For Rent and Love

CHAPTER 4: FOUNTAIN DIVING AND REGRETS

The city plaza fountain gurgled and spat water into the air, catching the late afternoon light in brief, bright arcs. Luna sat on the low stone edge with her feet tucked under her, watching people pass. Beside her, Summer was halfway through an iced coffee and entirely through her patience.

"So," Summer said, elbowing her. "Tell me you see him too."

Luna followed her gaze. Across the fountain, leaning against a pillar like he owned the place, was a guy in a rumpled black shirt and dark jeans. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair a little too long, jaw sharp enough to cut. Even wet from the spray, he looked annoyingly put-together.

Luna huffed. "I see him."

"Be serious," Summer whispered, eyes bright. "He's gorgeous. Like, magazine cover gorgeous. That jawline? Unfair. And his eyes-fiery amber and intense. He looks like he could ruin you with one look."

Luna's mouth went dry for half a second. She blamed it on the sun. "Yeah, okay. He's good-looking. Don't get distracted."

Her voice came out a little too quick, a little too defensive. She hated that she noticed how the wet shirt clung to his shoulders. Hated that she noticed, period.

"Too late," Summer muttered. "If he smiled, I'd probably sign over my firstborn.... He kinda looks famili- "

Before Summer could finish her sentence

"MOM!"

A kid, maybe six, had darted past the fountain barrier and slipped on the wet stone. One second he was on his feet, the next he was flailing, sliding into the water with a splash that silenced the whole area.

The guy by the pillar moved before Luna could even stand.

Nico was in the fountain in two strides, jacket discarded, diving for the kid. He grabbed the child under the arms, hauled him up-then his face changed. Panic, fast and ugly.

He couldn't swim.

Luna didn't think. She vaulted over the edge, Summer right behind her.

The water was cold and churning. Luna got to Nico first, grabbing his collar from behind. Her heart was beating too fast, and not just from adrenaline. Up close, he was worse. Wet hair stuck to his forehead, eyes wide with panic, jaw clenched like he hated needing help.

"Stop fighting me!" she snapped, pulling his head above water. Her voice was harsher than she meant it to be. "Kick your feet!"

"I'm trying!" Nico gritted out, voice tight with humiliation and fear.

Summer had the kid already, passing him to a shrieking mother on the edge. Luna hauled Nico toward the steps, using his own weight against him. It took both of them, but they got him out, coughing and dripping onto the plaza stone.

For a second, nobody spoke. The kid was crying in his mother's arms. Nico lay on his back, chest heaving, water pooling around him.

He sat up fast, shoving wet hair out of his face, and glared at Luna like she'd personally wronged him.

"You," he said, voice hoarse. "You grabbed me like a sack of potatoes."

Luna wiped water off her forehead. Her hands were shaking slightly. "You were drowning, genius."

"I had it," he lied, poorly.

"You had nothing," Summer said, crouching down with a dry towel. But her eyes narrowed as she really looked at him.

Wait-" Summer cut herself off, then snapped her fingers. "Nico Moretti. THE Moretti Conglomerate's Nico Moretti. The 'ice prince of tech'?"

Nico froze. "How do you-"

"Business section, last month," Summer said, tossing him the towel before he could answer. "And the tech merger feature. I'm Summer Chen. This is Luna. Nice to meet you. Don't die on us, okay?"

Nico opened his mouth, but his color drained fast. Luna's stomach dropped for reasons she refused to examine. His arms gave out, and he slumped sideways, hitting the stone with a dull thud. Eyes closed.

"Nico!" Luna dropped to her knees beside him, her voice sharper than she meant it to be.

Summer checked his pulse, fast and practical. "He's breathing. Just passed out. Shock, cold water, adrenaline crash."

Luna swore under her breath. Her hands hovered for half a second before she forced herself to check his pulse too, just to be sure. His skin was cold and clammy.

"We can't leave him here like this," she said, quieter now. "He'll catch pneumonia."

Summer was already looking around, then back at Luna. "His phone's in his jacket. We don't know who to call. We're taking him home."

Luna sighed, then nodded. "Fine. On three."

Between them, they hauled Nico up. He was dead weight, dripping and heavy, but they managed to get him moving toward the street. Up close like this, Luna could feel the heat radiating off him despite the cold water, and it made her face feel stupidly warm.

"Don't make me regret this," Luna muttered, mostly to herself.

"If he wakes up mad, I'm blaming you," Summer said cheerfully.

They disappeared into the crowd, carrying him away from the fountain.