My Don't Date List

The Rescue

I loved the beach.

Or at least, I used to.

That afternoon, Parker's friends had gathered near the shore, and somehow I ended up being dragged into their plans.

I didn't mind.

They were loud and ridiculous and surprisingly friendly.

For once, I wasn't thinking about my broken heart.

Or my list.

Or Brax.

Okay.

I was thinking about Brax a little.

But that was beside the point.

The place was really cool. It was built like a shed and had wooden tables and chairs made of straw. They had coconut shell on each table with flowers floating in them.

There were huge shelves filled with various cocktails and mocktails I didn’t even recognise.

The beach was flooded with people, girls in swim wear, boys in shorts having a fun time. But my eyes rested on the water, the waves and then the surfers on them. I was amazed by the magical flips and slides they did made me gasp every time they did something dangerous and cool.

“Can I get you anything?” The bartender asked.

“No, I am fine, thank you.” I answered politely.

“Ah, surfing fan.” The man said probably noticing the direction of my gaze. I turned to look at him and shook my head in no. “Attracted, yes. Fan, no! It seems kind of hard.” I said my gaze returning to the surfers.

“Then I will leave you to admire.” He said chuckling.

"Beth!"

I turned.

A girl named Mercy waved me over.

"Come take a picture with us!"

I laughed and walked toward them.

The sun was beginning to sink, turning the water gold.

"This is actually beautiful."

"Exactly," Mercy said. "Come closer."

I stepped toward the water.

"Closer."

I took another step.

And then someone pushed me.

I screamed.

The water swallowed me.

For a second, I thought it was some stupid joke.

Then my feet couldn't find the ground.

My arms flailed.

I tried to breathe.

Salt water filled my mouth.

Panic hit me so quickly that I couldn't even scream.

I couldn't swim.

Nobody knew.

The shore seemed impossibly far away.

I tried to kick.

Nothing.

The waves pulled me farther out.

My lungs burned.

The noise around me disappeared.

Everything became muffled.

Dark.

Cold.

Parker.

I tried to reach for him.

I couldn't.

My chest screamed for air.

And then—

A hand locked around my waist.

Strong.

Firm.

Pulling me upward.

I broke through the surface with a desperate gasp.

Someone dragged me toward shore.

I coughed violently, barely aware of what was happening.

Then I opened my eyes.

Storm-grey.

My heart stopped for an entirely different reason.

Brax.

Of course it was Brax.

He looked nothing like the cold, arrogant boy who had threatened me.

His face was pale.

His hair was soaked.

His eyes were furious.

Not at me.

At the ocean.

At the people around us.

At the possibility that he could have been too late.

"Bethany."

My name came out rough.

I coughed again.

"Brax..."

He crouched beside me.

"Can you breathe?"

I nodded.

He stared at me for another second as though he didn't believe me.

Then he stood.

"What the hell happened?"

Nobody answered.

Mercy was crying now.

"I—I didn't know she couldn't swim."

Brax's expression became terrifying.

"Then maybe you should've asked."

Nobody moved.

He looked back at me.

For one strange second, his anger disappeared.

His hand came toward my face, almost touching my cheek.

Then he stopped himself.

"Stay here."

And before I could say anything, he walked away.

Just like that.

He had saved my life. Why did he save my life? Didn’t feel like a solid revenge plan. The almost drowning was making my head dizzy and before I could even mutter words of gratitude, he left.

And he walked away.

No dramatic speech.

No smile.

No congratulations.

Nothing.

I watched his back disappear into the crowd.

My hands were still shaking.

And there was one question I couldn't get out of my head.

How was he here, again?