Page 12 of The Long Game

"Lexi!" I yell out to her, throwing my beer bottle and dive for her.

There’s blood on the stairs where she hit. I start panicking, and my mind shuts off except for the need to get to her.

My muscles are screaming as I fight through the water, each second feeling like an eternity.

Don't let it be too late.

The thought pounds through my head with each desperate stroke, until I reach her, pulling her limp body into my arms, her back to my front, tilting her head up and out of the water.

"Luca! Luca!" I yell as I attempt to hold her to me—stabilizing her as best I can.

My lungs burned but I can't slow down—not with Lexi's life on the line.

Breathe, Tucker.

I coach myself as I work to get my footing on the stairs.

"Shit!" I curse out loud.

The stairs are slippery and I’m frantic to get her out of the water. I damn near slip as I struggle to get us both out of the water with the staircase handle covered in sunblock and suntan oils. No wonder she slipped.

I manage us both out of the water and lay her on her back. She looks so pale against the damp wood of the dock. Panic sets in, making it harder for my mind to make all the right moves.

"Lexi?" I call out again, but she still hasn’t said a word.

"Luca!" I yell for him again.

My fingers glide over her face as I survey the damage. The gash is more noticeable now.

Stitches. She’s going to need stitches.

"Lexi! Lexi! Say something!" quickly scanning for any other injury.

I tap her face a couple of times but she’s still unresponsive.

Check for a pulse.

My fingers move across the softness of her neck, and I press two fingers against her main artery.

There’s a pulse. Thank God!

"What the fuck? What happened?!" Luca yells faintly from the lake house deck. I hear him running towards us when I don’t answer quickly enough.

I glance over my shoulder and yell at him. "Get the keys! Get the fucking keys, Luca!" I demand.

Luca turns back around like we’re running drills and speeds back to the house.

"Can you hear me, Lex?"

She doesn’t respond. A tinge of blue is starting to color her perfect full pink lips. Lips I now wished I had kissed before this.

Would I ever get the chance now?

I can’t think like that.

"Lexi, wake up! Don’t do this to me," I plead.

A sob-like sound breaks through my voice with the last word. It doesn’t sound like me.

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