“No, it’s okay. I’m calling to update you and ask how low you’d think my standards were if I went home with him?”
Now I laugh. “Nothing you do will make me think your standards are low. And if you compare yourself to me, you’re like soaring up in the clouds.”
“We’ll call it a lapse of judgement because look at you now. Dating Daniel Garcia.”
My heart skips a beat. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.”
She hums in agreement. “I love it when hot and nice people date each other.” I wouldn’t say I’m nice, but I keep that to myself. “Anyway, I’m going to let you go. I’m going home with him. I can’t say what I will and won’t do, but I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, but if you need anything, call me. Be safe.”
“Yes, Mom. Will do.”
My lips twitch as I hang up and make my way back. I’m busy staring at my phone, replying to Pen’s message, when I bump into someone.
“Sor—oh.” It’s Bryson. He’s standing right in front of me, and something tells me I didn’t bump into him by accident. He put himself in front of me. For fuck’s sake.
I walk around him and ignore him as he calls my name.
“Josie, wait. Please, I just want to talk.”
“What?” I turn, sucking in a large breath for patience, and hope to God, I don’t push him in the pool. “What do you want? You’ve already called me a bitch. A whore. A slut. Easy. I’m too much. Not enough. I’m this and I’m that. So what now? What do you want to say that you haven’t already?” I ask, smothering my frustration and anger down.
“You couldn’t have gotten with anyone else? It had to be him of all people?”
“What’s your problem with Daniel?”
“He thinks he’s better. He?—”
“This is about jealousy? You’re so pathetic.”
I should’ve known it was always about jealousy. I wouldn’t doubt he slept with Amanada to spite Daniel. He was always talking about him and keeping up with whatever anyone was saying about him. How lame.
“I know what I said. I know what I did. I’m sorry. I want you back. I need you back.”
I pivot, not caring what he has to say, but he grabs my arm and jerks me back. Daniel squeezes himself between us, pushing Bryson’s chest hard.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” he warns, circling an arm behind me and around my back.
“I’m fine. Let’s just go,” I urge him, gripping his arm, and thankfully he relaxes and turns to look at me. I smile up at him. “I’m okay.”
He exhales a sigh. “Okay.”
I take his hand in mine and pull him away, but Bryson pushes him. I see Angel and Noah from my periphery approach us, but everything happens too quickly. Bryson pushes him again and Daniel loses his balance and falls into the deep end of the pool.
“What the fuck did you do!” I yell at him, ready to jump in, but Angel dives in before I get the chance.
“It’s just water. He’ll be all right.”
“You stupid—” I lose it, and knee him in the balls hard.
He shrieks, falling to the ground, cupping himself. “What was that for?” he wheezes. “It’s just water,” he cries out.
I ignore him, running to the other end where Angel and Noah help Daniel out of the pool. He’s coughing out water, trembling and breathing raggedly, but then his breaths quicken, his eyes bug out, and he fists his soaked shirt, pulling it away from his chest. He’s hyperventilating.
“Daniel.” I drop to my knees. “You’re okay, baby. Breathe. You’re okay. Breathe with me.” I take his shaking hands in mine and motion for him to follow me. “Breathe in and out. Yeah, just like that. Breathe. You’re okay. In and out. Just like that. You’re doing good. Keep doing that.”
I continue to talk him through it until his breathing evens out. Once it does, I search for any bumps or scratches, makingsure he didn’t hit his head or scratch himself, but he’s fine. At least for a second I think he is, until I notice the faraway look in his eyes and how empty they look.
