Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He rinsed and spit in the sink before turning to face me. “But I’ve never lost my mask and regulator while also bleeding and swallowing a stomach full of water. I honestly thought I would have handled it better.”
I tried to reassure him. “It doesn’t sound like you panicked. Mia said by the time she reached you, you’d found your regulator.”
“Yeah, but I lost the damned mask, and it was brand-new. Might need to head back there tomorrow to look for it. I think we were only in thirty-five feet of water. Should be able to find it.” He stepped closer to me and put his thumbs in the waistband of his boy shorts. I noticed his hands were still shaking.
“Forget the mask,” I snapped, reaching out to pull him close again. “I don’t care about the mask. I care about you.”
Cal’s eyes widened. “I’m fine. I told you. Accidents happen.”
He was right. Thankfully, he didn’t verbalize the fact I was overreacting, but I still felt the truth of it in the room like a heavy fog. I was overwhelmed with feelings of panic and the need to protect him—feelings I had no business or interest in having. Why did my heart always race ahead of my brain?
“Right, well…” I cleared my throat and let go of him, making sure the towel was within easy reach for when he finished. “Wash up and call me if you need me.”
Cal gave me a sweet smile. “Need you to wash my back, maybe?”
Yes, please.
“This marble floor can be slippery,” I said gruffly like a mean old custodian. I exited the bathroom before saying anything else ridiculous or inappropriate.
While he showered, I pulled out some clean boxer briefs and a T-shirt for him to wear. I closed the window blinds and lowered the lights. Nat knocked on the door to check on him and bring us some bottles of water and a little basket of candies.
“Thanks,” I murmured. “He’s taking a shower.”
“Julo says sugar is good for shock.” Nat’s eyes were full of worry. “Mia said the accident was really bad. He started sinking like a rock, and Mia swam like hell after him hoping to at least grab his leg or something. I guess he finally got his regulator enough to take a breath, but then he made Mia go slow back up. Jin hopped in the water to see what was taking them so long. He thought the worst had happened, and he’s still shaken up.”
“Tell him he didn’t do anything wrong. And he did great keeping a level head and getting everyone back here safely.”
She nodded and let out a breath. “That’s what I told him. He said poor Cal was pale as death and vomiting up seawater. When he saw the blood too, Jin almost panicked.”
“But he didn’t. He handled it well.”
Nat bit her lip. “Is he okay? Really?”
I pulled my sister into a hug. She was a kind person who cared about others. Even though she hadn’t gone into a caring profession like Lucas, she had the same big heart. “He’ll be okay. I think once he naps for a couple of hours, he’ll be able to join us for dinner on schedule.”
“Okay, but if not, we’ll bring you guys a tray. Don’t push it.”
Once she left, Cal poked his head out of the bathroom. “Can I come out?”
I handed him the stack of clothes, and he ducked back in to get dressed. When he came back out, I noticed a red scrape on his leg I hadn’t noticed before.
“What happened here?” I asked, smoothing my hand along his calf.
“Oh, I’m not sure. I think I might have brushed up against a coral formation on the way down. Hopefully it wasn’t fire coral.”
I pulled back the covers and followed him into the bed.
“You giving me a pity snuggle?” he teased in a voice heavy with fatigue.
“Mm-hm. I want to hold you to make sure you don’t get into any more trouble for a while.”
He chuckled. “Mm, sounds good. I like snuggling with you. And this bed is the best.”
Cal drifted off before he even finished talking, and I was grateful for it. I hoped like hell he’d feel better when he woke up, but in the meantime, I enjoyed every minute of holding on to him.
He smelled like my shower gel again, and his wet hair stood off his scalp in damp spikes that tickled my chin. I rubbed my hands up under his T-shirt and along the smooth skin of his back, feeling the tiny bumps of his spine and the bony wings of his shoulder blades.
I wanted to protect him. I had a fierce, visceral need to wrap him up and keep him safe. Just thinking about him taking in a mouthful of water while sinking underwater made me feel jittery and fearful in a way I’d only ever felt before one time. A nanny had left Nat and Lucas alone at a park once when they were four. A stranger had found them and called the police, and the police had somehow tracked me down at boarding school after Nat had told them that their brother, Jonathan Worthington, went to a sleepaway school that had a sign with an orange bell on it.