on one of the wooden seats that made up the hexagonal lookout. Hummus, chicken, potted salads. Delicious, if she’d had an appetite. And very cute that he’d brought enough for her, too. Food certainly wasn’t top of her list today.
All around, happy faces munched and chatted, congratulated themselves on such a fun way to spend the afternoon, challenged each other to a race back down and across to the city. Someone proposed a toast, and champagne flowed into plastic flutes. ‘To the Paediatric HDU, and friends.’
When she saluted them Gabby realised they were all raising their glasses to her. A buzz ripped through her. Knowing they’d accepted her had tears stinging her eyes. She was fast developing a group of friends she’d begun to care about.
Since coming to Auckland she’d done things she’d never imagined possible with her restricted upbringing. Breaking those shackles had been such a relief, she’d invented a new persona for herself. One she liked. Finally.
It was sad, then, that she had to let the best part of her experiences go. But she’d always known forever wasn’t something she could do, and not with a man like Max. She toasted them back, unable to drag her eyes away from his. So blue, fervent and vibrant. So trusting— that was there too. A first. Which meant she really would have to be honest as soon as they hit the mainland again.
The thought of that made her head pound more. Her stomach knots tightened. She tore her gaze away and focused on his apartment high-rise, where she’d finally come to life again. Then the Sky Tower, where she’d confirmed that life, with his guidance. Auckland was Max’s city and she’d never think of it again without memories infused with him.
‘Time to move off, everyone. Watch your step as you go back down,’ the guide warned, as they all began to pack up. ‘It’s slippery underfoot and the head torches only allow a limited view. Keep close.’
Gabby hung back to walk with Rachel.
Big mistake.
‘So, you and Dr Make-You-Weep over there. What’s the story? He’s getting very cosy.’ Rachel’s tone was friendly and sincere. But it sent a rattle of nerves down Gabby’s spine. She didn’t want to become the subject of office gossip.
‘Oh? You think so? I can’t say I’ve noticed.’
‘Come on. He can’t keep his eyes off you. And you go gooey every time you look at him—like you’re melting right there on the spot. It’s pretty damned obvious there’s a thing happening.’
‘There’s no thing.’ Gabby’s voice crackled. She tried to keep it steady as she whipped up the pace. With Rachel’s probing questions and having lost sight of the others, she suddenly felt uncomfortable. They were falling behind. It was dark. And cold. And eerily quiet. ‘Let’s catch the others up. I don’t want to get lost.’
‘Wait. Hang on. Tell me about— Wait,’ Rachel called. Then, ‘Oomph...oww.’
There was a slight shiver in the air, the crackle of breaking branches. A loud scream. A thump of bone versus wood.
‘Rachel? Where’ve you gone? Are you okay?’ Heart thumping against her ribcage, Gabby retraced her steps and shone the beam of her headtorch onto the ground. Her friend had disappeared.
No.
‘Rachel? Rachel? Where the hell are you?’
This wasn’t funny. The darkness covered everything like a thick black shroud. Gabby squinted and tried to scan the area but it was too dark, too hard to see anything beyond muted shapes and shadows. She managed to make out a steep bush-covered ravine dropping off the side of the path. Through broken foliage, way down, she made out a shape. Her heart beat a panicked tattoo in her chest. ‘Rachel? Is that you? Are you okay?’
The shape groaned. ‘I’m here,’ Rach whimpered. ‘My leg...hurts... I’m bleeding. A lot. Please. Help me.’ Her voice wobbled and Gabby heard the beginnings of a sob.
Rachel was a competent nurse who wouldn’t freak easily. Which meant things were serious. On a tiny uninhabited island. In the dark. And now left behind by the others.
Okay. Breathe. ‘Hold on. I’ll come and get you.’
‘No.’ Panic filled Rachel’s voice. Panic, and pain. ‘You won’t manage, it’s steep and dangerous. Get Rob. Max. Someone.’
‘I’ll come down first and check you out.’ With her first step into thin air Gabby lost her balance, grabbed on to roots and earth and then nothing with her flailing arms. Tumbled over and over down the ravine, scratching her skin on sharp twigs. ‘Whoa! This is lethal.’
Her arm hit against a spindly trunk and she grabbed it, held