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It’s only when he really begins to panic, when his arms and legs are thrashing like Theo’s, that I finally let him up.
He sucks in a huge gulp of air, hacking and choking.
“What thefuck?” he spits when he can breathe again.
“Just helping out,” I say, with the fakest of smiles spread across my face. I let the smile drop, intentionally, so my face goes blank. “You were getting a sunburn.”
Angus stares at me, scarlet with shock and anger, not from the sun.
Several more people jump in the water, wearing an array of fins, spouts, and goggles. Corgus paddles over with an extra set for Angus.
I swim back to Theo.
“What wasthat?” she whispers, still blue lipped and breathing hard. “Were you trying to drown him?”
“He’s fine,” I say dismissively.
Theo stares at me. “I really don’t get your strategy.”
“Don’t worry about it—I know what I’m doing.”
Complete and utter bullshit.
I don’t know what I’m doing—I don’t know what I justdid.
What the fuck, Sully?
That wasn’t part of the plan. That was the exact opposite of the plan, actually, for those wondering.
Theo’s sky-high eyebrows don’t show much confidence. “I guess I’ll just have to trust you.”
“Thanks,” I say, with about the same level of confidence.
It’s not Theo who’s got me concerned—for the first time in years, I’m worried about myself.
I don’t act impulsively anymore.Ever.Especially not when it’ll fuck up my carefully laid plans.
When Angus forms his little snorkeling party, he grabs Corgus and three other dudes and heads out to the reef. He doesn’t even glance at Theo and me.
“He’s pissed,” Theo observes as they swim away.
“Looks like it,” I agree.
“Why did you do that?” She’s swimming with a little space between us, head tilted as she examines me.
I don’t want to admit the truth, which is that I was overcome by a single, powerful emotion that pulsed through me, taking control of my body and my brain.
So all I say is, “I don’t like bullies.”
Theo makes a soft sound. “Huh…”
That little line has reappeared between her eyebrows.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” she says, embarrassed, dropping her gaze.
I tread water, my heart still beating hard.
