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“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” My voice rises to match his tone.
“You disappear under waterforeverand you don’t think that’s a big deal!” It’s then that I realize they thought I’d drowned.
“No!” I yelled back at him. “I was trying to hide, so I could pull Jacob under water!” I flick water in Jacob’s direction, enunciating my point.
Fuck this! He willnotspeak to me like that.Tears start gathering in my eyes, turning them glassy. Jacob’s speaking to Jaxton, trying to calm him down, explaining our game. None of it matters as I dive under water and head to shore. I climb out and collect my things, roughly ripping them off the ground in frustration. It’s embarrassing that this is the way he treats me the first day of meeting his friends, and in front of his brother. I’ll not stand for it.
I tuck my clothes and towel under my arm as I start up the hill to leave. The pinch of the earth underfoot reminds me I forgot my shoes in the process of rushing away. A split-second decision has me leaving them behind as tears start clinging to lashes—crying in front of everyone is low on my list.
My name echoes through the clearing, but I ignore it, continuing up the hill. Nikki’s the only one who doesn’t shout for me, and I imagine it’s because she understands. No women in their right mind would allow the person they love to scold them in front of his friends and brother.
Someone’s rushing up behind me, but I don’t stop to investigate. Doesn’t matter who it is, I don’t want to listen to a thing they have to say. “Avery, stop. Come back.” A strong hand grips my shoulder, attempting to hinder my escape.
“Stop! Leave me alone!” I protest, sidestepping Jaxton’s hand, glaring, so he understands the seriousness of the situation. “Just leave me alone, Jaxton.” His name cracks with emotion, the fire dwindling to embers, slowly melding with pain.
His face contorts with regret and sadness as he attempts to stop me again, trying to wipe away the tears streaming down my cheeks, but this too I reject. “I’m sorry, Kitten. I thought you… I thought you drowned. I was so scared…” His voice wavers, as he grabs my face, forcing my soul to his. “I thought I’d lost you.” The coals of anger are gradually extinguishing, but the clenching of my heart will not allow me to forget completely.
“You yelled at me.” My words are quiet, yet stern. “Not only that, but you did it in front of everyone! Do you know how that felt?” My words turn to growls, as some of the fire flickers to life with the lingering resentment. “I can hold my breath for a long time. Did that ever cross your mind?” My argument is losing steam, exhaustion coursing through my body, drawing a sob that wobbles my lower lip.
Jaxton wraps me in his arms, ignoring the minute protests. “Fuck, Kitten, I’m so sorry.” He mumbles, lips brushing against my forehead. “I didn’t mean to yell—I was just so scared. Don’t be embarrassed—they know I overreacted. Everyone was worried. Jacob’s face was practically white when you didn’t come back up.”
Shame trickles into the plethora of emotions parading around in my chest. It never occurred to me that hiding underwater would be alarming, but if he disappeared underwater, I’d freak too.
Closing my eyes with a sigh, I relent. “Fine, I’m an asshole, and didn’t think about it. I forget to tell people I can hold my breath for a couple of minutes. I usually swim alone.” He stiffens and then pulls away to meet my eyes.
“A couple of minutes?” He questions, and when I nod, he continues, “Yeah, that’s something you should probably tell people if you’re going to be under water that long.” His sarcasm draws a huff of laughter from us both, lightening the serious conversation.
His arms tighten when I bury my face against his warm, sun kissed chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare everyone.”
He tilts my chin—so there’s no escape. “I’ve never been so terrified in my life. The thought of you being lifeless under that water…” he doesn’t finish, but he doesn’t have to. I can see the agony reflecting in his golden hues.
My hand cups his cheek, and he leans into it, seeking comfort. “Is Jacob, okay?” I ask, because it sounds like I traumatized him, too.
He chuckles and kisses my lips softly. “When you didn’t come up, he started calling for you, saying, ‘okay Avery, this isn’t funny anymore.’ That’s what caught my attention—and when you still didn’t come up, everyone started freaking out.”
“I should apologize.” He kisses me again, lingering longer, tongue peeking through for the next swipe.
“I’m sorry.” He whispers against my lips. “I’ll never raise my voice again.” Fingers feather through my hair, tightening just the way I like, before deepening his kiss. I’m breathless by the time he lets go. “It’s dangerous how much I love you.” He growls possessively.
“I love you, too.” I lean against him, wanting so much to be absorbed.
“Let’s go, they’re waiting for us.” We glance down the hill and everyone’s openly staring. “No one in the inner circle has boundaries. You’ve been forewarned.”
We’re laughing as we start back toward the group, polar opposite of the trip up, when I step on something. “Ow!” I yelp, hobbling on one foot.
Jaxton picks me up instantly and squats, balancing me on one knee, and my injured foot on the other. “Looks like a couple of hitchhikers. Baby, you’ll have to hold still while I pull these out, okay?”
A whimper escapes before I agree. They may be little bastards, but they’re throbbing like crazy. “Hurry. They fucking hurt.”
He plucks one and then the other from my foot, rubbing the bottom to ensure all the pieces are out. “There.” He declares and stands, walking back to the group.
When we arrive, nerves plague my gut, but their smiles say they’re glad I’m all right, making the apology easier to come by. “Hey… I wanted to say I’m sorry. I forgot to mention I can hold my breath. I didn’t mean to scare any of you. I was just trying to play around.” The tears try to threaten their presence again, but I’m able to choke my way through it.
After we hashed out the dramatic scene and I put on shoes, I track Jacob down by the tree. If his reaction was anything like Jaxton described, he deserves his own apology. Jaxton tries to object to leaving my side until I inform him of my plan to speak with Jacob alone.
Jaxton watches close by as I reach out to Jacob and touch his shoulder. “Hey, can I talk to you?” He doesn’t turn, but nods in agreement. His reaction churns my stomach into a nervous wreck. “I wanted to apologies to you directly for earlier. Jaxton said I scared you when I didn’t resurface. The only thing I could think of was getting a good dunk on you.” I smile, trying to lighten the mood.
His half smile lets me know he’s receptive. “Avery.” His voice remains low—a conversation for only our ears. “I thought I’d hurt you. I was so scared when you didn’t come up… but then Jax started panicking… and… shit.” His hand rakes the lingering fear through his hair. “He was so frantic—I thought I’d taken away the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Hereallyloves you. You know that, right?” He glances at Jaxton. “He’s told us everything about you. From the moment you met, he’s said you’re different. ‘The one.’” He pauses, voice thick, when he finishes. “And to think I could’ve ripped that aways from him… that hurt.Thatwas devastating.”
