Page 85 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

I sucked in another breath, then forced it out in a whoosh.

“That’s so good,” Alex praised. His voice sounded closer, accompanied by sloshing. “You’re being so brave, Georgie.” The praise sent a shiver down my spine. Or maybe that was the terror? Hard to tell. “Breathe again for me, okay? In and out, nice and easy.” I breathed. “There’s a good boy.”

Warmth flooded my limbs.

Another shiver.

This one was maybe—probably—because of Alex.

“Now, I’m gonna keep my eye on the snake, okay? I just want you to move back one stone, okay? Just one.”

“But what if he doesn’t like it?” I hardly recognized my own voice it was so brittle.

“He doesn’t mind,” Alex reassured. “He’s just taking a nap, don’t you worry.” I knew he couldn’t possibly know that. Wasn’t like he was a snake mind-reader, but the reassurance still helped. Even though it was illogical. I breathed again with Alex’s urging. “You’ve got this. Just one stone, okay? Just one. I believe in you, Georgie.”

I believe in you, Georgie.

I wasn’t sure anyone had ever said that to me aside from my parents. It certainly hit different now that I was an adult. It’d been a very long, very lonely decade since the last time someone had said something that sweet to me.

“Just one?” I echoed, shaking so hard I had no idea how I’d get my body to move.

“Just one,” Alex promised. “That’s all I’m asking.”

His voice was even closer now.

There was a loud splashing noise to my left that sounded an awful lot like a giant fish was disrupting the water. Alarmed, I twisted to look only to see Alex himself—the fish in question.

He was half-submersed, the water up to his belly. Only five or so feet away, and far enough from the snake not to disturb it. Why was he…why was he in the water?That splashing noise sounded again as he pushed forward.

“You’re okay, I’m almost there.” Alex’s voice was a comforting rumble. It made my cold, shaky hands clench. I was so stressed I couldn’t even feel the burns on my fingertips anymore.

Looking at Alex had been a mistake.

Because when I glanced back at the rock with the snake, he’d moved. A high-pitched horrible noise escaped me. “It moved. Oh my god, oh my god.”

“He’s just getting comfy for his nap,” Alex reassured. Why did this not rankle? He was babying me, just like I hated. But it felt so…so good in my current fragile state.

His eyes said,trust me.

They said,I’m going to keep you safe.

They said,I don’t lie.

Finding my courage, I forced myself to move.

I kicked a foot backward, searching with my toe for the stone I’d vacated. I couldn’t look away from the snake again—not when it’d moved the last time I had. When my foot met solid stone, I exhaled sharply, settled my weight, and moved the rest of my body. With more distance between me and the snake, it was easier to breathe.

“Do you want me to hold your hand?” Alex asked, now right beside me. I hadn’t even noticed he’d arrived. “To help keep you steady.”

I nodded jerkily, holding a hand out blindly for him. His skin was wet when it found mine, and yet despite that, his hand was as hot as ever.

“You did so good, sweet pea,” Alex coaxed. “We just need to do one more, okay? Just one. I’ll be with you the whole time.” I wished the rocks were big enough for him to climb up here with me, but I knew they weren’t. His hand was nice though. Firm and steady. I held it so tight I was fairly certain he’d bruise.

“Just one more,” I repeated, cottoning on to his trick, but not calling him for it because it wasworking.

“Easy peasy,” Alex agreed.

I whined, a sharp, brittle sound, because nothing about this was easy. I could feel the crowd looking at us, and I kind of wanted to die. This was worse than the airport. Worse than Neil out in the open. Worse than the matchmaking—and the scrutiny my fight at the barbecue with Alex had incited.

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