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My mind was muddled and hazy, my chest so tight I wanted to just close my eyes…Win.
My eyes popped open, staring through the crystal-clear water as adrenaline spiked. I started thrashing, knowing I had to get out of this watery grave, knowing if I didn’t get my EpiPen, I would be dead before they even pulled me out.
Something ahead crashed into the water, sinking like a heavy anchor. There was another disturbance behind it, but my vision began to dim.
Through the pinhole left in my sight, I saw him cut through the waves, bubbles filling the space around his head. His mouth was open like he was yelling, but I didn’t hear a sound.
Just as he reached out to grab me, what little sight I had went dark.
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Win
His body waslike a rag doll as I towed him to the surface. The second our heads cleared, I dragged in a breath and then forced it past his lips. I wasn’t breathing for me in that moment, and every ounce of air I had I would force directly into his lungs.
“Don’t you fucking die on me,” I prayed, giving him yet another breath.
“Here!” a familiar voice yelled. “Over here!”
I swam toward it, body screaming as I dragged him through the water to where Jamie and Ryan were hanging over the edge to tow him out.
He was completely limp and unresponsive as they hauled him from the water.
“Max,” I tried to yell as I hauled myself over the side. My water-saturated clothes were heavy, trying to drag me back into the pool.
Grunting, I launched up as Jamie and Ryan laid Lars on his back.
“Everyone back!” Coach yelled as a lifeguard dropped at Lars’s side. Her hair was wet, plastered to her face, and water clung to her arms as she used them to press onto Lars’s chest for CPR.
“Get off him!” I roared, launching myself at her and knocking her back.
“Oh, hell no!” a voice that sounded a lot like Kruger roared, and a hand closed over my shoulder.
I tossed him off like he was no more than a fly. “Max!” I roared.
An EpiPen appeared under my nose as Max hit his knees beside me. I grabbed it, yanking the cap and plunging the needle into Lars’s thigh.
Once the medication was administered, I grabbed his face, angling his chin back, trying not to stare at the welts and rashes all over his angel face.
“Breathe, goddammit.” I grunted, pressing my mouth against his to breathe. After giving two breaths, I put my hands on his chest.
“Wait,” Max said, grabbing my arm.
I growled menacingly, but he didn’t back down. “He’s breathing.”
Just as he said that, Lars gasped, then started to cough, his body shaking violently.
“On his side,” someone called, and together, Max and I pulled him around as some water spewed from his mouth.
I put my hand under the cheek resting on the ground, trying to offer some cushion, wishing I could cradle all of him in the palm of my hand.
“That’s it,” I said, voice wrecked. “Breathe. Fill up those lungs.”
“Paramedics are on their way,” someone said from above.
“What the hell happened?” Someone else wondered.
Holding his face, I glanced down at the EpiPen lying in a puddle, and white-hot rage ripped through me.
