Page 55 of Maximum Dare
“Daisy, can you take a step toward me?” Max stood on the edge of the pool gesturing to me.
“I have to say it,” I answered in a rush.
“Daisy, they’re engaged,” Max said quietly. “This is their party.”
My gaze snapped to Nick for confirmation.
No…I can’t be too late…
I blinked through my tears, only now seeing the ostentatious diamond ring shining like a constellation on Morgan’s finger.
Max reached out to me again. “Grab my hand.”
“Careful, Max, you’ll fall in!” his mum snapped.
I tried to move toward the edge, but the tarp sank deeper with a jolt, the shock of the cold water too much for me to handle. My throat tightened and I let out a panicked wail as the cover gave way.
I plunged underwater…
My screams were muffled as I flapped my arms and legs, managing to break the surface, gasping and filling my lungs with air. I frantically started swimming toward the edge of the pool, with the plastic tarp bobbing beneath me.
A strong hand wrapped around my wrist and lifted me up and out, pulling me farther away from the side of the pool. The chill was paralyzing, making each breath I drew painful. I clutched my arms across my chest, refusing to look at the staring people and their gawps of horror. I couldn’t help but notice before looking away that Max’s mother had slapped her hands over her mouth…and Nick and Morgan had scurried away.
Max shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you dried off.”
“I’m sorry.” My teeth were chattering and my body was shaking.
I couldn’t move…couldn’t think straight.
Max lifted me into his arms, grasping me tightly to his chest, and carried me away from the pool. Water dripped off me, soaking his chest.
“I’m getting you wet.” I cupped my face in my hands.
“Relax, Daisy,” he said. “I’ve got you.”
Feeling humiliated and disgraced, I glanced back at his family and friends…their expressions of pity and confusion would forever be seared into my mind.
Max carried me into the house, up a winding staircase and along an endless hallway. He walked into a bedroom and then straight through into a bathroom en suite. It had the kind of tile a girl could drip on without worrying about the damage.
Max stood in front of me and towel-dried my hair, peeking through my damp locks to give me sympathetic smiles.
I realized I had lost my high-heeled pumps in the pool.
“We have to get you out of your clothes.” He turned his back and faced the door. “Put this on.” He pointed to a bathrobe. “I’ll step out.”
He left the room.
Shaking from the cold, I pulled at the catch of my skirt and slipped out of it, then peeled off my blouse. I took off my underwear and threw all of the sopping wet clothes into the sink. Drying myself off with a plush towel, my thoughts returned to Max’s announcement.
They’re engaged.
I’d gone out in a glorious burst of humiliation. The memory of seeing Nick walking away hand-in-hand with his bride-to-be was scorched into my brain.
I heard a knock at the door.
“Are you decent?” asked Max.
I quickly pulled on the robe. “Yes.”
