Page 73 of Holiday Love
I lay down flat on my belly. “Tell me when to go.”
He assumes the same position next to me, watching over his shoulder. “There’s a good one coming. Wait for it. Wait…okay! Now! Paddle!”
Following his instructions, I put my arms in the water and circle them, paddling like my life depends on it. The swell catches us and rises high into the air.
“Knees!” Jamie yells out, practically screaming to be heard over the pounding of the waves, the squawking of the seagulls.
Legs shaking, I wobble to my knees and balance precariously, swaying as the board shifts beneath me.
“Feet!” He surges up until he’s standing, throws his arms out for balance, and with a simple sway of his hips curves off to my left, riding the wave away from me with his knees bent.
He makes it look so easy.
I push up to stand and spread my arms wide. There’s a moment of exultation where I think I’ve got it. Where I’m on top of the water, and it feels like being on top of the world. Like I’m flying.
That feeling lasts for a fraction of a second and then I’m falling, head literally over heels. My board goes one way, and I go the other. I hit the water with the impact of smacking into a brick wall. My ears ring, and my nose floods as I start to sink. For a terrifying moment, everything is so topsy-turvy that I can’t find which way is up.
This is how Teddy must have felt on the night he almost drowned.
I’m slowly moving downward when the board gets caught by another wave. I’d forgotten it’s connected to me by a strap tied to my ankle. I’m jerked to the side, tugged like a fish caught on a hook. My hair streams out behind me. The air I was holding in my lungs runs out, and I choke, inhaling seawater that stings the back of my throat. Just when I’m convinced I’m going to die, strong arms grab my shoulders and tug me upward.
I come out of the water spitting and coughing, right into Jamie’s face.
“Are you okay?” he cries, his mouth drawn into a line, eyes wild with panic.
I wave him off, coughing up salt water. “I’m fine.”
He scrubs a hand over his face. “Thank God. Teddy would’ve killed me.”
I manage a weak grin. “Good thing I’m still breathing then.”
“Seriously.” Jamie smiles back at me, a little less cocky this time. More real.
After a deep breath, I army crawl back onto my board and tell him, “Let’s do it again.”
Chapter thirty-two
Teddy
Heart in my throat, I watch Helen fall over and over and over again. Sometimes backward. Sometimes face-first. Once, spectacularly, right on her butt with her limbs flailing like a cartoon character slipping on a banana. Two hours pass with excruciating slowness, until Jamie emerges from the surf and trudges up the gentle slope of the beach. He’s soaked, breathing hard, wet sand clinging to his legs and feet. With a dramatic exhale, he flops onto the blanket beneath Helen’s bright orange umbrella like a man returning from war. I sit next to him on a short beach chair, the folding kind made of metal and plastic with rusted cupholders in the armrests. It creaks every time I shift.
“What are you doing?” I cry out, my pulse slamming. “You need to get back out there!”
He’s thrown a muscled arm over his eyes and doesn’t bother to look over as he answers, “She’s fine. Just needs reps. At this point, I’m more of a distraction. One more thing for her to keep track of. She’ll do better without me hovering.”
I bristle. “I can’t believe you left her.”
“She’s not on Mars, dude. She’s fifty yards out. We’ve got eyes on her, and there’s like five lifeguards posted within spitting distance. She’s safe.”
Logic says he’s right. My chest doesn’t agree. I hate the thought of her out there without me. With effort, I drag my eyes off Helen and turn to him.
Trying to distract myself, I bring up something that’s been bothering me. “Hey. What’s up with Anthony? He seemed off when you guys brought my clothing.”
Jamie exhales, like he’s been waiting for this. “Yeah. I didn’t realize how hard he was crushing on Gina until you left. He’s been following her around like a lost puppy.”
Guilt stabs me. “I had no idea. That’s on me. I should’ve paid more attention.”
“Me too.” Jamie whistles as Helen manages ten whole seconds on the board before eating it. “Progress.”
