Tate dove into the water and swam toward me until we faced each other.
“Well, hello there.” I smiled. “What made you change your mind?”
“I was afraid you’d get eaten by a shark if I wasn’t here to protect you.”
“Seriously?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’mthe shark, actually.”
“Oh. I like the sound of that.” I winked. “Sharks bite, don’t they?”
“Sometimes,” he muttered, his eyes falling to my lips.
“Hmmmmm…”
He looked up at the purple-hued sky for a moment. “I really want to kiss you again, but I told myself I wouldn’t.”
“Well, that’s dumb.” I scoffed. “No one’s life will be saved by you depriving yourself, Tate. You’re depriving both of us.” I splashed him playfully.
To my surprise, he splashed me back with greater force.
We broke out into laughter and a frenzy of splashing until we were both thoroughly drenched.
When we finally stopped, I reached up and ran my fingers through his wet mane. Tate’s eyes fluttered closed as he bent his head back and let out a muffled groan.
And then I felt it.
The most excruciating pain in my left leg.
“Ow!”
Tate moved back suddenly. “What happened?”
“I just got stung by something!” Panic filled me. “Oh no. There are venomous jellyfish in this ocean. I remember reading about it before I came here.”
“Fuck. Where do you feel it? Your leg?”
“Near my ankle.” I felt dizzy.
Tate sprang into action. “Let’s get you out of here.” He lifted me, and I immediately covered my bare breasts with my hands.
I felt light as a feather in his arms. Tate carried me to shore, and I reached for my dress, quickly slipping it over my head with my back facing him, while balanced on one leg. The sting felt worse now. Adrenaline coursed through me as my mind jumped to the worst-case scenario.
Then I remembered something. “I think you need to pee on it,” I told him.
His mouth fell open. “Say what?”
“Pee on my leg, where the jellyfish stung me. I saw somewhere that the pee can help deactivate it.”
He blinked and repeated, “What?”
“Please? I’m really scared.”
“We need to go back to the main building,” hesaid.
“We’re too far. What if this kills me in the meantime? I think you need to pee on itnow.” I pointed to the spot. “It’s this area right here, just above my ankle. Urine is a natural sterilizer.”
“Shit.” He exhaled. “All right…uh…”
