Page 71 of F*ck You

“Forget about it, you’re more important.”

My heart thrummed in my chest, and I almost didn’t realize what he was doing.

“Here comes one, it’ll be faster and safer to ride our way in.” As a wave rose up behind us, we leaned forward and paddled toward shore until it was nearly on us. “Up, now, go.” We stood in unison, his hands on my hips and my arms out to balance me as we were rushed to the sandy beach.

We rode the wave, crisscrossing across it each time he told me to, having to give me directions in my ear to be heard over the impending storm.

As we reached the shore, we came rolling to a stop with the rough waves crashing over us, but not one time did he let go even for a second. While I enjoyed that, I wanted to yell at him that he was an idiot and should sacrifice me to keep himself from drowning, but those words never came. Instead, he picked up his board and we rushed to the shore.

“Let’s get inside before it gets much worse. This storm wasn’t supposed to hit until morning, and it was looking like it would be a bad one,” Chase told me, as he wiped the water from his eyes and moved up to his condo.

“I need to check on something first, but I’ll be in in a minute.”

“See you soon. Be careful.”

I ran in the direction of my condo, passing it to get to Larsen’s. I remembered him talking about going out snorkeling today, and if the storm surprised Chase this much, then I had no doubt Larsen didn’t realize it was coming in now instead of tomorrow.

My heart sank when he didn’t answer, and I peeked inside the windows only to find every light inside was off. He wasn’t there. I rushed toward my condo where I’d left my phone, cursing myself for not grabbing it on the way and wasting more precious minutes.

There hadn’t been a storm since I’d arrived here, so it was probable I was about to overexaggerate and it wouldn’t be as big of a deal as it currently was in my mind, but still, I worried.

I was about to dip inside to get my phone and call him, but then I saw Giana fretting around on the beach. Her fingers tangled in her hair, pulling it back to expose the look of pain and panic on her face.

I’d never seen that expression on her before, and it concerned me. Mostly because I knew there was at least one person in this place she cared about, and it was the same one I was currently trying to find.

Fighting against the strengthening wind, I ran up to her, and her wild eyes found mine. “Giana, what’s wrong?”

Despite how much I wanted to tear that hair from her skull and punch those eyes until they stopped looking at me, I held back. Our little possible smackdown could wait until nobody was in danger.

“It’s Larsen.” Her words sent ice through my veins as my eyes shot to the raging waters.

“What about Larsen?”

“He’s out there. He went snorkeling, and I don’t know, he hasn’t come back yet.” Pulling more hair out of her face, she looked at me. “I’m worried about him.”

I gazed around wildly for something, anything, then spotted the small boat anchored into the sand next to his condo. “That boat, that’s his right?” It was a little rowboat with a small engine and wouldn’t get very far, but if Larsen was still out there, I knew of only one place to check that I doubt most others were aware of. The trouble was, did he even make it there?

“It’s Larsen’s.” Her confirmation was unnecessary, I already knew it was his, but it made the ice in my veins grow colder.

“I’m going after him.”

Her eyes widened, and I continued, “Are you coming with me?”

She shook her head. “No, are you crazy? It’s a storm, you’ll die. And I don’t want to die.”

I was taken aback by that. “I always thought if you truly cared for a person, then you’d do whatever you could by any means necessary for them to help then when they needed it.”

Her voice was nonexistent as she backed away, still shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t. It’s too scary.”

In that moment, I realized the difference between us, and I no longer viewed her as a threat. She wasn’t an ally, either, but she wasn’t worth my time, and I was pretty sure I could tell by the glint in her eyes that she realized it too.

Running as fast as I could, I hurried to get to the boat. I had nothing else on my mind other than getting this in the water. I pressed the button on the metal thing it was on, and it rolled toward the sea, which was convenient as high hell because no way could I push a boat across the fucking sand.

Once it hit the water, I jumped in and tried to start the engine to no avail, then nearly jumped out of my skin when someone hopped into the boat next to me. Half expecting Giana, I turned my head, only to meet Chase’s stern blue gaze instead.

“You’re in Larsen’s boat and he’s not here, so I’m assuming you’re going out to find him.”

I nodded, the words caught in my throat.

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