Exiled

As soon as the cameras were off, Josh relaxed his shoulders and introduced himself to the players. In the brief chat I had with him, he seemed like a good guy.

“So what’s your favorite hockey team?” I asked him. “Probably the Mammoths since you seem like a smart dude.”

He gave me a generic smile. “I’m not much of a hockey fan, to be honest. But maybe I’ll have to start watching.”

The boats set off, and I sat on a side bench where I had a good view of the turquoise water we were cutting through. Win or lose, this was a spectacular place to spend part of the off-season.

The guys were all talking but keeping the topics light. Most, if not all, the players here had deep competitive streaks. No one wanted to say or do the wrong thing and start this game on a sour note.

After about half an hour, we got our first look at the island, just a black line in the distance. Fifteen minutes later, we could see it up close. Waves lapped at a long, pristine beach, and behind the beach the island looked like an uninhabited jungle. It was huge—much bigger than I’d expected. My skin prickled with excitement at the thought of living in this paradise.

“Okay, guys!” Sal called out loudly enough for everyone on both boats to hear. “We need to line you up to get our best camera shots of everyone.”

Several production assistants and cameramen lined us up. Josh boarded a separate, smaller boat where a makeup person touched up his sweaty skin, straightened his shirt, and then gave him and a cameraman the okay to roll.

“This is where things get interesting,” Josh said, his game face back on. “You guys are going to be competing with partners.”

I flicked a glance at Rod, who was looking at me too. He nodded. We’d have to do whatever was in our power to be matched up.

“But first,” Josh continued, pausing for longer than needed. “We have to see which sixteen of you are in, and which sixteen are out.” He pointed, and we all turned to see a red flag waving farther down on the beach. “Next to that flag is a large red mat. After I say go, you will swim for that flag. The first sixteen men who stand on that mat will be competing on Exiled.”

My adrenaline started pumping. Holy shit. This was starting now. I stripped off my T-shirt so it wouldn’t drag as I swam. I was a strong swimmer, but every man here was in great shape. I’d have to dig deep.

As soon as Josh raised his arm in the air and yelled go, I dove into the water. It was a long fucking way to that flag. I focused on breathing and keeping my strokes solid. We were moving as one pack, and I had no idea where I fell in the order.

If I got kicked off this show on day one, it would be because I’d given it everything and fallen short. I swam as hard as my body would let me, and then pushed it just a little harder.

The water started getting shallower. My feet kicked something. I looked up and saw the flag, which was maybe 150 feet away now. Taking a chance my feet could touch the bottom now, I tried to stand.

I was able to, but I was almost waist-deep in the water, breathing hard and completely gassed. I pushed harder, seeing only two people in front of me. And finally, I made it to the red mat, where I collapsed onto my back, exhausted.

“Fuck me, that was hard,” someone said from next to me.

That was an understatement, but it didn’t matter now. I’d made it. I was one of the sixteen who would be moving on. Josh made a dramatic show of announcing who the winners were, and the other sixteen guys were quickly loaded back onto one of the boats.

Rod and Micah were with me on the mat. We’d barely caught our breath when Josh dove back into action, cameras rolling once again.

“Congratulations!” he called. “The sixteen of you will compete in teams of two to win $500,000 for the charity of your choice and become the first-ever winners of Exiled.”

Everyone cheered. Worn out and sweating in brutal heat, this was damned exciting.

“You’re probably wondering who your partners will be,” Josh said, and the group responded with more cheers.

“Now the real challenge begins,” Josh announced, a dramatic flair in his tone. “It’s time to put the ex in Exiled. You already know your partners, and you can find out who they are by turning around.”

All of us spun around to look at the opposite end of the beach, where a line of women in swimsuits, tank tops, and shorts walked our way. Not a single one of them was smiling.

I put my hand over my eyes and squinted, none of the women looking familiar to me.

Unless…

Oh, hell no. No fucking way.

I did recognize one of the women. My ex-girlfriend, Lauren Monroe.