Breathless (3 page)

Two strong arms wrapped around Lainey’s waist and locked beneath her arms. She tried to push at the person, but didn’t have anything left. She was out of oxygen and time. She couldn’t fight any longer. The arms pulled her up towards the surface. As soon as they emerged, Lainey gasped as she drew in air and went into a coughing fit. Her eyes remained closed as the stranger held her tight. Thunder rumbled. Rain drops pelted her face, and she choked as more water splashed into her mouth. She could barely breathe. Two strong hands steadied her cheeks and kept her head above the water.

Lainey didn’t know how much time passed before her feet touched sand and the figure helped her onto the beach. She could finally draw in a deep breath. Her hands clutched the sand as she tried to expel the water from her lungs. She coughed until she threw up.

“You’ll be safe here.” The voice was deep and musical, like one Lainey had never heard before.

Her eyes could barely focus as she rolled onto her back and glimpsed him. He wore no shirt and his bare arms were muscular. Strands of dripping brown hair hung in his eyes, swept to the side a little. Two beautiful amber eyes stared back at her. His chin was traced with a thin line of facial hair coming together beneath his bottom lip. A thin brown cord hung around his neck, holding a single opal stone.
Where did he come from?
Lainey tried to focus on his eyes, but everything went dark.

*~*~*

Lainey opened her eyes and stared up at the stucco ceiling. It took a few minutes to realize she was lying on the couch in her living room as a cool morning breeze blew in the open window. Her eyes focused on her mom sitting in the chair across the room, flipping through a magazine.

“Hey, sweetie, you’re awake,” she whispered, coming to sit next to her.

“What…” Her throat felt raw and scratchy. “Ouch.”

Her mom handed her a cup of water, and she took a sip. It didn’t ease the pain much.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Lainey shook her head.

“You were out on the boat and the storm came up. You fell overboard. Peter said he jumped in after you, but he couldn’t find you, and he couldn’t leave Rachel on the boat. They came back to call the coastguard and found you on the beach two hours later. Do you remember how you got to the beach?”

Lainey cleared her throat, quickly realized her mistake, and winced. “There was… a boy. He saved me. I didn’t get his name.”

“We owe this boy a lot. He saved my little girl.”

She nodded, finding it hard to keep her eyes open.

“Go back to sleep. We can talk more later.” Her mother kissed the top of her head. “I love you, sweetie.”

When Lainey woke up again, her mind wasn’t as muddled. Rachel was sitting next to her this time, eating a peanut butter sandwich.

“Where’s my sandwich?” Lainey whispered, startling Rachel.

“You’re awake! I can make you a sandwich. Are you okay?”

“Slow down. Yes and yes. I’m hungry.”

“I’ll get you something to eat!”

Rachel returned a few minutes later with a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Lainey managed to sit up, adjusting the pillows behind her back. She thanked her sister and ate her soup. The nice thing about Rachel was her ability to be incredibly patient. She didn’t press her and Lainey was grateful. She finished and smiled at her sister.

“Are you okay?” Lainey handed the bowl to Rachel.

“Yes. Shouldn’t I be the one asking you? You’re the one who almost drowned.” Rachel studied her rainbow painted fingernails.

“I’m okay.”

“Then I’m okay.” Rachel looked up with a smile on her face. “Dad says you mentioned something about a boy saving you. I didn’t hear it. Did a boy really rescue you?”

Lainey nodded. “I don’t know how, but he pulled me to the beach and told me I’d be safe. He… was kinda gorgeous, but all I really remember is his amber colored eyes. They were different. He’s the mysterious man of the sea.”

Her sister leaned closer, resting her elbows on her knees. “He sounds magical.”

Lainey pulled the pillow from behind her and gently hit her sister. “Shut up. He was real, even if you don’t believe me.”

“I believe you.”

