Page 32 of Fake Coral and Keys

“How bad?” The Captain rushes to a compartment on the side of the boat and grabs a first aid kit. He moves down to the swim deck and kneels beside me. I show him my ankle with a pathetic whimper. He grimaces and glances at Blake. “Call the others back.”

Blake sucks in a deep breath and stands, cupping a hand to his mouth, calling to the others. He drops back to his knees at my side and wipes the hair from my face. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, trying and failing to hold back the tears.

“There was something blue in the water,” Blake tells the Captain. “Like string.”The Captain makes a sound in his throat as he rummages through the first aid kit. “It’s a Man o’ war sting. The worst we have out here.”

Blake wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him. I sink into his warm, sun heated chest and breathe in the salty, sweaty scent of him, gasping at the pain. “It’s okay, sweet girl,” he says into the top of my head.

“It hurts really fucking bad.” I wince, trying to collect myself. The pain seems to be getting worse, not better.

The Captain rests my foot on his thigh and inspects my ankle. “Looks like the tentacle got you pretty good.” He splashes a warm, vinegar-smelling liquid over the wound, and I offer him my hand, even though the sting is mild.

The boat rocks as Justine, Erin, Lily, and finally Kane climb back aboard.

Lily sees my tear-streaked face and rushes forward. “What happened?”

“She’s been stung,” Blake tells her, kissing the top of my head again.

I raise my leg to show everyone, and Erin gasps at the sight.

“Oh, no!” Lily drops to the deck next to Blake. She grabs my uninjured hand and kisses my knuckles. “Do you need me to pee on it?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be boy pee?” Erin asks.

“Yeah,” Kane says. “Fewer hormones or something.”

“Why would hormones affect a jellyfish sting?” Justine asks, her tone incredulous.

“Nobody is peeing on her,” Blake snaps. He inspects the red mark and looks to the Captain, who’s busy wrapping a cloth around his hand.

“It’s a Portuguese Man o’ war sting,” the Captain tells the group. He glances at me and gives me a weak smile. “I have to make sure there are no remaining stingers.” He grips my ankle. “The vinegar deactivates the stingers, but some may be left in your skin.”

I clutch at Blake, my fingers slipping over his damp shirt. “It’s going to hurt?” I don’t know why I ask. It hurts like hell right now.

The Captain nods and grips my leg in one hand. “Try to be still.”

I tense, biting my lip when he drags the cloth over my skin. Gritting my teeth to keep from crying out, I clutch at Blake and feel his arms wrap around me tighter.

“The Portuguese Man o’ war has one of the most painful stings,” the Captain says. “And most people call it a jellyfish, but it’s actually a species of siphonophore, which means it a colony of zooids.”

“Who’s?” Kane asks.

The Captain ignores his question and lowers his head to make sure he’s got my attention. “It’s a nasty sting, but I got thestingers out. When we get back to shore, put a hot compress on this for about an hour.”

I feel Blake nod. His arms crush me to his chest. “I’ll take care of her.”

The Captain stands and looks down at me, cuddled in Blake’s lap. He shakes his head. “I’ve charted this boat for five years, and you’re the first person to get stung.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

BLAKE

Now

The little lights thatdecorate the large stone courtyard glisten over Daisy’s skin. They twinkle in her eyes as she smiles at me. I can’t help but wonder what I’ve done that I deserve this gift of sitting in the resort with this beautiful woman.

Not that she’s yours, Blake. Remember this, you dumb shit. Daisyis not yours.

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