At least, I think she would have. I’m not so sure now.
Slowly, I get to my feet, my head a little rattled. Just then, I remember that Noa is out in the water. Concerned, I scan the water for her until I see her in the distance, swimming desperately—her arms fighting the waves as she chases after her board. Even though it’s likely gone by now.
Of course, I’m not going to leave her out here. I’m not going to leave her.
And with that, I jog back into the water.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
—NOA
The cost to replace thesurfboard will total more than all our sales this week. I have no idea how I’m going to explain this to my father, how I’m going rationalize messing up again. We don’t even have a legit credit card on file.
Now out past the breaker and treading water, I look around. I don’t see the neon-green-and-orange board anywhere. I shouldn’t have even rented it to Matteo in the first place. I knew better. It was pathetic. And it was all because of money.
The waves push me around, and I rest a moment, weak with despair and disappointment. Everyone I know has tried to warn me about Matteo, even my brother. I just didn’t listen.
The month before he left, Ellis had pulled me aside at one of the bonfires. “You need to stay away from them,” he warned. “The Mancinis are bad people. You can’t trust any of them, including Matteo.”
When I looked pointedly at Felix, who was standing next to him, Felix acknowledged the irony. “Yeah, I know they’re my family,” he said. “But Ellis is right. Matteo is in deep with his dad, trying to show off. You don’t need to get caught up in that. Just…” Ellis shook his head subtly. “Just be safe, Noa,” Felix added instead.
“And stay away,” Ellis reiterated.
I wish I had listened that night. I wish I listened now. I slap the water and let out a scream.
To keep the thoughts away, I keep searching. My limbs are burning, every kick weaker than the last. The salt stings my eyes and throat, tears mixed with ocean water.
The surfboard’s gone, and as I look around, my heart starts to pound a little faster as I realize that I’ve gotten too far from the shore. I’ve been out here too long.
I start toward the beach, but the current grabs and tugs at my legs. With each stroke, I seem to gain less ground, my body trembling and numb from the cold and effort. Panic starts to edge its way in as the water continues to push me back from the shore.
I’m so, so tired.
Just then, I notice movement off to the side, slicing through the water. I squint into the light, my vision blurry. It takes a moment before I recognize it’s Jamie.
My breath catches, relief surging through me so fast that I lose my train of thought and slip underwater. I fight back up, sputtering as I lift my shaking arm, waving until Jamie waves back. I don’t have it in me to play it cool right now, to pretend I’m not utterly grateful to see him.
He paddles closer, calm and fast like it’s his day job to rescue people from the ocean. I hitch in a little gasp when I see that he’s on the missing board.
“You found it!” I yell out. A wave hits me then, and I slip back under, gulping in water as I thrash to get back to the surface.
And then Jamie is there, hauling me halfway onto the board.
After choking out a mouthful of seawater, I rest my cheek on the cool fiberglass as I try to catch my breath. My limbs burn from exhaustion.
When I finally glance up at Jamie, he’s straddling the board, backlitby the sun like some heartthrob. I smile, slow and honest. It suits him. Jamie has always been golden.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Sorry it took me so long.”
He reaches to brush some wet strands of hair off my cheek, and I turn slightly into his touch before I can stop myself. My heart flutters as he lingers there, a soft smile on his lips as he gazes down at me.
I miss him. I miss this. And just when I’m sure that he feels the same, he let’s go.
Jamie slips off the board, shaking me from the warmth with a splash of cold water. I come back into the moment as he moves next to me to steady the board.
“Here,” he says. “Climb up, and I’ll bring you in.”
