Page 11 of Ecstasy
I just need to push up, though. That’s all. Just push up to that shimmering surface a few feet above me.
I brace myself to do just that, when I see someone splash into the water right in front of me. A cloud of bubbles.
And then strong arms yank me up and I’m breaking the surface, the air much colder up here.
I take a deep, gasping breath, my lungs burning.
But working.
They’re working.
Water and mucus pour from my nose, and I take deep, gulping breaths, coughing and spluttering as I do.
“Zara,” someone says. Someone who’s holding me, my body pressed against theirs. They’re wearing clothes, I feel them against my skin.
I start to shiver, rubbing my eyes with my fists, my back to whoever is holding me. The coughing is subsiding, but my throat is burning.
“Zara.” It’s Eli’s voice.
People are peering at me from the edge of the pool, crowded around with wide eyes. A few of them have cell phones, recording me.
Eli’s arms tighten around me. He tells them the same thing he told that baby-faced blond that tried to touch me. “Leave.”He doesn’t even raise his voice.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard Eli raise his voice.
The crowd around the pool breaks into nervous laughter, but they all disperse.
“Zara.” Eli again, his voice against my ear.
I’m still shivering but he spins me in his arm as he hangs onto the edge of the pool with the other.
My eyes lock on his.
“What happened?”
I shake my head, water in my ears. I can hear him, but…my face feels numb. My lips, too.
God, I’m fucking drunk.
I lay my head on his shoulder, against his wet shirt. “Alex pulled me in,” I manage to tell him.
Eli pulls me closer. “He pulled you in?” he repeats, his words almost…clinical.
I nod against his shirt, letting my eyes fall closed. I’m still shivering, but I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.
I’m fine.
But my heart is still racing and even though my body is tired, my mind…
“Here.” Another familiar voice interrupts my thoughts. The one that just…
“You almost drowned me.” I’m not sure I’m speaking the words out loud or just mouthing them as I look up at a soaking wet Alex, hands on his knees and water dripping from his thick bronze hair as he smiles down at me.
He extends his hand.
“No.” I shake my head, but I still can’t tell… Am I actually speaking? My jaw is aching again, and Eli’s fingers are splayed on my torso beneath the water. I turn to him.
He’s glaring up at Alex, but he doesn’t say a word.