Lainey looked at her outfit and realized she was wearing an old knit nightgown. Her hair still smelled of the salty water, and she felt dirty. She excused herself to take a bath. As the warm water washed the rest of the misadventure from her skin, Lainey wondered if she would see her rescuer again. A part of her wanted to know more about the man who saved her from drowning. She pulled on a sundress and wandered downstairs. Rachel flipped through the channels and picked a cartoon with a platypus who was a secret agent. She sat beside her little sister to watch TV.

“Where’s Mom?” Lainey asked.

“She went to the grocery store. I’m supposed to make sure you don’t die or run away. Mom doesn’t want you in the water for a while.”

Lainey rolled her eyes. “What if I want to walk down to the beach?”

Rachel’s smile fell, and she put down the television remote. “I’d have to sit on you.”

“But what if I want to –”

“Sit on you!” Rachel exclaimed. “I don’t want you to die. I almost lost you once, and I’m not gonna risk losing you again.”

Lainey felt her heart skip a beat as her little sister stood up in front of the television.

“I want you to be okay. And not just that crap you tell Mom and Dad to get them to leave you alone. I’m tired of them fighting about you. Why can’t you just let
her
go?”

Rachel stomped her feet as she climbed the stairs. Lainey sat in silence in front of the TV. She knew she hurt her sister, but she didn’t know
how
to stop hurting her. Her grief was hurting everyone she loved. Lainey put her hands over her face, but she refused to cry.

The day passed slowly. Lainey didn’t move from her spot on the couch. Rachel asked to eat dinner in her room, and Lainey claimed she wasn’t hungry. Peter sat down next to her after dinner while her mom went upstairs to talk to Rachel.
Double teaming again
, Lainey thought. She didn’t say anything, but continued to watch cartoons. Peter picked up the remote and turned the television off.

“What happened?”

Lainey’s throat was tight and her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m ruining everything.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I’m hurting everyone I love. You and Mom fight about me. Rachel is trying hard to love me and not be embarrassed by me, but even she wants to give up. I can’t let go of my best friend and I’m ruining everything.”

“Lainey, you aren’t ruining anything.”

Lainey threw her blanket to the side and stood up. “I am! I’m hurting everyone because I keep hoping Becca will show up and… and it’ll just be a nightmare that’s over. But it doesn’t end! The suck continues as I almost drown on my birthday, and I’m just… having a really bad year.” She fell back onto the couch. “I wanted it to be over. I wasn’t afraid to drown because I’d be with my best friend again. I gave up fighting.”

“You don’t have to fight alone.”

“Is there a way to fix this? I feel so bad all the time.”

“You need to give it a little time. It’s only been a year. I’m sorry I haven’t been supportive of your grief, but you can get past this. I know you can. You’re a strong young woman; stronger than anyone should have to be.”

Lainey sniffed, wiping her nose on the tissue Peter offered. “I should probably apologize to Rachel.”

“Don’t worry about it. Your mom is talking to her and helping her understand.”

She nodded. “Any chance there’s some cake left from yesterday?”

Peter laughed and stood up. “Two pieces of cake coming up.”

Lainey’s door creaked too loud. She adjusted her sweater as she pushed it open. It was a little after midnight, and she could hear Peter’s snores. Rachel's door was open a crack, and Lainey could see her toes sticking out from under the blanket. Lainey carried her flip-flops down the stairs and towards the door. It would have been easier to climb down the drain pipe, but she didn’t feel like it. She slipped out onto the porch and put her shoes on. She walked down the beach and towards the water. Dropping her bag to the ground, she sat down on the sand, close enough so she could stick her toes in the ocean.

It was the second night in a row she’d snuck down to the beach. Rachel wasn’t angry with her anymore, but Lainey didn’t want to seem obsessed with the mysterious man who saved her. She’d only dreamed about him the past two nights and every moment she was awake. Lainey sighed, seeing his amber eyes every time she closed her eyes. He had to be somewhere. Guys don’t just pop up and save girls from drowning. She just wanted to see him again.

Lainey pulled out the blanket from her bag and spread it across the sand. She clicked her flashlight on. The book in her bag was dog-eared and wrinkled from getting damp, but it was still good. She flopped down on her stomach, tucking the flashlight onto her shoulder to read and wait.

