Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
She was kicking toward the surface, and I swam with all my might until I reached her.
The moment my hand reached her, hope trickled in.
We both emerged, just in time for another swell to cover us. But we spit the water out, and Maria was gasping, clinging to me, threatening to sink us both if she didn’t calm down.
I looped an arm around her chest and kicked hard for the boat. “You’re okay,” I told her, not even sure she could hear me. “I’ve got you.”
The tender reached us just as my arms began to give out.
I heard the low whir of the motor over the crashing waves and nearly sobbed in relief when I spotted Palmer at the helm, eyes wide and frantic as the boat bounced toward us. Behind him, Eli crouched at the bow, arms braced and ready.
“Ember!” Palmer shouted over the wind. “We’ve got you!”
I nodded, barely able to lift one arm in response, and then Eli reached for Maria first, hoisting her up into the tender.
As soon as she was safe, those strong arms were hauling me up and over the side of the tender like I weighed nothing. I collapsed against the cool vinyl bench, chest heaving, heart hammering against my ribs.
Eli dropped beside me, his hand on my back, breathing hard. “You alright?”
I nodded, but I was already looking for Maria.
She was curled in on herself, shivering so violently her teeth chattered. Palmer called our safety in over the radio, saying we were en route to the yacht. Captain radio’d back that the drifting vessel had responded and were no longer a threat. Anchor had been dropped again.
I held Maria’s hand and tried to comfort her while I felt my own shock settling in.
By the time we reached the swim platform, a crowd was waiting.
Captain Gary stood at the stern, expression grim as he helped pull Maria up into Cameron’s waiting arms. Cameron wrapped her in a big blanket immediately. Cameras were rolling. Producers were whispering furiously behind them. Tammy made a dramatic scene upon Maria’s return, crushing her in a hug that the rest of the guests side-eyed, cocktails in hand.
“What happened?!” she asked. “We were so scared!”
Maria was shivering, her eyes flicking to me. “I just slipped. I… I was looking over the edge… I thought I saw dolphins. I climbed onto the railing a bit to get a picture on my phone and…”
Tammy wrapped her in another dramatic hug, wailing.
I blinked when Palmer extended a hand for mine. He helped me climb onto the swim platform, but I was too exhausted to move past that.
“Medics are on their way,” Captain said, his voice tight. “I need to make sure the guest is okay. You need to get warm, too.” He snapped his fingers at someone. “Blankets. Hot tea. Check for injuries.”
I barely heard him, but managed a nod to let him know I was okay.
“You saved her life, Ember,” Captain said. Then he turned to tend to Maria.
And Finn was there.
He shouldered past everyone the moment Captain no longer needed me, eyes blazing as he dropped to his knees at the edge of the platform.
“Jesus, Ember—” He grabbed my face in his hands, cradling it while he looked me over like he might find a shark bite. “Are you hurt? Are you—fuck—you’re so pale. I thought—I thought—”
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t form a single word with how my throat burned and my limbs shook. I just nodded, eyes stinging as I leaned into him.
“I thought you were gone,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “I thought the swells—Christ, I…”
His words trailed off as he kissed me — hard, desperate, not caring who was watching. I clung to him like a life raft.
“I’m okay,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “I’m okay.”
Finn broke the kiss with a ragged breath, scanning me, searching again. Then he was up, helping me to my feet and wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Let’s get you warm. Blankets! Now!” he barked at no one in particular, voice hoarse but commanding.
Someone shoved two into his arms — Bernard, I thought — and he wrapped one around my shoulders, tugging me close again as he led me inside. My legs felt like Jell-O, and I leaned into him fully, too weak to fight the comfort of his touch.
And it was the only comfort I’d find, too.
Because not a single other member of the crew checked on me.
The medics came. Maria was cleared first and then me. Finn’s dinner was abandoned, Captain Gary calling in a big order of pizza and fielding the guest complaints for us. Fortunately, they were a little too busy fighting over who had been voted what in their little superlative game to care too much. I was sure the fact that Leah kept the drinks coming didn’t hurt, either.