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Myheartplummetedas she fell, end over end, and hit the water. My brain had no time to react before my body moved. I dove after her, launching myself off the boulder I’d been climbing to reach her. Panic numbed the sting of the freezing water.
She hadn’t hit any of the rocks on the way down, thankfully, but the image of her crashing hard into the water had me wincing. I had no idea how good a swimmer she was, either. I kicked my legs, propelling myself toward where she’d fallen, eyes wide open and searching. It didn’t take long to find her, sinking in a field of bubbles.
I wrapped my arms around her, securing my forearm across her chest and pulling her toward the surface. She didn’t struggle in my arms. She was only limp. Fear seeped through my veins as I pushed myself to go as fast I could.
We broke through the surface after moments that felt like hours. I didn’t look at her, not yet. My only focus was getting her to safety. She was firmly pressed against my body as I dragged us to shore. When she started to cough, clearing her lungs of any water she’d inhaled, relief made my bones weak. As we got close enough to shore, I sat on the soggy, silken earth and pulled her onto my lap. Cradling her against my chest.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Ellie appeared in an instant, glancing over my shoulder at Wren. Her voice was high and panicked.
Wren coughed. Her body tensed with the effort, and I rubbed her back. My eyes roamed over every inch of her, looking for any sign of damage. Her long, wet hair clung to her face, but she seemed unmarred. When she opened her eyes, she looked up at me.
A small, weak smile parted her lips. “Ow,” she said, softly. “That was embarrassing.”
Ellie let out a breath. “Holy shit, Wren. I thought you were going to die! You spun like a freaking acrobat.”
Ty stood over us with his hands on his hips. “I stand corrected. You are not scared. You’re freaking wild.” He laughed, his face softening with relief.
Though she seemed okay, I still held onto her tightly. I’d never known anyone so…so reckless.
Even Ty.
“You could’ve hurt yourself,” I said, so low I wasn’t sure she heard.
She stiffened. “Yeah…” She pushed wet hair out of her face. “Didn’t quite think that one through well enough. I thought it was going to be fun.”
Fun?She thought it was going to be fun? A hot, boiling anger rose from my belly to my chest. Hadn’t she realized how risky that had been? She could’ve hit any of the jagged rocks on the way down. She could’ve lost consciousness and drowned.
I shifted her off my lap, standing abruptly. She made a soft squeak of surprise, but I didn’t want to stay and talk anymore. I didn’t want to look at her. Because if I looked at her, I knew I’d want to hold her again.
I clenched my fists, grinding my back teeth as I marched to my backpack and got out the dry towel I’d packed. I didn’t want to swim anymore. I didn’t want to be here anymore.
Wren Brooks was going to be the death of me. If she didn’t kill herself first.
The truck was silent as I drove home. Ty sat in the passenger seat, with Wren scrunched on the back bench. Knox had driven Ellie home after we’d hiked back from the falls.
I hadn’t spoken much. I’d watched the others swim and enjoy their time, avoiding looking Wren’s way. But I felt her eyes on me.
It was hard to explain the anger inside me. I wasn’t angry with her. At least, I didn’t think so. She was reckless, yes, but there was more to it than that. It had been a long time since I felt as helpless as I did when I watched her fall. If she’d gotten hurt… The thought alone made my stomach knot.
It angered me that I cared so much. I was angry I’d let myself care. There was a reason I’d wanted to stay away from Wren when she first came to town, and I hadn’t listened to my own warning.
I chanced a glance at her in the rearview mirror. Her forehead was pressed against the window, eyes glassy and downcast. Was she upset with me? I wouldn’t blame her. I didn’t exactly lighten the mood on her first trip to the falls.
As if I’d said her name, her gaze bounced to mine. Our eyes met through the mirror, and I got lost in those pools of deep green. I pulled into our driveway, knowing the way so well I didn’t have to look away. Her rosy lips parted as if she were about to say something, but Ty’s loud curse stole our attention.
“What the hell?”
Ty stared straight out the windshield.
I followed his gaze, my hands clenched around the steering wheel.
I drove up to the garage where giant, dark-red letters gleamed in the sunlight. Someone had crudely painted over one of the garage doors the words: Die whore!
I threw the truck into park, staring at the words.
I didn’t say anything as I unbuckled and got out to inspect the vandalized garage door. My eyes shifted over our surroundings, on alert for anyone lurking.
