Page 5 of Swim To Me

I spit out another mouthful of water and saliva, shifting my legs against the hard pool floor.

The fresh cut on my thigh stings as pure oxygen kisses it, but before I can gather the strength to lift my head to look at my injury further, somebody’s friendly face filters out into my vision.

The brown haired lifeguard.

“I’m Grey.” He speaks clearly. “Can you hear me? Can you tell me your name?”

Chapter 2

Delilah

“D-Delilah,” I hear myself croak out, throat incredibly dry and voice all sorts of scratchy.

“Delilah,” Grey repeats after me. “And do you know where you are, Delilah?”

“At the… pool.”

“Good.” He nods enthusiastically, giving me the impression of an overtly friendly golden retriever… either that or the sudden waves of light-headedness I keep feeling are screwing with my mind. “Can you tell me the date?”

I rattle off the date, my hands coming up to push back the sodden strands of hair uncomfortably stuck to my temples. “Can I have some water? My throat…”

“It’s dry,” Grey finishes for me. “Can you sit up?”

Dipping my chin down in agreement, I press myself up into a seating position, hissing through my teeth at the sudden burning sensation coursing up and down the length of my body.

“Good, good, slowly… that’s it.” Grey’s hands flutter somewhere around the space of my upper back, light as a feather. “Take a breath for me.”

I do as he asks, quizzically peering down at the graze on my hip as I do so, my toes curling automatically at the pink razored flesh I find there.

“Can you tell me if there’s any pain anywhere, Delilah?”

God, it’s stinging like a motherf—

“Delilah?”

I blink up at him sluggishly. “Hm?”

“Are you in any pain?” Grey repeats patiently, eyes kind and soft around the edges with the beginnings of fine lines… not that the starting of fine lines take away from his attractiveness. Andmy God, is he attractive.

With pretty green eyes framed by enviable long lashes, a strong nose and a prominent Cupid’s bow, leading down to a plush looking set of lips, lifeguard Grey could easily pass as a model. His hair matches the same chocolate shade of mine, minus the caramel highlights, all floppy and soft looking, with a slight cow’s lick, giving his fringe a life of its own—

“–she’s in shock.”

I register the gentle, but firm hands wrap themselves around my ribcage, just beneath my breasts, before they’re pulling upwards, urging me to stand.

My legs wobble beneath me as I attempt to get my footing. I lean more into Grey’s hold than I’d like, but it’s the only thing that stops my tendons from screaming quite so loudly.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” I mutter, more to myself than anyone else, desperately trying to focus on the sensation of the solid floor.

“Lean on me,” Grey prompts. “That’s it. Can you walk? One foot in front of the other, Delilah.”

Easier said than done when I’ve got sea legs and a jolt of sharp pain shoots through my hip each time my left foot makes contact with the floor.

“My–my flip flops,” I babble anxiously. “My towel…”

The corded arm around me flexes causing the veins to stand out. Grey slows his own gait to match mine, coming to a complete stop beside my bright pink flip flops.

“Can you slide them on?” he asks, eyes searching my face. “Slowly… slowly…”

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