And I lost my footing.
I think I screamed something—probably “Fuck you, Bob!”—but I was too busy flailing my arms and trying to regain my balance to pay much attention. I toppled back and became submerged in cool, fishy water. I immediately panicked and thrashed violently as I fought to right myself. I don’t do oceans, pools—fuck, not even tubs. Because all it would take was one sudden sleep attack or cataplexy episode for me to drown.
I’d inhaled a mouthful of water going down, and the treads of my worn-out Cons lost traction on the slippery pond ground while I attempted to shove up and break through the surface. A fist grabbed my shirt, and oh God—this was it. Bob was going to kill me. He was stopping his last obstacle before absconding with the treasure and retiring to some no-name island in the Bahamas, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, I’d be dead in a pond full of fat fish, leaving it up to Jun to identify me.
In the last bit of frenzied life I had, I grabbed the hand holding my shirt and fought violently to tear free. But I had no air, and I could feel the strength in my arms leaving me. This just wasn’t fair….
My head came up suddenly and I choked, spitting water and gasping for air. The hand let go on my shirt, and I immediately toppled back underneath the surface before it hoisted me up again. Sputtering once more, I looked up through the wet hair in my eyes at Bob, leaning over the edge, keeping me upright.
“You stupid fuck!” he roared.
“Y-you pushed me!” I said, gagging on the taste in my mouth and spitting again.
Bob hoisted me up more, grabbed my hands, and pulled me to the ledge. “Get up.”
“I can’t,” I protested, still breathing hard. “Just—hang on.”
“Oh, come on with that narcoleptic crock,” he said.
I looked up, slamming my fist weakly on the bricks that circled the pond. “You think I wear this medical alert bracelet because it’s pretty?” I protested. My legs were completely Jell-O, and I was barely hanging on to the side with what upper body strength I had at the moment. I was so scared that I wasn’t actually afraid, if that made sense. Just skipped it and went right on to rage. I was going to kill Bob, as soon as I could climb out of the pond.
Bob swore enough in that moment to make a sailor blush before grabbing underneath my armpits and yanking me out of the water with admittedly impressive strength. He set me on my feet, then held me when I wobbled forward. With a look of disdain, he kept one hand on my chest and the other under my arm, before shuffling back so he didn’t get wetter than he already was.
I didn’t say anything, just stared at my sad state and focused on regaining my breathing.
“Bobby!” a high-pitched female voice called suddenly. “Bobby, you said it’d only be a minute!”
I knew that voice.
Looking up, I saw Liz Blake, the receptionist for the board’s Marathon office, coming around the corner. She was wearing sunglasses, a big hat, bikini top, and shorts that could probably be referred to asbootyshorts. Wow—I’d never seen her in anything but office attire.
“Bobby?” I echoed. “Bobby?”
Bob swallowed and glanced over his shoulder. “Hang on, Lizzie.”
“Lizzie,” I said expectantly.
Liz’s mouth made anOin surprise. “Mr. Grant! Yikes… you okay?”
“Sure, Liz,” I responded in a near comical tone as Bob hesitantly released me, and I remained standing. “Just took a dip, is all.”
She glanced at the koi pond and raised her glasses up. “In there? I don’t think it’s for swimming, Mr. Grant.”
I managed to not say anything bitchy and instead wiped water from my face and pushed my hair back.
“I won’t tell Price about the destructive acts you’ve made to the house,” Bob murmured. “If you… keep quiet about this.”
“Destructive acts?” I asked. “You’re kidding, right? You won’t tell Price to fire me for doing my job if I don’t tell her that you nearly drowned me and that you two are having an affair behind Horner’s back?”
Liz’s eyes widened, and she put the sunglasses back down to hide her expression.
“Now see here—” Bob started.
“Yeah, I don’t think you’re in a position to ‘see here’ with me, Bob. How about you two just go.”
“It was an accident,” Bob insisted.
“Don’t piss me off more than I already am,” I warned. “Just leave. Enjoy your weekend tryst.”
