a banana we used for our food gathering. "Sort of. My back is killing me," I rise and massage my back.

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby." Rex wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. "Maybe we can find something soft for you."

Another kiss on my neck sent shivers up my spine. "I never felt so uncomfortable sleeping on the ground. Then again, my mom had done it before because she and her sister shared a twin bed. They had to take turns sharing the bed."

"Must be tough."

"Yeah, living in the Philippines. My mom didn't have much." I say. "She worked hard to provide for her family."

I would hear stories from Mom about how my siblings and I were lucky because we had everything given to us, and she didn't. When in trouble, she would scold me for not disciplining me more, and I became spoiled by my dad.

I sighed.

"What's wrong?" Rex asked as we both watched the ocean.

"Just thinking about my parents." I let out another breath and lean against his chest. "I miss them."

"I know how you feel. I miss mine as well."

I let out a snort.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing, it's just how we are compatible with each other. We both lost our parents, and being the eldest, I have to take care of our siblings."

"You are lucky to handle two. I have four."

I giggled. "But look how you raised them. You've done a good job being an older brother and a parent."

"Same goes for you." Rex wraps me tight in his arms and rests his chin on my head. "And don't worry. We will find Jo."

I rubbed his tattoo-covered arm. "I know we will. Jo must be scared right now."

"Terry said they won't hurt her unless they have to."

The thought of those assholes hurting Jo made my skin crawl, and my blood boil. I squeezed my hand on Rex's arm and lay my head, trying not to think of Jo alone in a dark and cold room.

Rex and I hear a loud yawn as we turn our heads to find Seth coming out of his tent and stretching his arms over his head.

When he made eye contact with us, he put his hands on his hips and pulled on a bright smile. "Morning! Beautiful morning, isn't it?"

Rex and I shared a look as I glanced back at my perky future brother-in-law. "Someone had a good night's sleep. After you broke down crying at the yacht last night, we thought you would stay depressed."

"Well, I thought I did, but I realized it's not the end of the world."

"You and Terry had sex, didn't you?" Rex pointed out.

I snap my head at my fiancé with wide eyes. "What?"

Seth chuckled nervously but didn't hide the blush on his face. "You heard us? Bro, that's an invasion of privacy."

"I thought I heard cats wailing, but there are no cats on the island," I said. I did hear some noises in the middle of the night. I wanted to check it out, but I was afraid to leave. So, I ignored it and went back to sleep.

"How can it be private when we are sleeping in banana leaf tents on an island?" Rex said to him. "There are no soundproof walls."

"Well, it's still private," Seth smiles. "Plus, I told Terry to hide her moans, but I was getting it hard."

"Oh god," I gasped, looking away. "Seth, I love you and Terry, but please don't go into detail about your sex life."

Seth shrugs and continues to stretch his arms.

After trying to flush Seth and Terry's sex out of my ears last night with water, I had breakfast prepared. Every woke up one by one. Rex and Seth volunteered to catch some fish.

We had fruits and fish for breakfast on our second day on the island to fill our stomachs before we ventured out into the jungle and explored the island to find our way.

It's going to be hard to familiarize myself with the island since this will be my first time exploring, but with everyone here, half of them have experienced such, so we will find Jo in no time and get out of this place.