At first she didn’t hear it, but the sound grew louder. Lainey dropped her book and stood up, searching the water. A boy washed up on the shore, gasping and trying to get his footing as the waves crashed against him. She ran towards him and grabbed his bare arm, pulling him towards the shore.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

The young man gasped. His brown hair hung in his face. Slowly, he raised his head, letting Lainey see his amber eyes.

“It’s you!” Lainey’s eyes looked down and her face turned red. “And you’re naked! Oh my goodness, why are you naked?”

“I don’t have any clothes.” His voice was exactly as she remembered, with almost a musical sound to it.

“Oh. Be right back!”

Lainey ran back to her stuff and grabbed the blanket. She dumped her things onto the sand and ran back to the young man. She tossed the blanket over him as he tried to stand. He wrapped it around his body. He lifted his butt in the air and pushed up with his hands. It was a slow process, but he got to his feet, shaking and slightly hunched over. Lainey hesitated, but moved a little closer. He lifted one foot and stumbled. Lainey quickly grabbed his arm to steady him.

“Are you hurt?” Her voice was soft.

“No. I just can’t walk. I can’t.”

“Here, let me help you.” She took his free arm and put it around her shoulders.

The blanket slipped a little, revealing a shallow cut on his stomach which was soaking the edges of the blanket in crimson blood. He quickly adjusted it, covering himself.

“You’re bleeding!”

He grimaced. “You are full of intelligent statements.”

Lainey resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “You should have said something.”

The young man took a hesitant step as Lainey helped him forward. He acted as if he’d never walked. Ever. He leaned his weight on her and Lainey did her best to keep him moving. His leg went out from beneath him and he stumbled, but Lainey held on tight to help him regain his balance. It was hard to imagine this boy had saved her when he could barely walk. It took some patience and maneuvering to get him to the house. The steps up the hill were almost impossible. When Lainey finally got him into the kitchen, he groaned putting his hand against the wound.

“Peter! Mom! I need help.”

The young man slid to the floor, leaning against the counter. Lainey quickly knelt beside him as she called for Peter again, and thankfully, she heard her parents moving around upstairs. She grabbed the towel from the stove and pressed it against the wound.

“I don’t even know your name,” he whispered.

“It’s Lainey.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “You saved me, and I don’t know your name either.”

“Jon. My name’s Jon.” His eyes lit up as he smiled at her.

Peter burst into the kitchen in his bathrobe, followed closely by her mom. Jon’s eyes shifted to them as he struggled to stay awake.

“Peter, Mom, this is Jon.” Lainey had no idea what else to say. There was a naked, barely-covered-with-a-blanket guy bleeding on the kitchen floor. “Jon, these are my parents.”

At least Peter wasn’t quick to judge. He quickly knelt down next to Jon, his eyes taking in the blood soaked towel.

“Courtney, will you get me my med kit?” Peter lifted the blanket a little. His cheeks turned red. “Also, grab some clothing for him to wear.”

Lainey took a step back as her mom ran to grab Peter’s medical kit and some clothes. She swore never to make fun of him for being a male nurse again. It actually came in quite handy, especially since Rachel had a tendency to cut her finger or burn her hand every other week. Lainey rubbed her foot against the back of her leg with her hands folded behind her.

“Where did you find him?” Peter asked.

Lainey shrugged, not sure if she should tell him. “I… was reading on the beach, and he washed ashore. I didn’t know he was hurt at first –”

“But he was naked?” Peter interrupted.

A blush covered her cheeks. “It’s not what you think. I found him that way.”

Her stepfather didn’t say anything as he turned his attention back to Jon. “How did you get hurt?”

Jon shook his head, closing his eyes. Lainey watched as Peter pursed his lips before taking his medical kit from her mom. She left a pile of clothes on the kitchen table and led Lainey into the living room to let Jon dress in private. Lainey could feel her mother’s gaze, but she didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure what to tell her about Jon. He saved her from drowning, but she knew nothing else about him.