the sand was going to stick to us like mad , but i did n't care . that 's like winning the lottery in some countries . '' `` except for work , '' he said , his words muffled against my stomach . it was yellow , lined and dog-eared . i 'm not sure if he remembers it . '' there was the cave where i spent my tortured nights , tossing and turning and waiting for dawn . duke 's heart chugged out of control as fear scratched at his veins . 