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All I knew was I’d need to get a job to save money to buy a car. My mom sold mine, so if I wanted to get out of here the moment I was free, I needed a new one.
I only briefly paused when I smelled the salty air. At least there was one good thing about San Sebastian. I was drawn to the water like a moth to a flame, and I didn’t stop moving until I was waist-deep. I only looked back at the twinkling lights of the city for a second before submerging my body into the icy water, letting it take away all of the pain. Even if only for a minute.
When my lungs started to burn, I opened my eyes, scanning the dark water, wanting to stay under for a moment longer. I knew then that this place would be my reprieve from my mom and Trent. Hell, even from the world. We weren’t on the best of terms as of late.
Just as I was about to swim back to the top, I was gripped around the waist by a strong force. I wanted to fight, but I had nothing left. I needed air before I could do much more than float to the surface.
Was this how my life would end?
I gave up what little strength I had left and turned my existence over to the water gods and whoever else. I would let them decide my fate.
Closing my eyes once again, I waited only for my lungs to breathe in the salty mist that hovered over the Pacific water. My eyes flew open as I coughed. The strong pressure around my middle was still there, as was a hard, warm surface behind me.
My hands met my middle, where I came into contact with an arm corded with muscle. It flexed beneath my touch, and I felt my body being dragged through the water. Craning my head back, I was met with a dark shape. The sun had finished setting for the night, and now the world around me was a dark shade of blue.
“Stop fighting me,” the figure growled. The voice was low and deep, sending shockwaves through me.
I hadn’t realized I was trying to pry the arm from around me. My hands dropped to my sides as I leaned back against the hard body of my captor and stared up at the stars twinkling in the night.
Cold air washed over my skin and sent goosebumps racing across every inch of my exposed flesh. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to take a dip in the water.
One second, I was against the warm body, and the next, I hit the coarse sand on the beach. I sputtered, trying to get my bearings.
“What the hell did you think you were doing?”
“Me?” I sat up and narrowed my eyes at him even though he couldn’t possibly see them. “What are you doing attacking women at night?”
He scoffed. “Attacking you? You must have been under longer than I thought. I saved your ass. Are you that desperate to end your life?”
“I wasn’t trying to end my life.” I jumped up. “I was clearing my head.”
As much as he may have wished it, he wasn’t my savior. He saved me from nothing.
“Is that what we’re calling it nowadays?” He chuckled darkly. Leaning down, he gripped my forearm and tugged me to standing. “Let’s go.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I tried to pry my arm out of his hold, but he only tightened his grip. “I don’t even know you.”
“I’m your neighbor, dumbass. Now, let’s go before you’re missed.”
A strangled chuckle left me, causing him to stop trying to pull me wherever he wanted to go.
“It would take a long time, perhaps even forever, for me to be missed, but if you need to get home, then far be it from me to interfere.” I successfully yanked my arm out of his grip and sat in the sand. I wasn’t going to let on how cold I was, but I would rather sit here freezing to death than be in Trent’s house.
A harsh puff of air escaped him before something warm was draped over my shoulders. Whatever it was, it smelled and felt amazing, and I wanted to curl up in a ball and fall asleep right where I was using it as my blanket.
He grunted, lowering himself beside me but still keeping two feet of distance between us. I wasn’t sure whether this guy was nice or not. Yes, he thought he needed to save me and gave me this—my hands skimmed the material of a sweatshirt—for warmth, but he also seemed highly annoyed with me.
Leaning back on his elbows, he looked up at the sky. “Why did you try to kill yourself?”
“I didn’t,” was my immediate response. “And even if I had tried, why would I tell you... some stranger.”
“I’m Slade,” he introduced himself.
“I’m Harley,” I announced before I could think better of it. It was so ingrained in me to be polite—unless my mother was involved.
His head turned to the side. “Isn’t that a boy’s name?”
“Do I look like a boy?” I shot off. I’d been made fun of at school my entire life because of my name. I had thought maybe here in San Sebastian, people wouldn’t be assholes, but it looked like that one sliver of hope was gone.
