She.
Laughed.
Unimpressed glances turned in her direction, but considering she was the only one holding a blanket for me, I knew she was concerned.
I much preferred this reaction over half-hearted questions about my health.
Her laughter was a melody that had me trapped—I trudged through the deck until I was in front of her. She doubled over with laughter. “I’m sorry,” she said between breaths. “But you look like a wet rat.”
I cracked a smile. “That’s very flattering.”
“Are you okay?” she whispered just for me.
“Yeah.” Freezing my ass off, but I was fine.
She handed me a small tote bag with a sly smile. “The captain gave me some extra clothes from the crew. You should probably get out of those wet clothes before you freeze.”
I nodded gratefully and disappeared into the bathroom, then quickly shed my soaked slacks and button-down shirt. I stuffed them into the bag, feeling a mix of relief and awkwardness.
When I pulled on the sweatpants and the faded Jaws T-shirt, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Maybe it was the ironic humor of a shark-themed shirt after I’d just fallen overboard.
“You’re a very good stalker,” I said to Macey when I returned. “You know my measurements and everything.”
She rolled her eyes, but they were full of mirth. “I take my stalking very seriously.”
The boat wasn’t far from the harbor now—thank God—but I sat next to her on the deck. Macey wrapped the blanket over my shoulders and pulled me into her.
“What happened?” she asked.
“My ankle is weak as shit,” I said, rolling it out. Still a little numb. Still a lot painful. “The boat hit a small wave and I totally lost my balance.”
“I won’t say I told you so.”
“You just did.”
Now, rescued and safe, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the whole situation. Not that the evening had completely unraveled me, but it had shaken me more than I cared to admit. I needed that reassurance that I was actually here, on solid ground, not still drifting in the middle of some shark-infested sea.
I stretched my limbs out, my muscles still tight from the cold and tension, and then, with a dramatic sigh, I lay down on the deck—never mind the questionable cleanliness of it. Macey’s lap was the most inviting thing in my immediate vicinity, so I settled my head there, closing my eyes for a second.
Oh, shit, my phone.After a quick assessment, it appeared to be in working order. At least there was that.
Macey ran her fingers through my hair, tugging at the edges. If I thought I found paradise earlier, I was wrong. This was it. A sigh of contentment left my mouth, and Macey’s hand paused for a brief second like she was going to say something. Instead, she silently continued the motion until we docked in the harbor.
Back in the suite, I showered and changed into proper clothing of my own. This wasn’t the most pleasant event to document, but after I had mentally recovered from the fall, I had to recount the events in a video. During which Macey jokingly suggested I recreate it for the viewers.
Instinct drove me to look for her now, and I found her lounging on the bed, blue light from her phone reflecting on her face. She looked up when she saw me enter.
“Hey.” She placed the phone on the notebook next to her. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, stop worrying.”
My body was okay, all things considered. My ego may have some long-lasting damage, though.
Slowly, she looked me up and down, pausing her gaze by my feet. “The ankle?”
The bed bounced a little when I sat on the edge. I didn’t want to get too close, or insinuate anything, so I stayed by the corner. “Hurts a little. Still weak.”
“Weaker than normal, you mean?”
