Page 88 of Prime Time Romance

He’s breathing.

His heart is beating a strong and steady lub-dub, lub-dub.

Wet arms encircle my body, pressing me closer.

“How is she?” Josh’s voice is raspy and shallow, as if he swallowed the sea.

“She’s going to be okay, I think. There are lots of people with her now to help. But what about you?” My eyes grope his body in the dark, searching for cuts, bruises, blood, answers.

“Just a little wet.” He coughs, and I press my body away to give him room, but his hands tighten, and he pulls me back in.

We lie there in the dark.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

Just holding each other.

I listen as his breathing changes from shallow gasps to slow, even inhales and exhales.

A cold breeze blows off the ocean. It runs up my arms, and I involuntarily shiver.

“Are you cold?” He loosens his grip to rub my arms.

“Don’t worry about me,” I tell him. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”

He tightens his arms again. “We take care of each other.”

My head has finally stopped reeling enough to fully process what just happened. “You went in after her. You didn’t even think.”

He rolls his head toward the direction of the Bronze. “They were my responsibility. I served them. I should have been paying more attention—”

“No.” My hands press to his cheeks, holding his head so I can look straight into his eyes. “Everything that goes wrong isn’t your fault. If there’s someone to blame here, it should be me. I wished us here. I went along with Sheldon’s plan. I convinced myself that the only way I was going to feel good again was if Spencer fell in love with me. All you did was help me. Even if you disagreed.”

Saying it out loud makes me see the last few days for exactly what they were: a stupid plan fueled by a selfish person. I derailed Josh’s life, and now my stupid wish nearly ruined his future.

“Hey.” He pushes a lock of hair from my forehead, the sand stuck to his skin lightly scratching me.

“I just didn’t want to be hurt again. And he seemed safe. He didn’t make me feel at all.” Emotion swells in my chest. “But when you were out in the water, I realized losing you would feel way worse than anything else I could imagine. Because being around you is the best feeling I can imagine. And—” Tears begin to fall. Giant raindrops coat my cheeks. They tumble out of me as the full weight of what could have happened hits like a rogue wave.

“Hey.” Josh pulls me into his chest again. “I’m okay. We’re all okay. It’s going to be fine.”

“I was so scared, Josh.” My chest starts to heave.

Josh strokes my back. “I know. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

This time, it’s him who shivers.

“We should get you inside.” I get to my feet and hold my hand out to help him. He takes it. And when he’s standing again, he doesn’t let go, and I don’t either.

The wind picks up as we walk back to the bar. It’s cold, but my hand is hot. It feels like fire is curling up my arm and running down my chest to my stomach, where it fills me with a burning heat.

He pauses at the threshold to Fletch’s room. It’s a silent question. Do you want to come in?

I step inside first. “We need to get you out of those wet clothes.”

His eyes find mine as he steps toward me. I press my palm to his chest and wait. He covers my hand with his, and I feel the beat of his heart through the wetness of his T-shirt.