With the boat rocking violently, I let him help me walk toward the bed. He’s already pulled the blankets down, and I slip inside. But even when I pull them up to my neck, I can’t stop shivering.
I bite my tongue, thanks to my chattering teeth, and my head begins to pound.
The bed dips as Zane sits down beside me, though he stays above the covers.
“H-h-how are y-y-you not c-c-cold?”
“Tolerance,” he says.
“I c-c-can’t s-s-stop.”
He lets out a low groan, then adjusts to climb beneath the covers alongside me. I turn on my side to face him, and Zane pulls me in. I bury my face in his strong chest, and his large hand rubs my arm in an attempt to create warmth through friction.
Once again, my poor decision put him in danger.
He could have drowned trying to rescue me.
Why won’t he stop following me into danger? Why won’t he just let me go?
Warmth begins to spread through my body, and the shivers fade. Every muscle in my body is tense, though, and even that is nothing compared to the exhaustion. It pulls me under, removing my ability to recognize just how dangerous this situation is for me.
Wrapped in Zane’s warm embrace, I can almost let myself believe we could have been great.
I close my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I begin to drift. “I’m sorry.”
“I will never let you suffer, Tessa,” Zane replies, his chest vibrating with each word. “I’ll always be here when you need me.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
Chapter 13
Zane
Looking at the horizon now, you’d never know a storm blew through town last night. My heart is still racing with the image of Tessa, wide-eyed and terrified, stumbling overboard into the raging sea.
She could have died.
But she didn’t.
Thank God, she didn’t.
I’d drifted off with her in my arms and woken as the first ray of sunshine snuck in through the window. Tessa had still been pressed against me, her head on my chest, her arm wrapped around me.
I’m ashamed to admit—even to myself—that it took every bit of strength and willpower I had to climb out of bed instead of pulling her in closer. She’d been so warm against me, her cheeks pink, expression soft.
Keep it together, Knox.
Turning away from the ocean, I pick up the pace again, sprinting until my body aches. Weston is at the boat this morning, keeping an eye on her until I get back. It was an offer I took him up on because, if I don’t stop looking at her like the one who got away, then I’m going to be left broken all over again when she leaves.
Taking the steps quickly, I ascend the beach hill and step onto Main Street. The bookstore is straight ahead, so I check for cars then jog across.
The bell dings when I open it.
“Morning, Zane!” Maria Santos greets, her dark hair in a high ponytail. She offers me a bright smile and a friendly wave. Two years younger than I am, she’s been close friends with my sister since they were in kindergarten. Though I’ve always known she’s had a thing for me, things were never weird between us.
Something I’ve always been grateful for.
