Page 47 of Unspoken Promises

Rio tosses me one of those looks over the rim of his glass that tells me gathering intel is a shit excuse.

I defend my actions. “I’m only as protective as you would be of an asset.”

“Ass being the operative word.” A sly grin slips across his face.

I punch his arm.

Ava is across the pool from us with Penelope, Callum, and a few guys from the stables who are her age. They’ve been hanging out by the lounge chairs for a while. The conversation is animated now that alcohol has dulled inhibition for most of them. I’ve seen one of them put his arm around Ava a few times, and she’s politely moved out from under it as if a natural movement. But she’s not drinking. She knows what she’s doing and he does not.

Rio tips his drink toward her. “Why don’t you just admit you find her attractive? You haven’t taken your eyes off her all night.”

I give him an inch. “Everyone is attracted to her, making my attraction meaningless.”

He leans against the pool house next to me and gazes over to where she is. “Who’s the asshole who just put his arm around her?”

“I think his name is Franz or something. Some Germantrainer.” I’ll know his exact name by the end of the night, and he’ll be on my shit list.

“Oh, yeah. His name is Karl, actually.”

“Same difference.”

The German fuck needs to know what respect means. I know he’s drinking, I know Ava is laughing, everyone is, but it’s no excuse not to keep your hands to yourself.

Rio and I stand in silence; their conversation grows louder. Loud enough for me to catch parts of it through the night that has now fallen.

Karl’s words float across the aquamarine water. “You could always dress up as Jesus,” he says playfully to Ava.

“I’ll go to the stable yard Halloween party, Karl, but I’m not coming as Jesus!” Ava answers.

“Why not? Steve Jobs did it? You said you’re a computer nerd. Didn’t you?”

“He didn’t go to a party as Jesus…”

“He did!” Karl insists. “If I prove it, you do a shot.”

I hate when men try to get women to drink more. I was right to stay. If he doesn’t prey on Ava it will probably be someone else. I’ve seen these men before in college. Who the hell hired this guy? Santi?

Ava answers, “I don’t drink, so no deal.”

He swipes and taps his cell, apparently searching for proof. “Here. See? Jobs as Jesus. It’s not even fake news.”

Ava reads his cell, but before she finishes, Karl snatches it back, throws it down on a lounger, and picks Ava up in a fireman’s carry, throwing her over his shoulder.

“I win… you lose…” he says while laughing like an idiot.

Her legs kick, and she slaps his back. “Stop!” She laughs, but it’s nervous. “Put me down.”

I put down my beer, but before I can race to the otherside to intervene, he shouts, “Not before you have your drink!”

And he throws her in the pool.

Callum stands from his seat next to Pen and shoves Karl hard enough for him to fall onto the lounge chair behind. “The fuck, Karl!”

My eyes are now trained on the deep end of the pool. Ava hasn’t come up. My heart races, and instantly, I don’t even think about looking like a fool. I dive right in. Underwater, Ava pushes her hands against the water but doesn’t move upward, and she holds her breath. Frantic bubbles escape from her nose, panicked eyes shoot wide open. Red waves float around her, as desperate to reach the surface as she is.

I wrap my arm around her and swim her up to air where she takes in a raspy breath and coughs.

“You’re okay… I got you.” I swim us to the edge and hold her in my arms until her breath steadies. “You okay?”

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