AllFreeNovel
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I try to catch up, pushing myself to max capacity. But what am I going to do? Stop him? Pull him to the ground and tackle him? Not when his body is so fragile.
When he reaches the end of the dock, he bounds off the edge, his long legs launching him into the air.
Time slows.
The sun catches his blond locks and ripples off his toned body. Though he’s lost some muscle mass over the past several months, he’s still lean and lithe. His ribs protrude under his skin, his leg muscles flex.
He’s beautiful. Ethereal. Elegant.
I watch, my mouth agape.
Then, time returns to its normal speed. Nate drops into the water, sending a spray in all directions.
Droplets land across my face and shirt. I don’t have the ability to be upset right now, I’m still in utter shock over the entire situation.
The water sways with ripples from Nate’s jump, and I watch, waiting–no,praying–he comes up. “Nate…come on,” I whisper.
I’m making this way more dramatic than it should be, but he’s my responsibility, dammit.
And nothing bad is going to happen to him. Not while I’m around.
Nate’s blond head emerges from the water, that same effervescent grin on hisface.
“Nate!” Now that I know he’s alive, I can have righteous anger rather than worry.
His head swings back, and he cackles. “What?!”
“You can’tdothat!”
“Do what?” Nate treads the water like it’s nothing, his breathing unstrained.
I swallow.
Doesn’t he know he’s my responsibility?
“Run away from me. And then jump into the fucking lake! It’s probably freezing!”
“Water therapy!” he shouts, then dives down into the water.
I gawp at him. “Water therapy…”
He’s not wrong.
But I’m still mad about it.
When he reemerges, he flicks some water up at me.
The freezing buds of water pepper my skin.
I ignore his playfulness.
“Not to mention you shouldn’t be running or jumping in the first place!”
“Why not?”
“B-because!” Good one, Laney.
“Because? Really, Laney?”
