Page 97 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
I tip my head. “What’s up?”
“I hear a … a ….” Her next words, aimed at her feet, come out muffled.
“A what?” I’m still laughing under my breath. “I can’t hear you when you’re talking to your feet.”
She lifts her chin. Slowly. “The ice.” Her voice is a squeaky rasp. We’re both quiet for a beat, then I hear it too. A quick series of pops. Then a crackling. Her eyes go wide, and I hop up from the bench.
“Sara.” Her name pushes across my lips in a low, guttural growl. “Don’t move.”
“Do I look like I’m moving?” she says in a panic.
“I’m coming for you. Just stay still.” I glance around searching for a fallen branch or anything I can use as a potential lifeline. There’s that old tire swing hanging from the big snow-covered maple tree. But even if I could reach the swing, how would I cut through the rope?
I can’t. That’s the answer.
The ice around Sara crackles again, and she meets my gaze, eyes frantic. “What do I do?” she moans, like an animal caught in a trap. My heart’s thrashing in its cage.
We’re running out of time.
“Hold on!” I rip the string out from the hood of my sweatshirt. It’s decently long, but way too thin. There’s not enough substance for her cling to. Not with gloves on. Not with frozen hands.
Yanking off my gloves, then my boots, I quickly tie the shoelaces together. Then I knot one end of the hoodie string to the boot laces. The result doesn’t add much length, but at least the boots are a solid mass. Better than just a hoodie string to grip, at least. Now I can inch my way out onto the ice and toss the boots to Sara. I’ll wrap the hoodie string around my wrist and haul her back in with me.
Back to shore.
Back to safety.
My pulse races through my veins as I dashto the end of the dock and clamber down the ladder. Once I reach the ice, my actions have to shift. As desperate as I am to get to Sara, I force myself to move slowly. Steady and controlled.
I ease my body out onto the ice, then lower myself to my knees, continuing until I’m sprawled flat. With my weight dispersed as evenly as possible, I can inch forward toward Sara. She’s not too far from me now—thanks to the distance I covered on the dock. But terror hammers at my brain like we’re still separated by a galaxy.
“I’m scared, Three.” Sara whimpers, as if she’s reading my mind. Her confession might as well be a thousand knives stabbing my insides.
“I know, baby,” I murmur, creeping toward her on my belly. “But I’ve got you.” My chin is up, eyes pinned to hers with a determined stare. I’d trade places with her in a nanosecond, anything to protect her first at all costs. But there are no birthday candles out here to wish on. And if I’m too hasty now—and end up plunging through the ice too—we’re both doomed.
Don’t even think that. You have to save her, no matter what.
Another deep groan sounds from the ice, and the kaleidoscope of cracks between Sara and me spreads. Our eyes are still locked, and when her chin quivers, my entire chest cavity might as well be crushed by a vise.
“This is it,” she shrieks. “The ice is breaking!”
“No, you’re okay,” I assure her, even though I’m about as unsure as I’ve ever been in my life. “I’m coming for you, Sara. Almost there.”
“Stay where you are,” she chokes out. “Please.”
“Not an option,” I tell her, my jaw gripped in a grim clench.
“Don’t risk yourself too,” she begs. “Just crawl back to the dock, and call for help.”
“There isn’t enough time.”
“You’re right.” Sara lets out a tiny sob, and an angry rumble comes from the depths of me.
“I won’t abandon you.”
Her whole body starts to tremble. This is taking too long. Wading through my blurry mind, I think about ways to help her. Things I should know.
You should’ve known not to let her skate on this ice in the first place.
