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“They’re just going to the kitchen, Axel. Ease the fuck up. Damn, I thought I was bad,” Roman said before grabbing Theo from behind and kissing her on the neck. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning before I went to work. It’s only been a few hours.”
“A few hours too long.” He cupped her chin, dragging her mouth to his.
Later, we were all gathered outside, watching the crawfish boil. Nick and Roman seemed to be in charge of cooking. The girls were drinking mango seltzers, except for Sorina, while the guys were drinking beers, except for Dmitri, who had a vodka martini garnished with olives in a martini glass.
A few people filed in through the gate, some of the guys I recognized from the team. Axel and I were sitting on a lounger. He had his hand on my back, tracing a lazy pattern, while I chatted with Sorina. She was seven months pregnant, and she and Dmitri were having a boy.
Dmitri brought her a glass of lemonade. In fact, he’d been hovering around her all day, waiting on her hand and foot. I even saw him smile at her, and I’d never seen Dmitri show any kind of emotion whenever we’d been out on the field, whether it was during practice or a game. Wow. It was funny seeing how all these tough football players softened around their girlfriends.
“Hi, Axel.” The voice was familiar, and I looked up to see Jeanette standing before us with sunlight framing her face like a bad aura, and her model-worthy figure was in a micro mini and crop top.
Axel’s arm slithered around mine as if he thought I might slip away. “Jeanette,” he said flatly.
I thought she would walk away, but she stood there for several more moments, and I didn’t miss the slight frown she gave me before Joe, the backup quarterback, walked up beside her, talking to Axel about the NFL combine. Axel was still clutching me against his hip as he spoke, while Jeanette’s eyes narrowed as she focused on his hand. An involuntary chill coursed down my spine despite the warm spring day.
Axel stopped talking and leaned into me, wrapping his free hand around my arm. “Are you cold? I can get my jacket.” He stroked my arm as if trying to warm me up.
I watched as Jeanette turned on her heel and stalked away, with Joe trailing behind her in confusion. I exhaled as if I’d been holding my breath. “I felt a chill, but I’m fine now.”
After we ate crawfish, corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausage, the guys decided to play a game of cornhole. Nick and Axel were taking on Roman and Dmitri.
“Let’s go sit in the chairs over by the game,” Kenzie suggested, pointing to a set of lawn chairs on the other side of the pool. As I followed the girls around the pool, I felt my stomach starting to cramp. A familiar cramp. Ugh. This was a bad time to start my period.
“I’ll meet you there. I just have to run to the bathroom.” I started to make my way to the house to find my purse but was cut off when Jeanette suddenly blocked my path. “It’s Natalie, right? I almost didn’t recognize you because you look so different.” She scanned over my clothing distastefully.
I wasn’t going to engage, and I needed to get my purse and run to the bathroom. “Whatever. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
She stood her ground. “I really don’t get it. I don’t get what he sees in you.”
Unease settled over me. “That’s something you’ll have to ask him.” I tried to push around her, but she clasped my arm, digging her fake nails into my skin. “Let go of me.”
“You think you’re someone special? You think Axel really cares for you?” She sneered at me. “Guess what? He doesn’t.”
“You know what? Why would you waste your time on someone who has no interest in you?” I yanked on my arm, but she didn’t let go.
“Oh, my god. Who do you think you are?”
“Let go of me, Jeanette,” I warned lowly and tried to shove her off.
She pushed me back, and I stumbled until I lost my footing, and all I felt was air. My arms flailed helplessly, knowing that my worst nightmare was coming to fruition. I felt the sharp smack on my back as I hit the water.
Terror consumed me, and I kicked my feet wildly and flapped my arms, trying to keep my head above water. But soon, the water was heavy and dragging me down. My scream was garbled as water filled my mouth, and my head submerged.
Don’t panic.
Don’t panic.
Don’t panic.
My mind kept chanting the words. However, my body wasn’t listening, and I kept sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss until darkness consumed me.
Why? Why didn’t I ever learn how to swim? Why wasn’t anyone coming to save me? Did no one care that a person was drowning in a pool? My lungs were burning, and I wouldn’t be able to hold my breath much longer. I struggled to kick my legs, but the water felt like a dead weight holding me down.
I was going to die.
I was going to die a virgin.
